How we cite our quotes: (Act.Line)
Quote #16
ROXANE
No matter. I am just a little mad—
I will stay. It may be amusing.
CYRANO
What,
A heroine—our intellectual?
ROXANE
Monsieur de Bergerac, I am your cousin!
A CADET
We’ll fight now! Hurrah!
ROXANE (More and more excited)
I am safe with you—my friends! (IV.286-291)
Roxane shows her own brand of feminine bravery by deciding to stay on the battlefield with her love, Christian, even though the Spanish army, which far outnumbers the French, is advancing.
Quote #17
CHRISTIAN
Let her choose between us!—
Tell her everything!
[…]
CHRISTIAN
I want her love
For the poor fool I am—or not at all!
Oh, I am going through with this! I’ll know,
One way or the other. Now I shall walk down
To the end of the post. Go tell her. Let her choose
One of us. (IV.481-497)
Christian is brave enough to want Roxane to know the truth, even if it means losing her love forever.
Quote #18
A VOICE (Off stage)
Surrender!
THE CADETS
No!
RAGUENEAU
This place is dangerous!—
CYRANO (To De Guiche)
Take her away—I am going—
ROXANE (Kisses the letter; faintly.)
His blood… his tears…
RAGUENEAU (Leaps down from the coach and runs to her.)
She has fainted—
DE GUICHE (On the parapet; savagely, to the Cadets)
Hold them!
VOICE OFF STAGE
Lay down your arms!
VOICES
No! No!
CYRANO (To de Guiche)
Sir, you have proved yourself—Take care of her. (IV.541-544)
The Cadets refuse to back down against overwhelming odds. Ragueneau shows his courage by leaping down into the battlefield to rescue Roxane. De Guiche, worried about Roxane, growls at the men to hold the line of fire. Cyrano works up his nerve to entrust Roxane to de Guiche, his sworn enemy, so that he may be free to bravely avenge Christian’s death.