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~NEW! RALPH NEVILL, ENGLISH TRANSLATOR OF MEMOIRS OF D'ARTAGNAN, FROM 1898~

The above painting, entitled "Man in the Black Ribbons," although not an authentic portrait of d'Artagnan, was displayed on the cover of Bantam's version of "The Three Musketeers." I personally, in all renditions of d'Artagnan, like this one the very best. I am guilty of thinking that d'Artagnan looked like this in his youth. And yet, when compared to a portrait that may have really been him, it is almost similar. The other portrait that I am referring to, presented here:

when compared with the "Man in the Black Ribbons," can almost be comparable; for we must realize that the actual portrait was made when d'Artagnan was in his late forties to early fifties, when he had become famous nationwide, and when he was in repute of being a great soldier, and Captain of the first company of the King's Musketeers in the 1660's. There is a great possibility that the color portrait may indeed be how young d'Artagnan looked in the 1640's when he first arrived in Paris to seek his fame and fortune.

But, like I said, the Black and White portrait may not even had been him - but the possiblity of it is very great. This was an engraving to the 4th edition of "The Memoirs of d'Artagnan" in about 1704 (1st edition was published in 1700), by Gatien de Courtilz de Sandras, who actually knew the late captain (who died in 1673), and who may have been one of his friends. And the reason that the possiblity is good that this is the actual d'Artagnan's image is the fact that at the time of its release in 1704, there were still people living who knew the captain personally - including King Louis XIV himself, who was d'Artagnan's employer, and the one whom d'Artagnan protected all his life, and that there are no recorded disputes as to this not being his actual image. One of the problems, however, is that the portrait portrays the captain holding a baton. Perhaps a baton of Marshall of France? Which is impossible, considering he never became one. Or perhaps it was just a symbol of leadership. Perhaps, too, it was a later rendition of the captain, and someone placed the baton in his hand either out of accident, or for the fact that he should have become Marshall. Which, in my opinion, he certainly would have reached, had he not died too soon in his fifties. Already he had reacched the status of Captain of the first company of Musketeers, Captain of the Royal Guards and General Calvary Brigadier. A Marshall's Baton was in reach, but in 1673 his chance was stopped by a musket ball in his throat! Yet it was a death that, perhaps, he had wanted - to die with his boots on!!

Dumas, we all remember, gave d'Artagnan that baton, just before a musket ball struck the box holding it in-two, and then it smashing into his chest. D'Artagnan, struck to the ground, dying, has the baton rolling back into his hand. Dumas, thankfully, gives d'Artagnan (if only for a moment) what he so ardently deserved - the Marshall's baton - the highest military rank possible in France. He was just one step beneath it, being the Captain of the first company of Musketeers, and extremely high honor.

At the news of his death, King Louis XIV truly did mourn for his fallen captain - his fallen friend! Louis really did love the old captain who served him faithfully for many years. In showing his appreciation to this fine soldier, Louis actually became a Godparent to d'Artagnan's two sons, and helped them along in life. They two, just like their father, became soldiers of France as well.

But of all that could have been said of the late captain, perhaps the best statement of all came from Saint Blaise:

"D'Artagnan and glory share the same coffin."