How we cite our quotes: (Act.Line)
Quote #13
RAGUENEAU
And so she ran off with a Musketeer!
I was ruined—I was alone—Remained
Nothing for me to do but hang myself,
So I did that. Presently along comes
Monsieur de Bergerac, and cuts me down,
And makes me steward to his cousin. (III.1-6)
Love seems to bring more misery than happiness in Cyrano de Bergerac.
Quote #14
DE GUICHE
You love me then,
A little?...
(She smiles.)
Making my enemies your own,
Hating them—I should like to see in that
A sign of love, Roxane.
ROXANE
Perhaps it is one…(III.110-113)
Love and deception are inseparable in this play.
Quote #15
CHRISTIAN (Same business)
Love grows and struggles like… an angry child…
Breaking my heart… his cradle…
ROXANE
(Coming out on the balcony.)
Better still—
ROXANE
But… such a babe is dangerous; why not
Have it smothered new-born?
CHRISTIAN (Same business)
And so I do…
And yet he lives…I found… as you shall find…
This new-born babe… an infant… Hercules!
ROXANE (Further forward)
Good!—
CHRISTIAN (Same business)
Strong enough… at birth… to strangle those
Two serpents—Doubt and… Pride. (III.218-225)
In a moment of poetic fancy, Cyrano speaks (through Christian) of love as baby Hercules, the child that could not be killed by Hades’s twin snakes, Doubt and Pride. This reflects Cyrano’s view of love, but is such an opinion validated or rejected by the events of the play?