Why! Look at me, good friend, and say what hope There can be with .... such a protuberance! I clearly see the truth. But, then, of course, My heart will beat, perchance, at eventide, If, with this nose, I scent the breath of spring. Or else, I see, along some moonlit path, A whisp'ring pair of lovers slowly move; And then I think what rapture would be mine If on my arm a gentle creature leaned. I dream: but suddenly, I'm brought to sense. By what? Alas! My profile on the wall! LE BRET. Dear friend!.... CYRANO. Yes, friend, it's hard indeed to feel So homely and forlorn at times.... LE BRET (_taking his hand_). You weep! CYRANO. Weep? Never! Oh! a sorry sight, indeed, If down this nose a tear should take its course! I will not have, so long as I command, The saintliness of tears polluted by This homeliness of mine. Remember, friend, That nothing's more sublime than flowing tears. So would I not allow a single one To cause a laugh, or seem ridiculous! LE BRET. Come, come, do not be sad. In love there is hazard, remember. CYRANO (_shaking his hand_). No! I love Cleopatra: do I resemble a Cæsar? I adore Berenice: do I look like a Titus? LE BRET. But, friend, your bravery, intelligence and wit!.... Take that girl there who just now offered you your dinner. Did her eyes seem to detest you? CYRANO (_struck_). It's a fact. LE BRET. Well, then, hope!.... Why! Roxane was pale and trembling, ghastly pale, while she followed your duel here!.... CYRANO. Ghastly pale? LE BRET. Her heart and mind were certainly struck. Pick up courage and speak to her, so that.... CYRANO. So that she bursts out laughing into my face .... under my very nose? No, no!.... That is the only thing in the world that I fear! THE JANITOR (_bringing in the duenna, to Cyrano_). Somebody for you, Sir. CYRANO (_seeing the duenna_). Great heavens! Her duenna! _SCENE VI._ CYRANO, LE BRET, THE DUENNA. THE DUENNA (_with a long curtsy_). A fair cousin would like to know where a valiant cousin can be seen, in private. CYRANO (_greatly disturbed_). I be seen, in private? DUENNA (_with another curtsy_). Yes, be seen. There are things to be said. CYRANO. There are things.... DUENNA (_another curtsy_). To be said. CYRANO (_staggering_). Heavens!