The film without the cuts. And the book itself.
A penniless Gascon boy rides toward Paris on a ridiculous yellow horse, carrying fifteen crowns, a letter of introduction, and his father’s one commandment: never tolerate an insult. Before he even reaches the city, the letter is stolen and the insult arrives.
D’Artagnan
A proud young Gascon arrives with a yellow horse, a long sword, and a temper large enough to change his life.
D’Artagnan Family Home in Gascony
A broke noble family sends a boy into France with a yellow horse, a long sword, and far more pride than money.
A father's blessing becomes a dare: can courage alone win a young noble's future?
Read →A Father’s Charge
“My son,” said the old Gascon gentleman, in that pure Béarn _patois_ of which Henry IV. could never rid himself, “this horse was born in the house of your father about thirteen years ago, and has remained in it ever since, which ought to make you love it. Never sell it; allow it to die tranquilly and honorably of old age, and if you make a campaign with it, take as much care of it as you would of an old servant. At court, provided you have ever the honor to go there,” continued M. d’Artagnan the elder, “—an honor to which, remember, your ancient nobility gives you the right—sustain worthily your name of gentleman, which has been worthily borne by your ancestors for five hundred years, both for your own sake and the sake of those who belong to you. By the latter I mean your relatives and friends. Endure nothing from anyone except Monsieur the Cardinal and the king. It is by his courage, please observe, by his courage alone, that a gentleman can make his way nowadays. Whoever hesitates for a second perhaps allows the bait to escape which during that exact second fortune held out to him. You are young. You ought to be brave for two reasons: the first is that you are a Gascon, and the second is that you are my son. Never fear quarrels, but seek adventures.
A father with almost nothing to give hands over a code of conduct instead of money. Old d'Artagnan is sending his son to seek his fortune in Paris, and what he has to offer is an aging horse he forbids him to sell and a name five hundred years old. Notice the whole worldview packed into "endure nothing from anyone except Monsieur the Cardinal and the king": this is advice guaranteed to start fights, and the father delivers it as calmly as his instructions about the horse. Courage here is not a virtue so much as a way to grab opportunity before it vanishes, which is exactly the reckless, quarrel-hunting boy Paris is about to meet.
The Road from Gascony
A penniless Gascon boy rides toward Paris on a ridiculous yellow horse, carrying fifteen crowns, a letter of introduction, and his father’s one commandment: never tolerate an insult. Before he even reaches the city, the letter is stolen and the insult arrives.
D’Artagnan’s Father’s Letter to M. de Tréville
A folded letter carries D'Artagnan's whole future, until Meung swallows it.
Athos
A grave musketeer carries himself like a noble ruin, calm enough to frighten people before he draws his sword.
The Three Musketeers
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