ROXANE. No! You speak too clumsily. Better go! CHRISTIAN. Be pitiful!.... ROXANE. No! You love me no more! CHRISTIAN (_prompted by Cyrano_). You accuse me....merciful Gods!....of loving no more....when....I love more! ROXANE (_stopping as she was going to close the window_). Why! you are improving. CHRISTIAN (_still prompted_). Love grows stronger in the restless soul--mine--that he has chosen....cruel child!....for a cradle! ROXANE (_coming out on the balcony_). Better still!....But, since this love is so cruel, you were foolish, indeed, not to smother it at its birth! CHRISTIAN (_prompted_). I tried....but without success: this new-born babe, Madam, is a little Hercules. ROXANE. Still better! CHRISTIAN (_prompted_). In fact, he....strangled without an effort....two serpents....Pride and....Doubt.... ROXANE (_leaning on the balcony railing_). Very good indeed! But why do you speak so....deliberately? Has your imagination the gout, that it limps so? CYRANO (_drawing Christian under the balcony, and noiselessly taking Christian's place before it_). Hush! The task is getting too difficult!.... ROXANE. To-night you waver in your speech. Why so? CYRANO (_speaking in a low tone as Christian did before him_). Because night has come, and, in the dark, my words must wander in search of your ear. ROXANE. But my words meet with no such difficulty. CYRANO. Yours find a resting-place immediately. Oh! very naturally, since I receive them into my heart. Remember that my heart is large, while your ear is very small. Moreover, your words descend! thus have they speed. While mine must rise, Madam: they require more time! ROXANE. But they have been rising much better for the last few moments. CYRANO. They are getting trained to climbing! ROXANE. The fact is that I am speaking to you from quite a height! CYRANO. Assuredly, and you would kill me if, from such an elevation, you allowed a sharp word to drop upon my heart! ROXANE (_moved_). I'll come down. CYRANO (_quickly_). No! ROXANE (_pointing to the stone bench under the balcony_). Step upon the bench, then, and climb up here! CYRANO (_frightened and retreating_). No! ROXANE. You surprise me.... Why not? CYRANO (_more and more moved_).