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。
第5章