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on the bench！
CYRANO （starting back alarmed）： No！
ROXANE： How； you will not？
CYRANO （more and more moved）： Stay awhile！ 'Tis sweet；。 。 。
The rare occasion； when our hearts can speak Our selves unseen；
unseeing！
ROXANE： Whyunseen？
CYRANO： Ay； it is sweet！ Half hidden；half revealed You
see the dark folds of my shrouding cloak； And I； the glimmering
whiteness of your dress： I but a shadowyou a radiance fair！ Know
you what such a moment holds for me？ If ever I were eloquent。 。 。
ROXANE： You were！
CYRANO： Yet never till to…night my speech has sprung Straight
from my heart as now it springs。
ROXANE： Why not？
CYRANO： Till now I spoke haphazard。 。 。
ROXANE： What？
CYRANO： Your eyes Have beams that turn men dizzy！But to…
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night Methinks I shall find speech for the first time！
ROXANE： 'Tis true； your voice rings with a tone that's new。
CYRANO （coming nearer； passionately）： Ay； a new tone！ In the
tender； sheltering dusk I dare to be myself for once；at last！ （He stops；
falters）： What say I？ I know not！Oh； pardon me It thrills me；'tis
so sweet； so novel。 。 。
ROXANE： How？ So novel？
CYRANO （off his balance； trying to find the thread of his sentence）：
Ay；to be at last sincere； Till now； my chilled heart； fearing to be
mocked。 。 。
ROXANE： Mocked； and for what？
CYRANO： For its mad beating！Ay； My heart has clothed itself
with witty words； To shroud itself from curious eyes：impelled At
times to aim at a star； I stay my hand； And； fearing ridicule；cull a wild
flower！
ROXANE： A wild flower's sweet。
CYRANO： Ay； but to…nightthe star！
ROXANE： Oh！ never have you spoken thus before！
CYRANO： If； leaving Cupid's arrows； quivers； torches； We
turned to seek for sweeterfresher things！ Instead of sipping in a
pygmy glass Dull fashionable waters；did we try How the soul
slakes its thirst in fearless draught By drinking from the river's flooding
brim！
ROXANE： But wit？。 。 。
CYRANO： If I have used it to arrest you At the first starting；
now； 'twould be an outrage； An insultto the perfumed Nightto
Nature To speak fine words that garnish vain love…letters！ Look up
but at her stars！ The quiet Heaven Will ease our hearts of all things
artificial； I fear lest； 'midst the alchemy we're skilled in The truth of
sentiment dissolve and vanish； The soul exhausted by these empty
pastimes； The gain of fine things be the loss of all things！
ROXANE： But wit？ I say。 。 。
CYRANO： In love 'tis crime；'tis hateful！ Turning frank loving
into subtle fencing！ At last the moment comes； inevitable； Oh；
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woe for those who never know that moment！ When feeling love exists
in us； ennobling； Each well…weighed word is futile and soul…saddening！
ROXANE： Well； if that moment's come for ussuppose it！ What
words would serve you？
CYRANO： All； all； all； whatever That came to me； e'en as they
came； I'd fling them In a wild cluster； not a careful bouquet。 I love
thee！ I am mad！ I love； I stifle！ Thy name is in my heart as in a
sheep…bell； And as I ever tremble； thinking of thee； Ever the bell
shakes； ever thy name ringeth！ All things of thine I mind； for I love all
things； I know that last year on the twelfth of May…month； To walk
abroad； one day you changed your hair…plaits！ I am so used to take your
hair for daylight That；like as when the eye stares on the sun's disk；
One sees long after a red blot on all things So； when I quit thy beams；
my dazzled vision Sees upon all things a blonde stain imprinted。
ROXANE （agitated）： Why； this is love indeed！。 。 。
CYRANO： Ay； true； the feeling Which fills me； terrible and
jealous； truly Love；which is ever sad amid its transports！ Love；
and yet； strangely； not a selfish passion！ I for your joy would gladly lay
mine own down； E'en though you never were to know it；never！
If but at times I mightfar off and lonely； Hear some gay echo of the
joy I bought you！ Each glance of thine awakes in me a virtue； A
novel； unknown valor。 Dost begin； sweet； To understand？ So late；
dost understand me？ Feel'st thou my soul； here； through the darkness
mounting？ Too fair the night！ Too fair； too fair the moment！ That I
should speak thus； and that you should hearken！ Too fair！ In moments
when my hopes rose proudest； I never hoped such guerdon。 Naught is
left me But to die now！ Have words of mine the power To make
you tremble；throned there in the branches？ Ay； like a leaf among the
leaves； you tremble！ You tremble！ For I feel；an if you will it； Or
will it not；your hand's beloved trembling Thrill through the branches；
down your sprays of jasmine！
（He kisses passionately one of the hanging tendrils。）
ROXANE： Ay！ I am trembling； weeping！I am thine！ Thou
hast conquered all of me！
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CYRANO： Then let death come！ 'Tis I； 'tis I myself； who
conquered thee！ One thing； but one； I dare to ask
CHRISTIAN （under the balcony）： A kiss！
ROXANE （drawing back）： What？
CYRANO： Oh！
ROXANE： You ask。 。 。？
CYRANO： I。 。 。 （To Christian； whispering）： Fool！ you go too
quick！
CHRISTIAN： Since she is moved thusI will profit by it！
CYRANO （to Roxane）： My words sprang thoughtlessly； but now I
see Shame on me！