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Roxane alone。 Two sisters； for a moment。
ROXANE： Ah！ what a beauty in September's close！ My
sorrow's eased。 April's joy dazzled it； But autumn wins it with her
dying calm。 （She seats herself at the embroidery frame。 Two sisters
come out of the house； and bring a large armchair under the tree）：
There comes the famous armchair where he sits； Dear faithful friend！
SISTER MARTHA： It is the parlor's best！
ROXANE： Thanks； sister。 （The sisters go）： He'll be here now。
（She seats herself。 A clock strikes）： The hour strikes。 My silks？
Why； now； the hour's struck！ How strange To be behind his time； at
last； to…day！ Perhaps the portresswhere's my thimble？。 。 。 Here！Is
preaching to him。 （A pause）： Yes； she must be preaching！ Surely he
must come soon！Ah； a dead leaf！ （She brushes off the leaf from her
work）： Nothing； besides； couldscissors？In my bag！ Could
hinder him。 。 。
A SISTER （coming to the steps）： Monsieur de Bergerac。
SCENE 5。V。
Roxane； Cyrano and； for a moment； Sister Martha。
ROXANE （without turning round）： What was I saying？。 。 。 （She
embroiders。 Cyrano； very pale； his hat pulled down over his eyes；
appears。 The sister who had announced him retires。 He descends the
steps slowly； with a visible difficulty in holding himself upright； bearing
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heavily on his cane。 Roxane still works at her tapestry）： Time has
dimmed the tints。 。 。 How harmonize them now？ （To Cyrano； with
playful reproach）： For the first time Late！For the first time； all
these fourteen years！ CYRANO （who has succeeded in reaching the
chair； and has seated himselfin a lively voice； which is in great contrast
with his pale face）： Ay！ It is villainous！ I ragedwas stayed。 。 。
ROXANE： By？。 。 。
CYRANO： By a bold； unwelcome visitor。
ROXANE （absently； working）： Some creditor？
CYRANO： Ay； cousin；the last creditor Who has a debt to claim
from me。
ROXANE： And you Have paid it？
CYRANO： No； not yet！ I put it off； Said； 'Cry you mercy；
this is Saturday； When I have get a standing rendezvous That naught
defers。 Call in an hour's time！'
ROXANE （carelessly）： Oh； well； a creditor can always wait！ I
shall not let you go ere twilight falls。
CYRANO： Haply； perforce； I quit you ere it falls！
（He shuts his eyes； and is silent for a moment。 Sister Martha crosses
the park from the chapel to the flight of steps。 Roxane； seeing her； signs
to her to approach。）
ROXANE （to Cyrano）： How now？ You have not teased the
Sister？
CYRANO （hastily opening his eyes）： True！ （In a comically loud
voice）： Sister！ come here！ （The sister glides up to him）： Ha！ ha！
What？ Those bright eyes Bent ever on the ground？
SISTER MARTHA （who makes a movement of astonishment on
seeing his face）： Oh！
CYRANO （in a whisper； pointing to Roxane）： Hush！ 'tis naught！
（Loudly； in a blustering voice）： I broke fast yesterday！
SISTER MARTHA （aside）： I know； I know！ That's how he is so
pale！ Come presently To the refectory； I'll make you drink A
famous bowl of soup。 。 。You'll come？
CYRANO： Ay； ay！
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SISTER MARTHA： There； see！ You are more reasonable to…day！
ROXANE （who hears them whispering）： The Sister would convert
you？
SISTER MARTHA： Nay； not I！
CYRANO： Hold！ but it's true！ You preach to me no more； You；
once so glib with holy words！ I am Astonished！。 。 。 （With burlesque
fury）： Stay； I will surprise you too！ Hark！ I permit you。 。 。 （He
pretends to be seeking for something to tease her with； and to have found
it）： 。 。 。It is something new！ Topray for me； to…night； at chapel…
time！
ROXANE： Oh！ oh！
CYRANO （laughing）： Good Sister Martha is struck dumb！
SISTER MARTHA （gently）： I did not wait your leave to pray for
you。
（She goes out。）
CYRANO （turning to Roxane； who is still bending over her work）：
That tapestry！ Beshrew me if my eyes Will ever see it finished！
ROXANE： I was sure To hear that well…known jest！
（A light breeze causes the leaves to fall。）
CYRANO： The autumn leaves！
ROXANE （lifting her head； and looking down the distant alley）：
Soft golden brown； like a Venetian's hair。 See how they fall！
CYRANO： Ay； see how brave they fall； In their last journey
downward from the bough； To rot within the clay； yet； lovely still；
Hiding the horror of the last decay； With all the wayward grace of
careless flight！
ROXANE： What； melancholyyou？
CYRANO （collecting himself）： Nay； nay； Roxane！
ROXANE： Then let the dead leaves fall the way they will。 。 。
And chat。 What； have you nothing new to tell； My Court Gazette？
CYRANO： Listen。
ROXANE： Ah！
CYRANO （growing whiter and whiter）： Saturday The
nineteenth： having eaten to excess Of pear…conserve； the King felt
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CYRANO DE BERGERAC
feverish； The lancet quelled this treasonable revolt； And the august
pulse beats at normal pace。 At the Queen's ball on Sunday thirty score
Of best white waxen tapers were consumed。 Our troops； they say； have
chased the Austrians。 Four sorcerers were hanged。 The little dog
Of Madame d'Athis took a dose。 。 。
ROXANE： I bid You hold your tongue； Monsieur de Bergerac！
CYRANO： Mondaynot muchClaire changed protector。
ROXANE： Oh！
CYRANO （whose face changes more and more）： Tuesday； the
Court repaired to Fontainebleau。 Wednesday； the Montglat said to
Comte de Fiesque。 。 。 No！ ThursdayMancini； Queen of France！
（almost！） Friday； the Monglat to Count Fiesque said'Yes！' And
Saturday the twenty…sixth。 。 。
（He closes his eyes。 His head falls forward。 Silence。）
ROXANE （surprised at his voice ceasing； turns round； looks at him；
and rising； terrified）： He swoons！ （She runs toward him crying）：
Cyrano！
CYRANO （opening his eyes； in an unconcerned voice）： What is
this？ （He sees Roxane bending over him； and； hastily pressing his hat on
his head； and shrinking back in his chair）： Nay； on my word 'Tis
nothing！ Let me be！
ROXANE： But。 。 。
CYRANO： That old wound Of Arras； sometimes；as you
know。 。 。
ROXANE： Dear friend！
CYRANO： 'Tis nothing； 'twill pass soon； （He smiles with an effort）：
See！it has passed！
ROXANE： Each of us has his wound； ay； I have mine； Never
healed upnot healed yet； my old wound！ （She puts her hand on her
breast）： 'Tis here； beneath this letter brown with age； All stained
with tear…drops； and still stained with blood。
（Twilight begins to fall。）
CYRANO： His letter！ Ah！ you promised me one day That I
should read it。
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ROXANE： What would you？His letter？
CYRANO： Yes； I would fain；to…day。 。 。
ROXANE