首页 >出版文学> Tartuffe>第5章

第5章

  ELMIRE
  Ifthatrefusalhasoffendedyou,Howlittledoyouknowawoman’sheart!
  Howillyouguesswhatitwouldhaveyouknow,Whenitpresentssofeebleadefence!
  Always,atfirst,ourmodestyrestsThetenderfeelingsyouinspireuswith。
  WhatevercausewefindtojustifyThelovethatmastersus,westillmustfeelSomelittleshameinowningit;andstriveTomakeasthoughwewouldnot,whenwewould。
  ButfromtheverywaywegoaboutitWeletaloverknowourheartsurrenders,Thewhileourlips,forhonour’ssake,opposeOurheart’sdesire,andinrefusingprome。
  I’mtellingyoumysecretalltoofreelyAndwithtoolittleheedtomodesty。
  But——nowthatI’vemadeboldtospeak——praytellme。
  ShouldIhavetriedtokeepDamfromspeaking,ShouldIhaveheardtheofferofyourheartSoquietly,andsufferedallyourpleading,AndtakenitjustasIdid——remember——
  Ifsuchadeclarationhadnotpleasedme,And,whenItriedmyutmosttopersuadeyouNottoacceptthemarriagethatwastalkedof,WhatshouldmyearnestnesshavehintedtoyouIfnottheinterestthatyou’veinspired,Andmychagrin,shouldsuchamatchcompelmeToshareaheartIwantalltomyself?
  TARTUFFE
  ’T,pastadoubt,theheightofhappiness,Tohearsuchwordsfromlipswedoteupon;
  TheirhoneyedsweetnesspoursthroughallmysensesLongdraughtsofsuavityineffable。
  Myheartemploysitsutmostzealtopleaseyou,Andcountsyourloveitsonebeatitude;
  AndyetthatheartmustbegthatyouallowitTodoubtalittleitsfelicity。
  IwellmightthinkthesewordsanhonesttrickTomakemebreakoffthapproachingmarriage;
  AndifImayexpressmyselfquiteplainly,IcannottrustthesetooenchantingwordsUntilthegrantingofsomelittlefavourIsighfor,shallassuremeoftheirtruthAndbuildwithinmysoul,onfirmfoundations,Alastingfaithinyoursweetcharity。
  ELMIRE(coughingtodrawherhusband’sattention)
  What!Mustyougosofast?——andallatonceExhaustthewholeloveofawoman’sheart?
  ShedoesherselftheviolencetomakeThdearconfessionofherlove,andyouArenotyetsatfied,andwillnotbeWithoutthegrantingofherutmostfavours?
  TARTUFFE
  Thelessablessingdeserved,thelessWedaretohopeforit;andwordsaloneCanillassuageourlove’sdesires。AfateToofullofhappiness,seemsdoubtfulstill;
  Wemustenjoyiterewecanbelieveit。
  AndI,whoknowhowlittleIdeserveYourgoodness,doubtthefortunesofmydaring;
  SoIshalltrusttonothing,madam,tillYouhaveconvincedmylovebysomethingreal。
  ELMIRE
  Ah!Howyourloveenactsthetyrant’srole,Andthrowsmymindintoastrangeconfusion!
  Withwhatfierceswayitrulesaconqueredheart,Andviolentlywillhaveitswhesgranted!
  What!therenoescapefromyourpursuit?
  Norespiteeven?——notabreathingspace?
  Nay,itdecenttobesoexacting,AndsoabusebyurgencytheweaknessYoumaydcoverinawoman’sheart?
  TARTUFFE
  Butifmyworshipwinsyourgraciousfavour,Thenwhyrefusemesomesureproofthereof?
  ELMIRE
  ButhowcanIconsenttowhatyouwh,WithoutoffendingHeavenyoutalksomuchof?
  TARTUFFE
  IfHeavenallthatstandsnowinmyway,I’lleasilyremovethatlittlehindrance;
  Yourheartneednotholdbackforsuchatrifle。
  ELMIRE
  ButtheyaffrightussowithHeaven’scommands!
