# Quote — Edmond Rostand, Cyrano de Bergerac

> Valvert: Villain, clod-poll, flat-foot, refuse of the earth!
>
> Cyrano: [taking off his hat and bowing as if the Vicomte had been introducing himself] Ah? … And mine, Cyrano-Savinien-Hercule of Bergerac!
>
> Valvert: [exasperated] Buffoon!
>
> Cyrano: [giving a sudden cry, as if seized with a cramp] Aï! …
>
> Valvert: [who had started toward the back, turning] What is he saying now?
>
> Cyrano: [screwing his face as if in pain] It must have leave to stir … it has a cramp! It is bad for it to be kept still so long!
>
> Valvert: What is the matter?
>
> Cyrano: My rapier prickles like a foot asleep!
>
> Valvert: [drawing] So be it!
>
> Cyrano: I shall give you a charming little hurt!
>
> Valvert: [contemptous] Poet!
>
> Cyrano: Yes, a poet, … and, to such an extent, that while we fence, I will, hop!, extempore, compose you a ballade!
>
> Valvert: A ballade?
>
> Cyrano: I fear you do not know what that is.
>
> Valvert: But …
>
> Cyrano: [as if saying a lesson] The ballade is composed of three stanzas of eight lines each …
>
> Valvert: [stamps with his feet] Oh!
>
> Cyrano: [continuing] And an envoi of four.
>
> Valvert: You …
>
> Cyrano: I will with the same breath fight you and compose one. And, at the last line, I will hit you. Valvert: Indeed you will not!
>
> Cyrano: No? … [Declaiming]
>
> Ballade of the duel which in Burgundy house
>
> Monsieur de Bergerac fought with a jackanape …
>
> Valvert: And what is that, if you please?
>
> Cyrano: That is the title.
>
> [ … ]
>
> Cyrano: [closing his eyes a second] Wait. I am settling upon the rhymes. There. I have them. [in declaiming, he suits the action to the word]
>
> Of my broad felt made lighter,
>
> I cast my mantle broad,
>
> And stand, poet and fighter,
>
> To do and to record.
>
> I bow, I draw my sword …
>
> En garde! With steel and wit
>
> I play you at first abord …
>
> At the last line, I hit! [They begin fencing] You should have been politer;
>
> Where had you best be gored?
>
> The left side or the right — ah?
>
> Or next your azure cord?
>
> Or where the spleen is stored?
>
> Or in the stomach pit?
>
> Come we to quick accord …
>
> At the last line, I hit! You falter, you turn whiter?
>
> You do so to afford
>
> Your foe a rhyme in "iter"? …
>
> You thrust at me — I ward —
>
> And balance is restored.
>
> Laridon! Look to your spit! …
>
> No, you shall not be floored
>
> Before my cue to hit! [He announces solemnly] Envoi Prince, call upon the Lord! …
>
> I skirmish … feint a bit …
>
> I lunge! … I keep my word!
>
> [The Vicomte staggers, Cyrano bows.]At the last line, I hit!''

- Author: [Edmond Rostand](https://www.leafyquotes.com/edmond-rostand.md)
- Book: [Cyrano de Bergerac](https://www.leafyquotes.com/edmond-rostand/cyrano-de-bergerac.md)
- Source: [Wikiquote](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Edmond_Rostand#Cyrano_de_Bergerac_(1897)) ([CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/))
- Quote page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/edmond-rostand/cyrano-de-bergerac/valvert-villain-clod-poll

## More from this book

> No, In fairy tales
>
> When to the ill-starred Prince the lady says
>
> "I love you!" all his ugliness fades fast —
>
> But I remain the same, up to the last!

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/edmond-rostand/cyrano-de-bergerac/no-in-fairy.md)

> Live, for I love you!

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/edmond-rostand/cyrano-de-bergerac/live-for-i-love.md)

> You blessed my life!
>
> Never on me had rested woman's love.
>
> My mother even could not find me fair:
>
> I had no sister; and, when grown a man,
>
> I feared the mistress who would mock at me.
>
> But I have had your friendship — grace to you
>
> A woman's charm has passed across my path.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/edmond-rostand/cyrano-de-bergerac/you-blessed-my-life.md)