How we cite our quotes: (Act.Line)
Quote #7
CYRANO (beside himself)
I—I am going to be a storm—a flame—
I need to fight whole armies all alone;
I have ten hearts; I have a hundred arms; I feel
Too strong to war with mortals—
(He shouts at the top of his voice.)
BRING ME GIANTS! (I.622-625)
For Cyrano, courage is driven by love.
Quote #8
CYRANO (With a gesture presenting the Cadets to De Guiche, declaims:)
The Cadets of Gascoyne—the defenders
Of Carbon de Castel-Jaloux:
Free fighters, free lovers, free spenders—
The Cadets of Gascoyne—the defenders
Of old homes, old names, and old splendors—
A proud and a pestilent crew!
The Cadets of Gascoyne, the defenders
Of Carbon de Castel-Jaloux.
Hawk eyed, they stare down all contenders—
The wolf bares his fangs as they do—
Make way there, you fat money-lenders!
(Hawk eyed, they stare down all contenders)
Old boots that have been to the menders,
Old cloaks that are worn through and through—
Hawk eyed, they stare down all contenders!—
The wolf bares his fangs as they do!
Skull-breakers they are, and sword-benders;
Red blood is their favorite brew;
Hot haters and loyal befrienders,
Skull-breakers they are, and sword-benders.
Wherever a quarrel engenders,
They’re read and waiting for you!
Skull-breakers they are, and sword-benders;
Red blood is their favorite brew! (II.298-321)
Cyrano makes up an impromptu song celebrating the bravery of the Gascon Cadets. Many of the qualities that Cyrano lives by are present here in these lyrics. The song is made even bolder because Cyrano sings it to Comte de Guiche.
Quote #9
A CADET (Enters with a drawn sword, along the whole blade of which is Transfixed a collection of disreputable hats, their plumes draggled, their crowns cut and torn.)
Cyrano! See here—
Look what we found this morning in the street—
The plumes dropped in their flight by those fine birds
Who showed the white feather! (II.347-351)
Throughout the play, white plumes represent courage. So here, the fact that Comte de Guiche’s hundred men dropped their plumes while they retreated in fear from Cyrano shows their cowardice.