Moli6re

Tartuffe

Translated into English Verse by Richard Wilbur

CHAR{CTERS

r"rrr,re rrnrrlle, Orgon's molieroncoN, Elmire's husbandalanz, Orgon's wifeo,rurs, Orgon's son, Elmirc's stepsonv.rnr,urr, Orgon's daugiter, Elnirc's stepddughtet, in lo|e i,ithValilevALiRE, in lore with MarianecLiAN't E, Or gon's brot hein-lav)'t

^R'tuFFE, a hy\ocite

ooxnr, Mariane's lady's -maidn. torer, a bailifA POI,ICE OFFICER

rupotr,, Mme Pernelle's maid

I Thc \,?np thrcuehout. oncor'. hnusp in Paris

ACT I

Cone, come, Flipote; it's time I left tbn phce.ILMTRE: I can'i keep up, you walk at such a pace.

Don't trouble, child; no necd to show rnc out.It's not your manners I'm concerned about.

erurrr: We rnerely pay you the respect we owe.But, Mother, why this hurry? Must you go?

I must. Tbis house appals me. No one in itWill pay attention for ? single minute.Children, I tale my leave much vexed in spnit.I ofier s(Dd advice, but you won't bear it.You all break in and chatter on and on.It s like a madhouse with the keeper gone.

Girl, you talk too much, and I'n afraidYouie f too saucy for a lady\-maid.You push in everywhere and have your say.

DAMrs:But...You, boy, grow more foolish every day.

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To tbinl my srandson should be such a duncelI've said a hundred times, if I've said it once,That ifyou keep the cou6e on which you've started,You'll leave your worlhy father brolen-hearted.

M^RI^NE: Ithin]r..And you, hh shter, seem so pure,

So shy, so innoceni, and so denure.But yotr know what they say about still waiers.I pity parents wiih secretive daught€n.

ELMTRE: Now, Mother . . .

And as for you, child,let ne addThat your behavior is extremely bad,And a poor example for these children, too.Then dear, dead mother did far better than you.Youie nuch too free with mon€y, and I'm distre$edTo see you so elaborately dressed.When itt on€ s husband that one aims to piease,One has no need ofcostly tripperies.

cr6rmr: Oh, Madam, really . . .

You are her brother, Sir,And I respect and love you; yet if I wereMy son, this lady's sood and piou spouse,I trouldn t m.ke you welcome rn m1 house.Youie full of woddly counsels which, I fear,Aren't suitable for d€cent folk to bear.I've spoken bluntly, Sn; but it behooves us

Noi to miDce words when righteous fe.vor moves us.

n,rurs: Your man Tartufie h fuJI of holy speecbes . . .

And practices precisely what he preaches

He\ a 6ne man, and should be listened to.I will not hear hin mocked by fools Ii}e you

DAMrs: Good Codl Do you exp€cl me to submitTo the iyranny ofthat carpins hypocrite?Must we folgo all joys and satisfactionsBecause thai bigol censures all our actions?

DoRTNL: 1o hear him ralk andhcrall'allthetime-There's nothine one can do that's not a crinle.He rails at everything, your dear Tartufe.

Whatever he reproves deserves reproof.He's out to save your souls, and all ofyouMust love him, as my son would have you do.

DAM,S: Ah no, Crandmolher, I could never takeT"

'uch a raral, eren ror my fathcn sake.

Tha ' how I leel, rnd I 'hall not dr'.emble.His every action males me seethe and trembleWith helpl€s anser, and I h3ve no doubtThat he and I will sbortly have it out.

DoRTNE: Surely it is a shame and a disgrace

Moliire

Tanfe

To re rhir man u,urp rhe maver r place-To see this besgar who, when 66t he came,Had not a shoe or shoestring to his nameSo far forget hinselfthat he bebaves{r it the hou"e uere hir. and $e hi\ 5ldver

Well, marl my words, your souls would fare far beti€rIfyou obeyed his precepts to the letter.

DoRrNEr You see him as a saini. I'm far l€ss awed;In fact, I s€e right throush him. He's a fraud.

MADAME PERNET.L.: Nonsense!DoRrNEj His man Laurent's the same, or worse;

I'd not trust eilher wiih a penny puse.I can't say what his servant's morals may be;

His own great goodness I can guaranlee.You all resard hin with distaste and fearBecause he tells you what youie loath€ to hear,Condemns your sins, points out your moral flaws,And humbly stdves to further Heaven\ cause.