  TARTUFFE
  Icandpelthesefoolhfears,dearmadam;
  IknowtheartofpacifyingscruplesHeavenforbids,’ttrue,somesatfactions;
  ButwefindmeanstomakethingsrightwithHeaven。
  (’Tascoundrelspeaking。)[5]
  [Footnote5:Moliere’snote,intheoriginaledition。]
  Thereascience,madam,thatinstructsusHowtoenlargethelimitsofourconscienceAccordingtoourvariousoccasions,AndrectifytheevilofthedeedAccordingtoourpurityofmotive。
  I’lldulyteachyouallthesesecrets,madam;
  Youonlyneedtoletyourselfbeguided。
  Contentmywhes,havenofearatall;
  Ianswerfor’t,andtakethesinuponme。
  (Elmirecoughsstilllouder。)
  Yourcoughverybad。
  ELMIRE
  Yes,I’mintorture。
  TARTUFFE
  Wouldyouacceptthbitoflicorice?
  ELMIRE
  Thecaseobstinate,Ifind;andallThelicoriceintheworldwilldonogood。
  TARTUFFE
  ’Tverytrying。
  ELMIRE
  Morethanwordscansay。
  TARTUFFE
  Inanycase,yourscruple’seasilyRemoved。Withmeyou’resureofsecrecy,Andthere’snoharmunlessathingknown。
  Thepublicscandalwhatbringsoffence,Andsecretsinningnotsinatall。
  ELMIRE(aftercoughingagain)
  Sothen,IseeImustresolvetoyield;
  Imustconsenttograntyoueverything,AndcannothopetogivefullsatfactionOrwinfullconfidence,atlessercost。
  Nodoubt’tveryhardtocometoth;
  ’TquiteagainstmywillIgosofar;
  ButsinceImustbeforcedtoit,sincenothingThatcanbesaidsufficesforbelief,Sincemoreconvincingproofstilldemanded,Imustmakeupmymindtohumourpeople。
  Ifmyconsentgivereasonforoffence,Somuchtheworseforhimwhoforcedmetoit;
  Thefaultcansurelynotbecountedmine。
  TARTUFFE
  Itneednot,madam;andthethingitself
  ELMIRE
  Openthedoor,Iprayyou,andjustseeWhethermyhusband’snotthere,inthehall。
  TARTUFFE
  Whytakesuchcareforhim?Betweenourselves,Heamantoleadroundbythenose。
  He’scapableofgloryinginourmeetings;
  I’vefooledhimso,he’dseeall,anddenyit。
  ELMIRE
  Nomatter;go,Ibegyou,lookabout,Andcarefullyexamineeverycorner。
  SCENEVI
  ORGON,ELMIRE
  ORGON(crawlingoutfromunderthetable)
  That,Iown,amanabominable!
  Ican’tgetoverit;thewholethingfloorsme。
  ELMIRE
  What?Youcomeoutsosoon?Youcannotmeanit!
  Getbackunderthetable;’tnottimeyet;
  Waittilltheend,tosee,andmakequitecertain,Anddon’tbelieveathingonmereconjecture。
  ORGON
  Nothingmorewickede’ercameoutofHell。
  ELMIRE
  Dearme!Don’tgoandcreditthingstoolightly。
  No,letyourselfbethoroughlyconvinced;
  Don’tyieldtoosoon,forfearyou’llbemtaken。
  (AsTartuffeenters,shemakesherhusbandstandbehindher。)
  SCENEVII
  TARTUFFE,ELMIRE,ORGON
  TARTUFFE(notseeingOrgon)
  Allthingsconspiretowardmysatfaction,Madam,I’vesearchedthewholeapartmentthrough。
  There’snoonehere;andnowmyravhedsoul
  ORGON(stoppinghim)
  Softly!Youaretooeagerinyouramours;
  Youneedn’tbesopassionate。Ahha!
  Myholyman!Youwanttoputitonme!
  Howyoursoulabandonedtotemptation!
  Marrymydaughter,eh?——andwantmywife,too?
  Idoubtedlongenoughifthwasearnest,Expectingallthetimethetonewouldchange;
  Butnowtheproof’sbeencarriedfarenough;
  I’msatfied,andasknomore,formypart。
  ELMIRE(toTartuffe)
  ’TwasquiteagainstmycharactertoplayThpart;butIwasforcedtotreatyouso。
  TARTUFFE
  What?Youbelieve?
