:
How now? Is't soft and dangling, like a trunk?. . .

THE BORE (same play):
I never. . .

CYRANO:
Is it crook'd, like an owl's beak?

THE BORE:
I. . .

CYRANO:
Do you see a wart upon the tip?

THE BORE:
Nay. . .

CYRANO:
Or a fly, that takes the air there? What
Is there to stare at?

THE BORE:
Oh. . .

CYRANO:
What do you see?

THE BORE:
But I was careful not to look--knew better.

CYRANO:
And why not look at it, an if you please?

THE BORE:
I was. . .

CYRANO:
Oh! it disgusts you!

THE BORE:
Sir!

CYRANO:
Its hue
Unwholesome seems to you?

THE BORE:
Sir!

CYRANO:
Or its shape?

THE BORE:
No, on the contrary!. . .

CYRANO:
Why then that air
Disparaging?--perchance you think it large?

THE BORE (stammering):
No, small, quite small--minute!

CYRANO:
Minute! What now?
Accuse me of a thing ridiculous!
Small--my nose?

THE BORE:
Heaven help me!

CYRANO:
'Tis enormous!
Old Flathead, empty-headed meddler, know
That I am proud possessing such appendice.
'Tis well known, a big nose is indicative
Of a soul affable, and kind, and courteous,
Liberal, brave, just like myself, and such
As you can never dare to dream yourself,
Rascal contemptible! For that witless face
That my hand soon will come to cuff--is all
As empty. . .

(He cuffs him.)

THE BORE:
Aie!

CYRANO:
--of pride, of aspiration,
Of feeling, poetry--of godlike spark
Of all that appertains to my big nose,
(He turns him by the shoulders, suiting the action to the word):
As. . .what my boot will shortly come and kick!

THE BORE (running away):
Help! Call the Guard!

CYRANO:
Take notice, boobies all,
Who find my visage's center ornament
A thing to jest at--that it is my wont--
An if the jester's noble--ere we part
To let him taste my steel, and not my boot!

DE GUICHE (who, with the marquises, has come down from the stage):
But he becomes a nuisance!

THE VISCOUNT DE VALVERT (shrugging his shoulders):
Swaggerer!

DE GUICHE:
Will no one put him down?. . .

THE VISCOUNT:
No one? But wait!
I'll treat him to. . .one of my quips!. . .See here!. . .
(He goes up to Cyrano, who is watching him, and with a conceited air):
Sir, your nose is. . .hmm. . .it is. . .very big!

CYRANO (gravely):
Very!

THE VISCOUNT (laughing):
Ha!

CYRANO (imperturbably):
Is that all?. . .

THE VI