The Man in the Iron Mask (I) (1998)

Gabriel Byrne: D'Artagnan

Photos 

Quotes 

• King Louis XIV : You think my affairs are empty...

  D'Artagnan : I think that it is possible for one man to love one woman all his life and be the better for it, yes.

• Aramis : Perhaps you should take his offer. We're dead anyway.

  Porthos : He's right, D'Artagnan.

  Phillippe : Wait. Bargain me to Louis for all your lives. You've done your best. Please let me go.

  D'Artagnan : No, I cannot do it. Even if I could give up my king, I could never give up my son.

  [they all look at him, thunderstruck] 

  Phillippe : Your son?

  D'Artagnan : I loved your mother. I love her still. You are my son. I never knew you existed. And I never felt pride as a father... until this moment.

• [the Four Musketeers and Phillipe are trapped by riflemen at the other end of the hallway] 

  Aramis : D'Artagnan... They're young Musketeers. They've been weaned on our legends. They revere us. It is an advantage.

  Porthos : Yes. Why don't we charge them?

  D'Artagnan : I trained these men. They will fight to the death. But if we must die - if WE must die - let it be like this.

  [He draws his sword and points it at the floor. Aramis, Porthos, and Athos, join their swords with his] 

  Athos : One for all. All for one.

• King Louis XIV : I hear there was an incident at the Musketeers' gate, where a man came intent on killing me. Is it our policy now to let would-be assassins go free, d'Artagnan?

  D'Artagnan : He wished to kill his own pain. His son is dead. I can think of nothing worse.

  King Louis XIV : What about losing your king?

  D'Artagnan : That depends on the king.

• D'Artagnan : No. If anyone sees... it is death.

  Queen Anne : If I don't kiss you, I'll die anyway.

• King Louis XIV : Why has my own brother tried to do this to me?

  D'Artagnan : And look what you have done to him!

• D'Artagnan : Anne, to love you is treason against France. But not to love you is treason against my heart.

  Queen Anne : Then we will both die traitors, D'Artagnan.

• D'Artagnan : Anne, I know that to love you is a treason against France, but not to love you is a treason against my heart.

  Queen Anne : Then we will both die traitors, D'Artagnan.

• King Louis XIV : I may be a young king, but I am king!

  D'Artagnan : Then be a good king.

• [a rioting crowd throws rotten food at D'Artagnan; he draws his sword and slashes the fruit in mid-air, then skewers a tomato. The crowd is awed into silence. He bites the tomato, then grimaces and spits it out] 

  D'Artagnan : You are right. It is rotten. I will speak to the King myself. You have my word.

• D'Artagnan : Your people are most anxious to love you, but they are eating rotten food and sometimes none at all.

• Athos : You came to restrain me?

  D'Artagnan : I came to give you hope.

• D'Artagnan : You are constantly surrounded by beautiful women. Do you love any of them?

  King Louis XIV : Quite frequently, actually.

• D'Artagnan : A fool's blade can be sharper than his brain.

• D'Artagnan : I fight for the belief that every man can be better.

• Athos : When the great D'Artagnan visits, he must be offered the best wine.

  D'Artagnan : And if the great Athos offers, then the great D'Artagnan must drink.

• King Louis XIV : I am a young king. But I *am* king.

  D'Artagnan : Then be a good king, Your Majesty.

• D'Artagnan : I cannot betray - my King. I will defend him with my life.

  Aramis : Then God go with you, for none of us will.

• King Louis XIV : Are they a threat to me?

  D'Artagnan : If they are a threat, then we need not seek them out. They will find us.

  King Louis XIV : Not if you find them first.

• D'Artagnan : Stop! You take my king, and I shall take yours.