  ORGON
  Come,now,noprotestations。
  Getoutfromhere,andmakenofussaboutit。
  TARTUFFE
  Butmyintent
  ORGON
  Thattalkoutofseason。
  Youleavemyhousethinstant。
  TARTUFFE
  You’retheoneToleaveit,youwhoplaythemasterhere!
  Thhousebelongstome,I’llhaveyouknow,Andshowyouplainlyit’snousetoturnTotheselowtricks,topickaquarrelwithme,Andthatyoucan’tinsultmeatyourpleasure,ForIhavewherewithtoconfoundyourlies,AvengeoffendedHeaven,andcompelThosetorepentwhotalktomeofleaving。
  SCENEVIII
  ELMIRE,ORGON
  ELMIRE
  Whatsortofspeechth?Whatcanitmean?
  ORGON
  Myfaith,I’mdazed。Thnolaughingmatter。
  ELMIRE
  What?
  ORGON
  FromhwordsIseemygreatmtake;
  Thedeedofgiftonethingtroublesme。
  ELMIRE
  Thedeedofgift
  ORGON
  Yes,thatpastrecall。
  ButI’veanotherthingtomakemeanxious。
  ELMIRE
  What’sthat?
  ORGON
  Youshallknowall。Let’sseeatonceWhetheracertainboxstillupstairs。
  ACTV
  SCENEI
  ORGON,CLEANTE
  CLEANTE
  Whitherawaysofast?
  ORGON
  HowshouldIknow?
  CLEANTE
  MethinksweshouldbeginbytakingcounselToseewhatcanbedonetomeetthecase。
  ORGON
  I’mallworkedupaboutthatwretchedbox。
  Morethanallelseitdrivesmetodespair。
  CLEANTE
  Thatboxmusthidesomemightymystery?
  ORGON
  Argas,myfriendwhointrouble,broughtitHimself,mostsecretly,andleftitwithme。
  Hechoseme,inhexile,forthtrust;
  Andonthesedocuments,fromwhathesaid,Ijudgehlifeandpropertydepend。
  CLEANTE
  Howcouldyoutrustthemtoanother’shands?
  ORGON
  Byreasonofaconscientiousscruple。
  Iwentstraighttomytraitor,toconfideInhim;hsophtrymademebelieveThatImustgivetheboxtohimtokeep,Sothat,incaseofsearch,ImightdenyMyhavingitatall,andstill,byfavourOfthevasion,keepmyconscienceclearEvenintakingoathagainstthetruth。
  CLEANTE
  Yourcasebad,sofarasIcansee;
  Thdeedofgift,thtrustingofthesecretTohim,wereboth——tostatemyfrankopinion——
  Stepsthatyoutooktoolightly;hecanleadyouToanylength,withtheseforhostages;
  Andsinceheholdsyouatsuchdadvantage,You’dbestillmoreimprudent,toprovokehim;
  Soyoumustgosomegentlerwayabout。
  ORGON
  What!Canasoulsobase,aheartsofalse,Hideneaththesemblanceofsuchtouchingfervour?
  Itookhimin,avagabond,abeggar!
  ’Ttoomuch!Nomorepiousfolkforme!
  Ishallabhorthemutterlyforever,Andhenceforthtreatthemworsethananydevil。
  CLEANTE
  So!Thereyougoagain,quiteoffthehandle!
  Innothingdoyoukeepaneventemper。
  Youneverknowwhatreason,butalwaysJumpfirsttooneextreme,andthentheother。
  Youseeyourerror,andyourecogneThatyou’vebeencozenedbyafeignedzeal;
  Buttomakeupfor’t,inthenameofreason,Whyshouldyouplungeintoaworsemtake,AndfindnodifferenceincharacterBetweenaworthlessscamp,andallgoodpeople?
  What!JustbecausearascalboldlydupedyouWithpompousshowoffalseausterity,Mustyouneedshaveiteverybody’slikehim,Andnoone’strulypiousnowadays?
