Scene 4 V.
The same. Roxane.
DE GUICHE:
On the King’s service! You?
ROXANE:
Ay,—King Love’s! What other king?
CYRANO:
Great God!
CHRISTIAN (rushing forward):
Why have you come?
ROXANE:
This siege—’tis too long!
CHRISTIAN:
But why?...
ROXANE:
I will tell you all!
CYRANO (who, at the sound of her voice, has stood still, rooted to the ground, afraid to raise his eyes):
My God! dare I look at her?
DE GUICHE:
You cannot remain here!
ROXANE (merrily):
But I say yes! Who will push a drum hither for me?
(She seats herself on the drum they roll forward):
So! I thank you.
(She laughs):
My carriage was fired at
(proudly):
by the patrol! Look! would you not think ’twas made of a pumpkin, like
Cinderella’s chariot in the tale,—and the footmen out of rats?
(Sending a kiss with her lips to Christian):
Good-morrow!
(Examining them all):
You look not merry, any of you! Ah! know you that ’tis a long road to get
to Arras?
(Seeing Cyrano):
Cousin, delighted!
CYRANO (coming up to her):
But how, in Heaven’s name?...
Roxane: How found I the way to the army? It was simple enough, for I had but to pass on and on, as far as I saw the country laid waste. Ah, what horrors were there! Had I not seen, then I could never have believed it! Well, gentlemen, if such be the service of your King, I would fainer serve mine!
CYRANO:
But ’tis sheer madness! Where in the fiend’s name did you get through?
ROXANE:
Where? Through the Spanish lines.
FIRST CADET:
—For subtle craft, give me a woman!
DE GUICHE:
But how did you pass through their lines?
LE BRET:
Faith! that must have been a hard matter!...
ROXANE: None too hard. I but drove quietly forward in my carriage, and when some hidalgo of haughty mien would have stayed me, lo! I showed at the window my sweetest smile, and these Senors being (with no disrespect to you) the most gallant gentlemen in the world,—I passed on!
CARBON:
True, that smile is a passport! But you must have been asked frequently to
give an account of where you were going, Madame?
ROXANE: Yes, frequently. Then I would answer, ‘I go to see my lover.’ At that word the very fiercest Spaniard of them all would gravely shut the carriage-door, and, with a gesture that a king might envy, make signal to his men to lower the muskets leveled at me;—then, with melancholy but withal very graceful dignity—his beaver held to the wind that the plumes might flutter bravely, he would bow low, saying to me, ‘Pass on, Senorita!’
CHRISTIAN:
But, Roxane...
ROXANE:
Forgive me that I said, ‘my lover!’ But bethink you, had I said ‘my
husband,’ not one of them had let me pass!
CHRISTIAN:
But...
ROXANE:
What ails you?
DE GUICHE:
You must leave this place!
ROXANE:
I?
CYRANO:
And that instantly!
LE BRET:
No time to lose.
CHRISTIAN:
Indeed, you must.
ROXANE:
But wherefore must I?
CHRISTIAN (embarrassed):
’Tis that...
CYRANO (the same):
—In three quarters of an hour...
DE GUICHE (the same):
—Or for...
CARBON (the same):
It were best...
LE BRET (the same):
You might...
ROXANE:
You are going to fight?
—I stay here.
ALL:
No, no!
ROXANE:
He is my husband!
(She throws herself into Christian’s arms):
They shall kill us both together!
CHRISTIAN:
Why do you look at me thus?
ROXANE:
I will tell you why!
DE GUICHE (in despair):
’Tis a post of mortal danger!
ROXANE (turning round):
Mortal danger!
CYRANO:
Proof enough, that he has put us here!
ROXANE (to De Guiche):
So, Sir, you would have made a widow of me?
DE GUICHE:
Nay, on my oath...
ROXANE:
I will not go! I am reckless now, and I shall not stir from here!—Besides,
’tis amusing!
CYRANO:
Oh-ho! So our precieuse is a heroine!
ROXANE:
Monsieur de Bergerac, I am your cousin.
A CADET:
We will defend you well!
ROXANE (more and more excited):
I have no fear of that, my friends!
ANOTHER (in ecstasy):
The whole camp smells sweet of orris-root!
ROXANE:
And, by good luck, I have chosen a hat that will suit well with the
battlefield!
(Looking at De Guiche):
But were it not wisest that the Count retire?
They may begin the attack.
DE GUICHE:
That is not to be brooked! I go to inspect the cannon, and shall return.
You have still time—think better of it!
ROXANE:
Never!
(De Guiche goes out.)