Scene 4.IX.

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!

CYRANO:
What?

CHRISTIAN:
'Tis you she loves!

CYRANO:
No!

CHRISTIAN:
--For she loves me only for my soul!

CYRANO:
Truly?

CHRISTIAN:
Yes! Thus--you see, that soul is you,. . .
Therefore, 'tis you she loves!--And you--love her!

CYRANO:
I?

CHRISTIAN:
Oh, I know it!

CYRANO:
Ay, 'tis true!

CHRISTIAN:
You love
To madness!

CYRANO:
Ay! and worse!

CHRISTIAN:
Then tell her so!

CYRANO:
No!

CHRISTIAN:
And why not?

CYRANO:
Look at my face!--be answered!

CHRISTIAN:
She'd love me--were I ugly.

CYRANO:
Said she so?

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!

CYRANO:
No! I beg!

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?

CHRISTIAN:
Tell all!

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!

CYRANO:
Christian!

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!

CYRANO:
It will be you.

CHRISTIAN:
Pray God!
(He calls):
Roxane!

CYRANO:
No! no!

ROXANE (coming up quickly):
What?

CHRISTIAN:
Cyrano has things
Important for your ear. . .

(She hastens to Cyrano. Christian goes out.)