  Leavesuchconclusionstomereinfidels;
  Dtinguhvirtuefromitscounterfeit,Don’tgiveesteemtooquickly,ataventure,Buttrytokeep,inth,thegoldenmean。
  Ifyoucanhelpit,don’tupholdimposture;
  Butdonotrailattruedevoutness,either;
  Andifyoumustfallintooneextreme,Thenrathererragaintheotherway。
  SCENEII
  DAM,ORGON,CLEANTE
  DAM
  What!father,canthescoundrelthreatenyou,Forgetthemanybenefitsreceived,AndinhbaseabominableprideMakeofyourveryfavoursarmsagainstyou?
  ORGON
  Tootrue,myson。Ittorturesmetothinkon’t。
  DAM
  Letmealone,I’llchophearsoffforhim。
  Wemustdealroundlywithhinsolence;
  ’TImustfreeyoufromhimatablow;
  ’TI,tosetthingsright,muststrikehimdown。
  CLEANTE
  Spokelikeatrueyoungman。Nowjustcalmdown,Andmoderateyourtoweringtantrums,willyou?
  Weliveinsuchanage,withsuchaking,Thatviolencecannotadvanceourcause。
  SCENEIII
  MADAMEPERNELLE,ORGON,ELMIRE,CLEANTE,MARIANE,DAM,DORINE
  MADAMEPERNELLE
  What’sth?Ihearoffearfulmysteries!
  ORGON
  Strangethingsindeed,formyowneyestowitness;
  YouseehowI’mrequitedformykindness,Izealouslyreceiveawretchedbeggar,Ilodgehim,entertainhimlikemybrother,Loadhimwithbenefactionseveryday,Givehimmydaughter,givehimallmyfortune:
  Andhemeanwhile,thevillain,rascal,wretch,Trieswithblacktreasontosubornmywife,Andnotcontentwithsuchafouldesign,Hedarestomenacemewithmyownfavours,AndwouldmakeuseofthoseadvantagesWhichmytoofoolhkindnessarmedhimwith,Toruinme,totakemyfortunefromme,AndleavemeinthestateIsavedhimfrom。
  DORINE
  Poorman!
  MADAMEPERNELLE
  Myson,IcannotpossiblyBelievehecouldintendsoblackadeed。
  ORGON
  What?
  MADAMEPERNELLE
  Worthymenarestillthesportofenvy。
  ORGON
  Mother,whatdoyoumeanbysuchaspeech?
  MADAMEPERNELLE
  Therearestrangegoings—onaboutyourhouse,Andeverybodyknowsyourpeoplehatehim。
  ORGON
  What’sthattodowithwhatItellyounow?
  MADAMEPERNELLE
  Ialwayssaid,myson,whenyouwerelittle:
  Thatvirtueherebelowhatedever;
  Theenviousmaydie,butenvynever。
  ORGON
  What’sthatfinespeechtodowithpresentfacts?
  MADAMEPERNELLE
  Besure,they’veforgedahundredsillylies
  ORGON
  I’vetoldyouonce,Isawitallmyself。
  MADAMEPERNELLE
  Forslanderersaboundincalumnies
  ORGON
  Mother,you’dmakemedamnmysoul。ItellyouIsawwithmyowneyeshshamelessness。
  MADAMEPERNELLE
  Theirtonguesforspittingvenomneverlack,There’snothingherebelowthey’llnotattack。
  ORGON
  Yourspeechhasnotasinglegrainofsense。
  Isawit,harkee,sawit,withtheseeyesIsaw——d’yeknowwhatsawmeans?——mustIsayitAhundredtimes,anddinitinyourears?
  MADAMEPERNELLE
  Mydear,appearancesareoftdeceiving,Andseeingshouldn’talwaysbebelieving。
  ORGON
  I’llgomad。
  MADAMEPERNELLE
  Falsesuspicionsmaydelude,Andgoodtoeviloftmconstrued。
  ORGON
  MustIconstrueasChrtiancharityThewhtoksmywife!
  MADAMEPERNELLE
  Youmust,atleast,Havejustfoundationforaccusingpeople,Andwaituntilyouseeathingforsure。
  ORGON
  Thedevil!HowcouldIseeanysurer?
