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SISTER MARTHA： None help him？
MOTHER MARGUERITE： He permits not。 （In an alley at the back
Roxane appears； dressed in black； with a widow's coif and veil。 De
Guiche； imposing…looking and visibly aged； walks by her side。 They
saunter slowly。 Mother Marguerite rises）： 'Tis time we go in； Madame
Madeleine Walks in the garden with a visitor。
SISTER MARTHA （to Sister Claire； in a low voice）： The Marshal
of Grammont？
SISTER CLAIRE （looking at him）： 'Tis he； I think。
SISTER MARTHA： 'Tis many months now since he came to see
her。
THE SISTERS： He is so busy！The Court；the camp！。 。 。
SISTER CLAIRE： The world！
（They go out。 De Guiche and Roxane come forward in silence； and
stop close to the embroidery frame。）
SCENE 5。II。
Roxane； the Duke de Grammont； formerly Count de Guiche。 Then
Le Bret and Ragueneau。
THE DUKE： And you stay here stillever vainly fair； Ever in
weeds？
ROXANE： Ever。
THE DUKE： Still faithful？
ROXANE： Still。
THE DUKE （after a pause）： Am I forgiven？
ROXANE： Ay； since I am here。
（Another pause。）
THE DUKE： His was a soul； you say？。 。 。
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ROXANE： Ah！when you knew him！
THE DUKE： Ah； may be！。 。 。I； perchance； too little knew
him！ 。 。 。And his last letter； ever next your heart？
ROXANE： Hung from this chain； a gentle scapulary。
THE DUKE： And； dead； you love him still？
ROXANE： At times；meseems He is but partly deadour hearts
still speak； As if his love； still living； wrapped me round！
THE DUKE （after another pause）： Cyrano comes to see you？
ROXANE： Often； ay。 Dear； kind old friend！ We call him my
'Gazette。' He never fails to come： beneath this tree They place his
chair； if it be fine：I wait； I broider；the clock strikes；at the last
stroke I hear；for now I never turn to look Too sure to hear his
cane tap down the steps； He seats himself：with gentle raillery He
mocks my tapestry that's never done； He tells me all the gossip of the
week。 。 。 （Le Bret appears on the steps）： Why； here's Le Bret！ （Le Bret
descends）： How goes it with our friend？
LE BRET： Ill！very ill。
THE DUKE： How？
ROXANE （to the Duke）： He exaggerates！
LE BRET： All that I prophesied： desertion； want！。 。 。 His
letters now make him fresh enemies！ Attacking the sham nobles；
sham devout； Sham brave；the thieving authors；all the world！
ROXANE： Ah！ but his sword still holds them all in check； None
get the better of him。
THE DUKE （shaking his head）： Time will show！
LE BRET： Ah； but I fear for himnot man's attack； Solitude
hungercold December days； That wolf…like steal into his chamber
drear： Lo！ the assassins that I fear for him！ Each day he tightens
by one hole his belt： That poor nosetinted like old ivory： He has
retained one shabby suit of serge。
THE DUKE： Ay； there is one who has no prize of Fortune！ Yet
is not to be pitied！
LE BRET （with a bitter smile）： My Lord Marshal！。 。 。
THE DUKE： Pity him not！ He has lived out his vows； Free in
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his thoughts； as in his actions free！
LE BRET （in the same tone）： My Lord！。 。 。
THE DUKE （haughtily）： True！ I have all； and he has naught；。 。 。
Yet I were proud to take his hand！ （Bowing to Roxane）： Adieu！
ROXANE： I go with you。
（The Duke bows to Le Bret； and goes with Roxane toward the steps。）
THE DUKE （pausing； while she goes up）： Ay； true；I envy him。
Look you； when life is brimful of success Though the past hold no
action foulone feels A thousand self…disgusts； of which the sum Is
not remorse； but a dim； vague unrest； And； as one mounts the steps of
worldly fame； The Duke's furred mantles trail within their folds A
sound of dead illusions； vain regrets； A rustlescarce a whisperlike as
when； Mounting the terrace steps； by your mourning robe Sweeps in
its train the dying autumn leaves。
ROXANE （ironically）： You are pensive？
THE DUKE： True！ I am！ （As he is going out； suddenly）：
Monsieur Le Bret！ （To Roxane）： A word； with your permission？ （He
goes to Le Bret； and in a low voice）： True； that none Dare to attack
your friend；but many hate him； Yesterday； at the Queen's card…play；
'twas said 'That Cyrano may dieby accident！' Let him stay inbe
prudent！
LE BRET （raising his arms to heaven）： Prudent！ He！。 。 。 He's
coming here。 I'll warn himbut！。 。 。
ROXANE （who has stayed on the steps； to a sister who comes toward
her）： What is it？
THE SISTER： Ragueneau would see you； Madame。
ROXANE： Let him come。 （To the Duke and Le Bret）： He comes
to tell his troubles。 Having been An author （save the mark！）poor
fellownow By turns he's singer。 。 。
LE BRET： Bathing…man。 。 。
ROXANE： Then actor。 。 。
LE BRET： Beadle。 。 。
ROXANE： Wig…maker。 。 。
LE BRET： Teacher of the lute。 。 。
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ROXANE： What will he be to…day； by chance？
RAGUENEAU （entering hurriedly）： Ah！ Madame！ （He sees Le
Bret）： Ah！ you here； Sir！
ROXANE （smiling）： Tell all your miseries To him； I will return
anon。
RAGUENEAU： But； Madame。 。 。
（Roxane goes out with the Duke。 Ragueneau goes toward Le Bret。）
SCENE 5。III。
Le Bret； Ragueneau。
RAGUENEAU： Since you are here； 'tis best she should not know！
I was going to your friend just nowwas but A few steps from the
house； when I saw him Go out。 I hurried to him。 Saw him turn
The corner。 。 。suddenly； from out a window Where he was passingwas
it chance？。 。 。may be！ A lackey let fall a large piece of wood。
LE BRET： Cowards！ O Cyrano！
RAGUENEAU： I ranI saw。 。 。
LE BRET： 'Tis hideous！
RAGUENEAU： Saw our poet； Sirour friend Struck to the
grounda large wound in his head！
LE BRET： He's dead？
RAGUENEAU： NobutI bore him to his room。 。 。 Ah！ his
room！ What a thing to see！that garret！
LE BRET： He suffers？
RAGUENEAU： No； his consciousness has flown。
LE BRET： Saw you a doctor？
RAGUENEAU： One was kindhe came。
LE BRET： My poor Cyrano！We must not tell this To Roxane
suddenly。What said this leech？
RAGUENEAU： Said；what； I know notfever； meningitis！
Ah！ could you see himall his head bound up！ But let us haste！
There's no one by his bed！ And if he try to rise； Sir； he might die！
LE BRET （dragging him toward the right）： Come！ Through the
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chapel！ 'Tis the quickest way！
ROXANE （appearing on the steps； and seeing Le Bret go away by the
colonnade leading to the chapel door）： Monsieur le Bret！ （Le Bret and
Ragueneau disappear without answering）： Le Bret goeswhen I call！
'Tis some new trouble of good Ragueneau's。
（She descends the steps。）
SCENE 5。IV。
Roxane alone。 Two sisters； for a moment。
ROXANE： Ah！ what