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164
CYRANO DE BERGERAC
164
Cyrano.
Till now I spoke haphazard . , .
Roxane.
What?
Cyrano.
Your eyes
Have beams that turn men dizzy ! But to-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 ?