  ShouldIhavewaitedtill,beforemyeyes,HeNo,you’llmakemesaythingsquiteimproper。
  MADAMEPERNELLE
  Inshort,’tknowntoopureazealinflameshim;
  Andso,IcannotpossiblyconceiveThatheshouldtrytodowhat’schargedagainsthim。
  ORGON
  Ifyouwerenotmymother,IshouldsaySuchthings!Iknownotwhat,I’msoenraged!
  DORINE(toOrgon)
  Fortunehaspaidyoufair,tobesodoubted;
  Youfloutedourreport,nowyoursflouted。
  CLEANTE
  We’rewastingtimehereinthemeresttrifling,WhichweshouldratheruseintakingmeasuresToguardourselvesagainstthescoundrel’sthreats。
  DAM
  Youthinkhimpudencecouldgofar?
  ELMIRE
  Forone,Ican’tbelieveitpossible;
  Why,hingratitudewouldbetoopatent。
  CLEANTE
  Don’ttrusttothat;he’llfindabundantwarrantTogivegoodcolourtohactsagainstyou;
  Andforlesscausethanth,astrongcabalCanmakeone’slifealabyrinthoftroubles。
  Itellyouonceagain:armedasheYounevershouldhavepushedhimquitesofar。
  ORGON
  True;yetwhatcouldIdo?Therascal’sprideMademeloseallcontrolofmyresentment。
  CLEANTE
  IwhwithallmyheartthatsomepretenceOfpeacecouldbepatchedupbetweenyoutwoELMIRE
  IfIhadknownwhatweaponshewasarmedwith,Inevershouldhaveraedsuchanalarm,Andmy
  ORGON(toDorine,seeingMr。Loyalcomein)
  Who’scomingnow?Goquick,findout。
  I’minafinestatetoreceiveavit!
  SCENEIV
  ORGON,MADAMEPERNELLE,ELMIRE,MARIANE,CLEANTE,DAM,DORINE,MR。
  LOYAL
  MR。LOYAL(toDorine,atthebackofthestage)
  Goodday,goodster。Prayyou,letmeseeThemasterofthehouse。
  DORINE
  He’soccupied;
  Ithinkhecanseenobodyatpresent。
  MR。LOYAL
  I’mnotbywayofbeingunwelcomehere。
  Mycomingcan,Ithink,nowedpleasehim;
  Myerrandwillbefoundtohadvantage。
  DORINE
  Yourname,then?
  MR。LOYAL
  TellhimsimplythathfriendMr。Tartuffehassentme,forhgoods
  DORINE(toOrgon)
  Itamanwhocomes,withcivilmanners,SentbyTartuffe,hesays,uponanerrandThatyou’llbepleasedwith。
  CLEANTE(toOrgon)
  Surelyyoumustseehim,Andfindoutwhohe,andwhathewants。
  ORGON(toCleante)
  Perhapshe’scometomakeitupbetweenus:
  HowshallItreathim?
  CLEANTE
  Youmustnotgetangry;
  AndifhetalksofreconciliationAcceptit。
  MR。LOYAL(toOrgon)
  Sir,good—day。AndHeavensendHarmtoyourenemies,favourtoyou。
  ORGON(asidetoCleante)
  ThmildbeginningsuitswithmyconjecturesAndpromessomecompromealready。
  MR。LOYAL
  Allofyourhousehaslongbeendeartome;
  Ihadthehonour,sir,toserveyourfather。
  ORGON
  Sir,Iammuchashamed,andaskyourpardonFornotrecallingnowyourfaceorname。
  MR。LOYAL
  MynameLoyal。I’mfromNormandy。
  Myofficecourt—bailiff,indespiteOfenvy;andforfortyyears,thankHeaven,It’sbeenmyfortunetoperformthatofficeWithhonour。SoI’vecome,sir,byyourleaveTorenderserviceofacertainwrit
  ORGON
  What,youarehereto
  MR。LOYAL
  Pray,sir,don’tbeangry。
  ’Tnothing,sir,butjustalittlesummons:——
  Ordertovacate,youandyours,thhouse,Moveoutyourfurniture,makeroomforothers,Andthatwithoutdelayorputtingoff,Asneedsmustbe
  ORGON
  I?Leavethhouse?
