d
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:
Or 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.)

Scene 4.X.

Roxane, Cyrano. Then Le Bret, Carbon de Castel-Jaloux, the cadets, Ragueneau,
De Guiche, etc.

ROXANE:
Important, how?

CYRANO (in despair. to Roxane):
He's gone! 'Tis naught!--Oh, you know how he sees
Importance in a trifle!

ROXANE (warmly):
Did he doubt
Of what I said?--Ah, yes, I saw he doubted!

CYRANO (taking her hand):
But are you sure you told him all the truth?

ROXANE:
Yes, I would love him were he. . .

(She hesitates.)

CYRANO:
Does that word
Embarrass you before my face, Roxane?

ROXANE:
I. . .

CYRANO (smiling sadly):
'Twill not hurt me! Say it! If he were
Ugly!. . .

ROXANE:
Yes, ugly!
(Musket report outside):
Hark! I hear a shot!

CYRANO (ardently):
Hideous!

ROXANE:
Hideous! yes!

CYRANO:
Disfigured.

ROXANE:
Ay!

CYRANO:
Grotesque?

ROXANE:
He could not be grotesque to me!

CYRANO:
You'd love the same?. . .

ROXANE:
The same--nay, even more!

CYRANO (losing command over himself--aside):
My God! it's true, perchance, love waits me there!
(To Roxane):
I. . .Roxane. . .listen. . .

LE BRET (entering hurrie