The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-29
Translation and VersificatiOn from
CyranO De Bergerac.

tumultuous applause
Translation and VersifcatiOn from
CyranO De Bergerac.
ACT III.
Let's make the best
OF this opportune time meath nights sheterine
/ screen.
Speak of love, and be heard though unseen.
Roxane:
Unseen?
| Cyrano:
Why, then, yes; Wen but guess whence the voice
that spoke.
/ You will see the dark form Of a long trailing
cloak.
I perceive your robes whiteness against the black
| night;
| I will be but shadow. and you but a light!
| You forget, for my sake, how these swift mo-
! ments gol
And if I have been eloquent
Roxane:
You were once so!
Cyrano:
To this moment my words have not come from
| my heart
| Unalloyed 49,.
/ Roxane:
| Why?
Cyrano:
49,. the trembling which your eyes impart
|
night sublime
I feel that speak to you, love, the first time!
| Roxane:
1t is that your voice is quite different now.
Cyrano:
1t is different yes. for the night will allow
| Me to be what 1 am, and 1 dare
Gle hesitates, though wandering)
| Where was 1?
forget . . my emotion forgive a.. I but sigh
In my joy it is all SO delicious and new -.
Roxane:
| It is new?
Cyrano, confused and always attempting to re-
| cover his words:
! New why, yes to be candid and true:
For feared being laughed at and shrank from
the smart
Roxane:
Laughed at for what?
Cyrano:
Why. for -. the elan {. . Yes. my heart
In my mind clothed itself from shy modesty's
Though I reach for star fear arrests me, I
pause,
In dismay bend my knee but to pluck a heurette!
| Roxane:
The feurette is worth while.
Cyrano:
Roxane:
You never have spoken to me thus beforel
Cyrano:
All! so far from the camp, and the torch and the
corps.
| One may sometimes retrieve oneself with
things more new!
And instead of imbibing the insipid dew,
Drop by drop, from a thimble of delicate gold,
Let us see how the soul, at once eager and bold
Sleeps itself in the river, drinks copiously!
Roxane
! But the mind?
Cyrano:
Heretofore it has spoken to thee,
But to let it speak now were insulting this night
These perfumes, and this hour. all Nature S
delight!
Let heaven itself by one glance at the stars
| Take away artificial, unnatural scars.
| I am fearful lest in our sweet alchemy here
| The truth OF the sentiment might disappear.
Lest the SOUL taking wings in the darkness ex-
| pend,
Lest not here. after all. be the end of the end.
Roxane
| But the mind?
detest IT in love! IT'S crime,
When one loves to thus wantonly MISUSE the
time! a
cumb
When the throbbing of passion by racked souls is
heard
A passion made sad by each thought and each
word.
Roxane:
And now if this moment has come for us two,
What words will you say to me?
| Cyrano:
will say to you
they pour:
love you. it is too much, 1 am nad-what
rnore?-
1 am choking, love thee, all this shall tell:
Your name in my heart hangs as though in bell
And, since every moment tremble, Roxane,
Thy in my soul rings fore'er and anon!
OF you I remember all things, have loved ALL
Each moment with you ever recall:
1 know that last year, on the twelfth day of May
You wore your hair dressed in an unwonted way!
1 mistook your fair locks for the mornings bright
light
And, as one who has gazed at the sun till his
sight
| Adds to all that he looks on bright ruby ring,
So, when my eyes had quilted you, on everything.
1 regarded thereafter, fecks Of gold!
Roxane;
| All! yes! it is indeed love =.
This passionate hold
| On my soul has the fury and ardor Of love;
Ay more; it is not selfish It comes florn abovel
All! that for your happiness I might give mine
! Though you knew not the sacrifice; if but sign
OF the happiness born Of it might come to me
From afar, would make 1t most gladly for thee
Each glance from you wakens yalor unknown
| In my breast! Do you see? Is my love at last
shown?
Let me know: render now if you can, an ac-
count
Are you sure in the darkness you feel my soul
mount?
oh, tonight It is all much too sweet to be true,