  MR。LOYAL
  Yes,please,sirThehousenow,asyouwellknow,ofcourse,Mr。Tartuffe’s。Andhe,beyonddpute,OfallyourgoodshenceforthlordandmasterByvirtueofacontracthereattached,Drawnindueform,andunassailable。
  DAM(toMr。Loyal)
  Yourinsolencemonstrous,andastounding!
  MR。LOYAL(toDam)
  Ihavenobusiness,sir,thattouchesyou;
  (PointingtoOrgon)
  Ththegentleman。He’sfairandcourteous,Andknowstoowellagentleman’sbehaviourTowhinanywetoquestionjustice。
  ORGON
  But
  MR。LOYAL
  Sir,IknowyouwouldnotforamillionWhtorebel;likeagoodcitizenYou’llletmeputinforcethecourt’sdecree。
  DAM
  Yourlongblackgownmaywell,beforeyouknowit,MterCourt—bailiff,getathoroughbeating。
  MR。LOYAL(toOrgon)
  Sir,makeyoursonbesilentorwithdraw。
  Ishouldbeloathtohavetosetthingsdown,Andseeyournamesinscribedinmyreport。
  DORINE(aside)
  ThMr。Loyal’slooksaremostdloyal。
  MR。LOYAL
  IhavemuchfeelingforrespectableAndhonestfolklikeyou,sir,andconsentedToservethesepapers,onlytoobligeyou,AndthuspreventthechoiceofanyotherWho,lesspossessedofzealforyouthanIamMightordermattersinlessgentlefashion。
  ORGON
  AndhowcouldonedoworsethanorderpeopleOutoftheirhouse?
  MR。LOYAL
  Why,weallowyoutime;
  Andevenwillsuspenduntilto—morrowTheexecutionoftheorder,sir。
  I’llmerely,withoutscandal,quietly,Comehereandspendthenight,withhalfascoreOfofficers;andjustforform’ssake,please,You’llbringyourkeystome,beforeretiring。
  Iwilltakecarenottodturbyourrest,Andseethere’snounseemlyconducthere。
  Butbyto—morrow,andatearlymorning,Youmustmakehastetomoveyourleastbelongings;
  Mymenwillhelpyou——IhavechosenstrongonesToserveyou,sir,inclearingoutthehouse。
  Noonecouldactmoregenerously,Ifancy,And,sinceI’mtreatingyouwithgreatindulgence,Ibegyou’lldoaswellbyme,andseeI’mnotdturbedinmydchargeofduty。
  ORGON
  I’dgivethveryminute,andnotgrudgeit,ThehundredbestgoldlouIhaveleft,IfIcouldjustindulgemyself,andlandMyft,foronegoodsquareone,onhsnout。
  CLEANTE(asidetoOrgon)
  Careful!——don’tmakethingsworse。
  DAM
  Suchinsolence!
  Ihardlycanrestrainmyself。MyhandsAreitchingtobeathim。
  DORINE
  Bymyfaith,Withsuchafinebroadback,goodMr。Loyal,Alittlebeatingwouldbecomeyouwell。
  MR。LOYAL
  Mygirl,suchinfamouswordsareactionable。
  Andwarrantscanbesuedagainstwomen。
  CLEANTE(toMr。Loyal)
  Enoughofthdcussion,sir;havedone。
  Giveusthepaper,andthenleaveus,pray。
  MR。LOYAL
  Then/aurevoir/。Heavenkeepyoufromdaster!
  ORGON
  MayHeavenconfoundyouboth,youandyourmaster!
  SCENEV
  ORGON,MADAMEPERNELLE,ELMIRE,CLEANTE,MARIANE,DAM,DORINE
  ORGON
  Well,mother,amIrightoramInot?
  Thwritmayhelpyounowtojudgethematter。
  Ordon’tyouseehtreasonevenyet?
  MADAMEPERNELLE
  I’mallamazed,befuddled,andbeflustered!
