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ROXANE： Nay。 。 。
DE GUICHE： I am grieved to the core of the heart。 Shall I again
behold you？。 。 。When？ I know not。 Heard you that I am named
commander？。 。 。
ROXANE （indifferently）： Bravo！
DE GUICHE： Of the Guards regiment。
ROXANE （startled）： What！ the Guards？
DE GUICHE： Ay； where serves your cousin； the swaggering
boaster。 I will find a way to revenge myself on him at Arras。
ROXANE （choking）： What mean you？ The Guards go to Arras？
DE GUICHE （laughing）： Bethink you； is it not my own regiment？
ROXANE （falling seated on the benchaside）： Christian！
DE GUICHE： What ails you？
ROXANE （moved deeply）： OhI am in despair！ The man one
loves！at the war！
DE GUICHE （surprised and delighted）： You say such sweet words
to me！ 'Tis the first time！and just when I must quit you！
ROXANE （collected； and fanning herself）： Thus；you would fain
revenge your grudge against my cousin？
DE GUICHE： My fair lady is on his side？
ROXANE： Nay；against him！
DE GUICHE： Do you see him often？
ROXANE： But very rarely。
DE GUICHE： He is ever to be met now in company with one of the
cadets；。 。 。one New villenviller
ROXANE： Of high stature？
DE GUICHE： Fair…haired！
ROXANE： Ay； a red…headed fellow！
DE GUICHE： Handsome！。 。 。
ROXANE： Tut！
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DE GUICHE： But dull…witted。
ROXANE： One would think so； to look at him！ （Changing her
tone）： How mean you to play your revenge on Cyrano？ Perchance
you think to put him i' the thick of the shots？ Nay； believe me； that were
a poor vengeancehe would love such a post better than aught else！ I
know the way to wound his pride far more keenly！
DE GUICHE： What then？ Tell。 。 。
ROXANE： If； when the regiment march to Arras； he were left here
with his beloved boon companions； the Cadets； to sit with crossed arms so
long as the war lasted！ There is your method； would you enrage a man of
his kind； cheat him of his chance of mortal danger； and you punish him
right fiercely。
DE GUICHE （coming nearer）： O woman！ woman！ Who but a
woman had e'er devised so subtle a trick？
ROXANE： See you not how he will eat out his heart； while his
friends gnaw their thick fists for that they are deprived of the battle？ So
are you best avenged。
DE GUICHE： You love me； then； a little？ （She smiles）： I would
fainseeing you thus espouse my cause； Roxanebelieve it a proof of
love！
ROXANE： 'Tis a proof of love！
DE GUICHE （showing some sealed papers）： Here are the marching
orders； they will be sent instantly to each company except （He detaches
one）： This one！ 'Tis that of the Cadets。 （He puts it in his pocket）：
This I keep。 （Laughing）： Ha！ ha！ ha！ Cyrano！ His love of
battle！。 。 。So you can play tricks on people？。 。 。you； of all ladies！
ROXANE： Sometimes！
DE GUICHE （coming close to her）： Oh！ how I love you！to
distraction！ Listen！ To…nighttrue； I ought to startbuthow leave you
now that I feel your heart is touched！ Hard by； in the Rue d'Orleans； is a
convent founded by Father Athanasius； the syndic of the Capuchins。
True that no layman may enterbutI can settle that with the good Fathers！
Their habit sleeves are wide enough to hide me in。 'Tis they who serve
Richelieu's private chapel： and from respect to the uncle； fear the
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nephew。 All will deem me gone。 I will come to you； masked。 Give
me leave to wait till tomorrow； sweet Lady Fanciful！
ROXANE： But； of this be rumored； your glory。 。 。
DE GUICHE： Bah！
ROXANE： But the siegeArras。 。 。
DE GUICHE： 'Twill take its chance。 Grant but permission。
ROXANE： No！
DE GUICHE： Give me leave！
ROXANE （tenderly）： It were my duty to forbid you！
DE GUICHE： Ah！
ROXANE： You must go！ （Aside）： Christian stays here。 （Aloud）：
I would have you heroicAntoine！
DE GUICHE： O heavenly word！ You love； then； him？。 。 。
ROXANE： 。 。 。For whom I trembled。
DE GUICHE （in an ecstasy）： Ah！ I go then！ （He kisses her hand）：
Are you content？
ROXANE： Yes； my friend！
（He goes out。）
THE DUENNA （making behind his back a mocking courtesy）： Yes；
my friend！
ROXANE （to the duenna）： Not a word of what I have done。
Cyrano would never pardon me for stealing his fighting from him！ （She
calls toward the house）： Cousin！
SCENE 3。III。
Roxane； The duenna； Cyrano。
ROXANE： We are going to Clomire's house。 （She points to the
door opposite）： Alcandre and Lysimon are to discourse！
THE DUENNA （putting her little finger in her ear）： Yes！ But my
little finger tells me we shall miss them。
CYRANO： 'Twere a pity to miss such apes！
（They have come to Clomire's door。）
THE DUENNA： Oh； see！ The knocker is muffled up！ （Speaking
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CYRANO DE BERGERAC
to the knocker）： So they have gagged that metal tongue of yours； little
noisy one； lest it should disturb the fine orators！
（She lifts it carefully and knocks with precaution。）
ROXANE （seeing that the door opens）： Let us enter！ （On the
threshold； to Cyrano）： If Christian comes； as I feel sure he will； bid him
wait for me！
CYRANO （quickly； as she is going in）： Listen！ （She turns）：
What mean you to question him on； as is your wont； to…night？
ROXANE： Oh
CYRANO （eagerly）： Well； say。
ROXANE： But you will be mute？
CYRANO： Mute as a fish。
ROXANE： I shall not question him at all； but say： Give rein to
your fancy！ Prepare not your speeches；but speak the thoughts as they
come！ Speak to me of love； and speak splendidly！
CYRANO （smiling）： Very good！
ROXANE： But secret！。 。 。
CYRANO： Secret。
ROXANE： Not a word！
（She enters and shuts the door。）
CYRANO （when the door is shut； bowing to her）： A thousand
thanks！
（The door opens again； and Roxane puts her head out。）
ROXANE： Lest he prepare himself！
CYRANO： The devil！no； no！
BOTH TOGETHER： Secret。
（The door shuts。）
CYRANO （calling）： Christian！
SCENE 3。IV。
Cyrano； Christian。
CYRANO： I know all that is needful。 Here's occasion For you
to deck yourself with glory。 Come； Lose no time； put away those
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sulky looks； Come to your house with me； I'll teach you。 。 。
CHRISTIAN： No！
CYRANO： Why？
CHRISTIAN： I will wait for Roxane here。
CYRANO： How？ Crazy？ Come quick with me and learn。 。 。
CHRISTIAN： No； no！ I say。 I am aweary of these borrowed
letters； Borrowed love…makings！ Thus to act a part； And tremble
all the time！'Twas well enough At the beginning！Now I know she
loves！ I fear no longer！I will speak myself。
CYRANO： Mercy！
CHRISTIAN： And how know you I cannot speak？ I am not
such a fool when all is said！ I've by your lessons profited。 You'll see
I shall know how to speak alone！ The devil！ I know at least to clasp
her in my arms！ （Seeing Roxane come out from Clomire's house）： It
is she！ Cyrano； no！Leave