SCENE 2.VIII.

In an intensely charged encounter, Cyrano confronts Lord De Guiche in front of a gathering that includes various cadets eating and drinking. The exchange begins with a heated remark from Cyrano directed at De Guiche, quickly interrupted by a call for porters for Lord De Guiche, signaling his imminent departure. De Guiche, maintaining composure and donning a smile, brings up “Don Quixote” as a subject for discussion, suggesting Cyrano familiarize himself with the chapter on windmills. Cyrano, acknowledging his familiarity, expresses his admiration for the mad knight-errant, to which De Guiche cryptically advises understanding the implications of fighting against windmills, hinting at potential downfall—or conversely, according to Cyrano, an ascent to the stars.

As De Guiche exits and the bystanders disperse, Cyrano and Le Bret, among the remaining cadets, engage in a poignant exchange. Cyrano jests with those departing without acknowledging him, while Le Bret returns, distressed over Cyrano’s propensity for exacerbating situations, potentially squandering any fate’s goodwill. Cyrano admits to his tendency to exaggerate, not out of folly but as a principled stance and for the sake of setting an example. The chapter delves into themes of pride, principle, and the personal costs of upholding one’s beliefs, encapsulated in the banter and symbolic references to literature and chivalry, demonstrating Cyrano’s complex character and his unyielding defiance against societal pressures and norms.