  DORINE(toOrgon)
  Youarequitewrong,youhavenorighttoblamehim;
  Thactiononlyproveshgoodintentions。
  Loveforhneighbourmakeshvirtueperfect;
  Andknowingmoneyarootofevil,InChrtiancharity,he’dtakeawayWhateverthingsmayhinderyoursalvation。
  ORGON
  Bestill。Youalwaysneedtohavethattoldyou。
  CLEANTE(toOrgon)
  Come,letusseewhatcourseyouaretofollow。
  ELMIRE
  Goandexposehboldingratitude。
  Suchactionmustinvalidatethecontract;
  HperfidymustnowappeartooblackTobringhimthesuccessthatheexpects。
  SCENEVI
  VALERE,ORGON,MADAMEPERNELLE,ELMIRE,CLEANTE,MARIANE,DAM,DORINE
  VALERE
  ’Twithregret,sir,thatIbringbadnews;
  Buturgentdangerforcesmetodoso。
  Acloseandintimatefriendofmine,whoknowsTheinterestItakeinwhatconcernsyou,Hasgonesofar,formysake,astobreakThesecrecythat’sduetostateaffairs,Andsentmewordbutnow,thatleavesyouonlyTheoneexpedientofsuddenflight。
  Thevillainwhosolongimposeduponyou,Foundmeans,anhourago,toseetheprince,Andtoaccuseyou(amongotherthings)
  Byputtinginhhandstheprivatestrong—boxOfastate—criminal,whoseguiltysecret,You,failinginyourdutyasasubject,(Hesays)havekept。IknownomoreofitSavethatawarrant’sdrawnagainstyou,sir,Andforthegreatersurety,thatsamerascalComeswiththeofficerwhomustarrestyou。
  CLEANTE
  Hrightsarearmed;andthhowthescoundrelSeekstosecurethepropertyheclaims。
  ORGON
  Manawickedanimal,I’llownit!
  VALERE
  Theleastdelaymaystillbefatal,sir。
  Ihavemycarriage,andathousandlou,Providedforyourjourney,atthedoor。
  Let’slosenotime;theboltswifttostrike,Andsuchasonlyflightcansaveyoufrom。
  I’llbeyourguidetoseekaplaceofsafety,Andstaywithyouuntilyoureachit,sir。
  ORGON
  HowmuchIowetoyourobligingcare!
  Anothertimemustservetothankyoufitly;
  AndIprayHeaventograntmesomuchfavourThatImaysomedayrecompenseyourservice。
  Good—bye;seetoit,allofyou
  CLEANTE
  Comehurry;
  We’llseetoeverythingthat’sneedful,brother。
  SCENEVII
  TARTUFFE,ANOFFICER,MADAMEPERNELLE,ORGON,ELMIRE,CLEANTE,MARIANE,VALERE,DAM,DORINE
  TARTUFFE(stoppingOrgon)
  Softly,sir,softly;donotrunsofast;
  Youhaven’tfartogotofindyourlodging;
  Byorderoftheprince,weherearrestyou。
  ORGON
  Traitor!Yousavedthworststrokeforthelast;
  Thcrownsyourperfidies,andruinsme。
  TARTUFFE
  Ishallnotbeembitteredbyyourinsults,ForHeavenhastaughtmetoendureallthings。
  CLEANTE
  Yourmoderation,Imustown,great。
  DAM
  HowshamelesslythewretchmakesboldwithHeaven!
  TARTUFFE
  Yourravingscannotmoveme;allmythoughtbuttodomyduty。
  MARIANE
  YoumustclaimGreatgloryfromthhonourableact。
  TARTUFFE
  Theactcannotbeaughtbuthonourable,Comingfromthathighpowerwhichsendsmehere。
  ORGON
  Ungratefulwretch,doyouforget’twasI
  Thatrescuedyoufromuttermery?
  TARTUFFE
  I’venotforgotsomehelpyoumayhavegiven;
  Butmyfirstdutynowtowardmyprince。
  ThehigherpowerofthatmostsacredclaimMuststifleinmyheartallgratitude;
  AndtosuchpusanttiesI’dsacrificeMyfriend,mywife,mykindred,andmyself。
  ELMIRE
  Thehypocrite!
  DORINE
  HowwellheknowsthetrickOfcloakinghimwithwhatwemostrevere!
