The windmills are acknowledged in the death scene as Cyrano sums up his
life:

CYRANO:
Why, I well believe
He dares to mock my nose? Ho! insolent!
(He raises his sword):
What say you? It is useless? Ay, I know
But who fights ever hoping for success?
------------------------Right here and the next line
I fought for lost cause, and for fruitless quest!
You there, who are you!--You are thousands!
Ah!
I know you now, old enemies of mine!
Falsehood!
(He strikes in air with his sword):
Have at you! Ha! and Compromise!
Prejudice, Treachery!. . .
(He strikes):
Surrender, I?
Parley? No, never! You too, Folly,--you?
I know that you will lay me low at last;
Let be! Yet I fall fighting, fighting still!
(He makes passes in the air, and stops, breathless):
You strip from me the laurel and the rose!
Take all! Despite you there is yet one thing
I hold against you all, and when, to-night,
I enter Christ's fair courts, and, lowly bowed,
Sweep with doffed casque the heavens' threshold blue,
One thing is left, that, void of stain or smutch,
I bear away despite you.

(He springs forward, his sword raised; it falls from his hand; he staggers,
falls back into the arms of Le Bret and Ragueneau.)

ROXANE (bending and kissing his forehead):
'Tis?. . .

CYRANO (opening his eyes, recognizing her, and smiling):
MY PANACHE.


Curtain.


"DSK" wrote in message
.. .
But aren't you mixing your metaphorical characters a bit too freely? I
mean, Cyrano ne'er tilted any windbagmills no matter slow or fine they
grind.


Gilligan wrote:
DE GUICHE (who has controlled himself--smiling):
Have you read 'Don Quixote'?

CYRANO:
I have!
And doff my hat at th' mad knight-errant's name.

DE GUICHE:
I counsel you to study. . .

A PORTER (appearing at back):
My lord's chair!

DE GUICHE:
. . .The windmill chapter!

CYRANO (bowing):
Chapter the Thirteenth.

DE GUICHE:
For when one tilts 'gainst windmills--it may chance. . .

CYRANO:
Tilt I 'gainst those who change with every breeze?

DE GUICHE:
. . .That windmill sails may sweep you with their arm
Down--in the mire!. . .

CYRANO:
Or upward--to the stars!


I remembered that part... one of my favorite pieces of literature... BTW
aren't you afraid of invoking the Crapton's ire, quoting something
that's not only "Theatah" but so blatantly French?

Observe the above dialogue. Cyrano was not tilting at windmills, nor was
he planning to. He was pointing oout De Guiche's error in assuming that
Don Quixote's madness would inevitably lead to failure & humiliation...
a veiled threat against Cyrano.

DSK