Christian, Cyrano. At back Roxane talking to Carbon and some cadets.
CHRISTIAN
(calling toward Cyrano's tent) Cyrano!
CYRANO
(reappearing, fully armed) What? Why so pale?
CHRISTIAN
She does not love me!
CHRISTIAN
'Tis you she loves!
CHRISTIAN
--For she loves me only for my soul!
CHRISTIAN
Yes! Thus--you see, that soul is you,. . .
Therefore, 'tis you she loves!--And you--love her!
CHRISTIAN
You love
To madness!
CHRISTIAN
Then tell her so!
CYRANO
Look at my face!--be answered!
CHRISTIAN
She'd love me--were I ugly.
CHRISTIAN
Ay! in those words!
CYRANO
I'm glad she told you that!
But pooh!--believe it not! I am well pleased
She thought to tell you. Take it not for truth.
Never grow ugly:--she'd reproach me then!
CHRISTIAN
That I intend discovering!
CHRISTIAN
Ay! she shall choose between us!--Tell her all!
CYRANO
No! no! I will not have it! Spare me this!
CHRISTIAN
Because my face is haply fair, shall I
Destroy your happiness? 'Twere too unjust!
CYRANO
And I,--because by Nature's freak I have
The gift to say--all that perchance you feel.
Shall I be fatal to your happiness?
CYRANO
It is ill done to tempt me thus!
CHRISTIAN
Too long I've borne about within myself
A rival to myself--I'll make an end!
CHRISTIAN
Our union, without witness--secret--
Clandestine--can be easily dissolved
If we survive.
CYRANO
My God!--he still persists!
CHRISTIAN
I will be loved myself--or not at all!
--I'll go see what they do--there, at the end
Of the post: speak to her, and then let her choose
One of us two!
CHRISTIAN
Pray God!
(He calls):
Roxane!
ROXANE
(coming up quickly) What?
CHRISTIAN
Cyrano has things
Important for your ear. . .
She hastens to Cyrano. Christian goes out.