A beautiful captain, An officer grand, With corselet of steel And an air of command! Often, kind sir, Our hearts they break, And only laugh At the tears they make. PHOEBUS (_aside_). With a beautiful captain, An officer gay, Love hardly succeeds In living a day. All soldiers desire To pluck every rose, Joys without troubles, Love without woes. PHOEBUS (_to Esmeralda_). A radiant spirit Smiles at me Through thine eyes. ESMERALDA. A beautiful captain, An officer grand, With corselet of steel And an air of command! Long watches the girl He carelessly passed; And the dreams he awakened Forever may last! PHOEBUS. With a beautiful captain, An officer gay, Love hardly succeeds In a living day! It's like lightning which flashes-- This eager desire Which the eyes of sweet maidens Kindle to fire! ESMERALDA (_standing before the Captain and admiring him_). My lord Phoebus! Let me see you! Let me admire you a hundred-fold! Oh the beautiful scarf of silk-- Oh the fine scarf with fringe of gold! [_Phoebus takes it off and offers it to her._ PHOEBUS. Does it please you? ESMERALDA (_taking the scarf and putting it on_). Yes, it is beautiful! PHOEBUS. One moment! [_He goes to her and tries to embrace her._ ESMERALDA (_drawing back_). Don't, I beg you! PHOEBUS (_insisting_). You must kiss me! ESMERALDA (_drawing away still more_). No, truly! PHOEBUS (_laughing_). A beauty So cruel, So haughty, Is charming. ESMERALDA. No, beautiful captain, In vain you plead! Can I tell how far A kiss might lead? PHOEBUS. I am a captain, Why abuse me? I want a kiss-- Don't refuse me! Give it me--give it, or I will take! ESMERALDA. No, leave me! I beg of you, for my sake. PHOEBUS. One kiss, one kiss--'tis nothing, you see. ESMERALDA. Nothing to you, but much to me! PHOEBUS. Look at me, dear! I am playing no part! ESMERALDA. Alas, but I cannot look into my heart! PHOEBUS. To-night love shall make an entrance there! ESMERALDA. Wherever love enters, soon follows despair. [_She slips out of his arms and escapes. Phoebus, disappointed, turns to Quasimodo, whom the archers hold bound at the back of the stage._ PHOEBUS. She escapes me, she resists me! A gay adventure, verily! I keep the worst of our two birds of prey-- The owl remains; the nightingale flew away! [_He places himself at the head of his guard and goes out, taking Quasimodo with him._ CHORUS OF THE WATCH. Vigilance and peace-- Whoever passes here Must ope the eye to darkness, To silence strain the ear! [_The sound grows fainter and finally ceases._ _ACT II_ Scene.--_The square of Grève. The pillory. Quasimodo is in the pillory. Populace on the square_ SCENE I CHORUS. He abducted a girl-- What! is it possible? Hark! how they abuse him! Do you hear, my friends? Quasimodo has been hunting on Cupid's domain!