  CLEANTE
  Butifthemotivethatyoumakeparadeofperfectasyousay,whyshoulditwaitToshowitself,untilthedayhecaughtyouSolicitinghwife?HowhappensitYouhavenotthoughttogoinformagainsthimUntilhhonourforceshimtodriveyouOutofhhouse?AndthoughIneednotmentionThathe’djustgivenyouhwholeestate,Still,ifyoumeanttotreathimnowasguilty,Howcouldyouthenconsenttotakehgift?
  TARTUFFE(totheOfficer)
  Pray,sir,delivermefromallthclamour;
  Begoodenoughtocarryoutyourorder。
  THEOFFICER
  Yes,I’vetoolongdelayeditsexecution;
  ’Tveryfittingyoushouldurgemetoit;
  Sotherefore,youmustfollowmeatonceTopron,whereyou’llfindyourlodgingready。
  TARTUFFE
  Who?I,sir?
  THEOFFICER
  You。
  TARTUFFE
  Bywhytopron?
  THEOFFICER
  YouArenottheonetowhomIoweaccount。
  You,sir(toOrgon),recoverfromyourhotalarm。
  Ourprincenotafriendtodoubledealing,Heyescanreadmen’sinmosthearts,andallTheartofhypocritescannotdeceivehim。
  Hsharpdcernmentseesthingsclearandtrue;
  Hmindcannottooeasilybeswayed,Forreasonalwaysholdsthebalanceeven。
  Hehonoursandexaltstruepiety,Butknowsthefalse,andviewsitwithdgust。
  Thfellowwasbynomeansapttofoolhim,Farsubtlersnareshavefailedagainsthwdom,AndhquickinsightpiercedimmediatelyThehiddenbasenessofthtortuousheart。
  Accusingyou,theknavebetrayedhimself,AndbytruerecompenseofHeaven’sjusticeHestoodrevealedbeforeourmonarch’seyesAscoundrelknownbeforebyothernames,Whosehorridcrimes,detailedatlength,mightfillAlong—drawnhtoryofmanyvolumes。
  Ourmonarch——toresolveyouinaword——
  Detestinghingratitudeandbaseness,Addedthhorrortohothercrimes,AndsentmehitherunderhdirectionToseehinsolenceout—topitself,Andforcehimthentogiveyousatfaction。
  Yourpapers,whichthetraitorsaysareh,Iamtotakefromhim,andgiveyouback;
  ThedeedofgifttransferringyourestateOurmonarch’ssovereignwillmakesnullandvoid;
  AndforthesecretpersonaloffenceYourfriendinvolvedyouin,hepardonsyou:
  Thusherewardsyourrecentzeal,dplayedInhelpingtomaintainhrights,andshowsHowwellhheart,whenitleastexpected,Knowshowtorecompenseanobledeed,Andwillnotlettruemeritmsitsdue,Rememberingalwaysrathergoodthanevil。
  DORINE
  NowHeavenbepraed!
  MADAMEPERNELLE
  AtlastIbreatheagain。
  ELMIRE
  Ahappyoutcome!
  MARIANE
  Who’dhavedaredtohopeit?
  ORGON(toTartuffe,whobeingledbytheofficer)
  Theretraitor!Nowyou’re
  SCENEVIII
  MADAMEPERNELLE,ORGON,ELMIRE,MARIANE,CLEANTE,VALERE,DAM,DORINE
  CLEANTE
  Brother,hold!——anddon’tDescendtosuchindignities,Ibegyou。
  Leavethepoorwretchtohunhappyfate,Andletremorseoppresshim,butnotyou。
  HoperatherthathheartmaynowreturnTovirtue,hatehvice,reformhways,Andwinthepardonofourgloriousprince;
  Whileyoumuststraightwaygo,andonyourkneesRepaywiththankshnoblegenerouskindness。
  ORGON
  Wellsaid!We’llgo,andathfeetkneeldown,Withjoytothankhimforhgoodnessshown;
  Andthfirstdutydone,withhonoursdue,We’llthenattenduponanother,too。
  WithweddedhappinessrewardValere,Andcrownalovernobleandsincere。