Part 11

(_A ray of light from the moon is on him. He falls back into his chair. The weeping of Roxane wakes him from his dreamy state. He looks at her and strokes her veil._)

I would not have you weep a wit the less For Christian, who was all that's good and grand. But, when the hand of ice has laid me low, I would your weeds might have a double sense Of mourning: first for him....and then for me!

ROXANE.

I swear to you....

CYRANO (_shaking with fever, rises suddenly_).

No! never! In a chair!

(_to those who advance to assist him_).

No help!.... From anybody!....

(_leaning back against the tree_).

.... But the tree!

(_Silence._)

It[27] comes!--I have already marble boots.... And gloves of lead!....

(_He straightens up._)

What matters?--Since It's here, I'll meet it standing and....

(_draws his sword_)

....with sword in hand!

LE BRET.

Cyrano!

ROXANE (_overcome_).

God!

(_All fall back aghast._)

CYRANO.

Ha! ha! I think it looks.... It dares to look--the flat face--at my nose!

(_Brandishes his sword._)

What say you?....That it's useless?....Don't I know? But valiant hearts contend not for success! It's nobler to defend a hopeless cause! --Who are you all? I count a thousand....more! I know you now: my enemies of old! You're Falsehood!--

(_Strikes the open air with his sword._)

Here!--Ha! ha! and Compromise, And Prejudice, and Cowardice!....

(_He strikes._)

Submit? No, never! Ah! here's Imbecility!.... I know that, in the end, I must succumb, I dare you, though, and strike! and strike! and strike!

(_Strikes right and left with his sword, and stops exhausted._)

You take my all, the laurel and the rose!.... Well, take them!.... But, in spite of you, there is A something that I bear along with me To sweep to-night with grandeur, as I pass, The threshold and the gates of heaven's blue; A something that's unsullied and is mine.... Do what you will!

(_Rushes forward, sword aloft._)

It is....

(_Sword drops out of his hand. He staggers and falls into the arms of Le Bret and Ragueneau._)

ROXANE (_leaning over him and kissing his forehead_).

It is?....

CYRANO (_opens his eyes, recognises her and smiles_).

....My plume![28]

[26] Note.--An evident anachronism, since Molière did not open his Paris theatre until three years later (1658). Given, however, the deep knowledge of seventeenth century matters displayed throughout this drama, the anachronism must be intentional, the poet's object doubtless having been to embody the tradition according to which the "Qu'allait-il faire dans cette galère?" of Molière's "Fourberies de Scapin" (produced only in 1671) was taken from Cyrano de Bergerac's "Le Pédant Joué."

[27] Note.--"It" here is Death (feminine in French). The personifying _he_ somewhat customary in English poetry, was set aside, and the _neuter_ gender was intentionally preserved, because, being more vague, it better represents the terror-striking _unknown_, and is more expressive of Cyrano's daring _contempt_ and repulsion for a loathsome _thing_. Cyrano, who put to flight one hundred men, could not be expected to fear a person, much less a personification.

[28] Note.--See Introduction, Preface and Prefatory Triolets ("Le Panache").

_CURTAIN._

Transcriber's Note

Apparent printer's errors have been retained, unless stated below.

Capitalization, accents and formatting markup have been normalized. Please note that although ellipses as well as punctuation around brackets appear inconsistent, these have been kept true to the text.

Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_).

Illustration tags have been moved to the end of each Act.

Page 139, "seige" changed to "siege". (That during this terrible siege he shall never be cold!)

Page 139, "CHRISTIAN" changed to "CYRANO". Other editions have Cyrano speaking this line, and it only makes sense when it is spoken by him. (CYRANO (_halting_).)

Page 141 and 156, "Ventrebieu" has been retained. It is believed that this may be a typo for "Ventrebleu", however, multiple volumes in both French and English use the same term.

Page 150, "Decartes" changed to "Descartes". (.... and I ... will read Descartes.)

Page 188, CYRANO's name appeared twice in a row without a second character speaking in between. (Once before his line, "We'll give them a salute!" and again before he said "Fire!") This redundancy was corrected.

Page 192, "vail" changed to "veil". (Roxane is seen in the rear; she is in black, wearing the long veil of a widow.)

Page 209, "Youé" changed to "Joué". (Given, however, the deep knowledge of seventeenth century matters displayed throughout this drama, the anachronism must be intentional, the poet's object doubtless having been to embody the tradition according to which the "Qu'allait-il faire dans cette galère?" of Molière's "Fourberies de Scapin" (produced only in 1671) was taken from Cyrano de Bergerac's "Le Pédant Joué.")

Page 210, "genuis" changed to "genius". ('Tis justice, and my dying breath approves; Molière has genius, Christian's beauty won.)

Page 212, "ROXANE" changed to "LE BRET". Other editions have Le Bret speaking this line, and as Cyrano has just addressed him, it makes better sense. (LE BRET. Oh! speak not thus!)