DoRTNE: Ifsin is all that boihers hirn, why is itHet so upset when folk drop in to visit?h Heaven so outrased by a social callThat h€ nust prophesy asainst us all?I'11 tell you wbat I think: ifyou asl me,He's jealous of my mistres' company.

Rubbisb! lto Er-MrRE] He's not alone, child, in complaininsOf all ofyour promiscuous entertaining.Why, the whole neishborhoodk upset, I kno-,By all these carriases that come and go,With crowds of guests paradine in aDd ouiAnd noisy servanh loiterins about.ln sll ofthn, I'm sur€ th€re's nothing vicious;But why give people cause to be suspicious?

CL6^N1E: They ne€d no cause; they'll talk in any case.Madam. rhi, uo.ld would bc a jo)les placpIf, feains what malicious tongues misbt say,We locked our doon and turned our friends away.And even ifone did so dreary a thing,D'you think those tongues would cease lh€ir chattering?One can'l 6sht slanderi it's a losine baltle;Lei us instead ignor€ their tittle{attle-Let's strive to live by conscien€e' clear decres,And let the so$ips sossip as th€y please.

DoRrNEr If there is tall asainst us, I know tbe source:It's Daphn€ and her liiile husband, ofcourse.Those who have sreatest cause for suilt and shameAre quick€sr io besmirch a neighbors name.When there's a chance for libel, th€y never mhs it;When somethins can b€ made lo s€em iuicii

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They're oFal once to spread the joyous news,Adding to fact what faDtasies they choose.By talling up their neighbor's indiscr€tionsTh"y 'eel lo camouflase lherr own lran"gres'iuns.Hoping that others' innoc€ni afiai.sWill lend a hue ofinnocence to theirs,Or tbal their owD black guilt will come to seemPart ofa eeneral shady color-scheme.

All that is quite irrelevanl. I doubtThat anyone's more virtuous and devoutThan dear Oranlei and I'm inforned that sheCondemns your mode oflile most vehenently.

DoRrNEr Oh, ),es, she s strict, d€vout, and has no taintOfworldlines; in sbort, she seems a saint.But ir wa\ lime which laushr her lhal dhguj'":Sire's rhls becalse she cen't be oiherwise.So long as her attractions could enthrall,She floun(ed,nd flnred and enioyed rl all.Bui now that they'.e no longer what they wereShe quitr a uo'ld rhich fa\r h qu,h,ns her.And wean a veil of vinue b concealHe. bankrupt beauty and her lost appeal.That s what becomes ofold coquettes today:Distr€ssed when all then lover fall away,They see no recoune but to play the prud€,And so confer a style on solitude.Thereafter, theyi€ sever€ with everyone,Condemning all our actions, pardoning none,And claiming to b€ pure, austere, and zealousWhen, ifthe truth were known, theyle merely jealous,

And ennot berr to see another tnowThe pleasures time has forced them to forso.

lintttdrl lo ELMIREIThat sort of talk is whai you like to hear;Therefore you'd have us all keep still, my dear,Whil€ Madam rattl€s on the livelong day.N€vertheless, I mean to have ny say.

I tell you thrt you're blest to have TariuFeDwelling, as my son's guest, beneath this roo4That Heaven has sent hirn to for€stall its wrathBy leading you, once more, to the true palhiThat all he reprehends is reprehensible,And thal you'd bette. heed hin, and be sensible.These visits, balls, and parties in which you revelAre nothing but inventions ofthe Devil.One never hears a word that s edifying:Nothins but chaFand foolishnes and lying,As well as vicious gossip in which one's neighborh cut to bih with epee, foil, and saber.

Tdttufe

People ofsense are driven half-insaneAt such aFans, where noise and folly reignAnd reputations perish thick and fan.As a wise preaclrer sid on Sunday last,Parties arc Towes of Babylon, becauseThe guests all babble on with n€ver a pause;And lhen he lold a no.y $hich. llrrink . . .

lfo crd^NrEl: I hea.d that laugh, Sn, and I saw ihat winklGo 6nd your silly friends and laugh sone more!Enough; I'm goins; don't show me to the door.I leave this household much dismayed and vexed;I cannot say when I shall see you next.

ls/dpptss FrrporEl: Wale up, don't stand there saping into space!

I'll slap sone sense into that stupid face.Move, move, you slut.

cLd^NrE: I think I'll stay b€hind;I want no further pieces ofher mind.How that old lady . . .

DoRTNE: Oh, what wouldn't she sayIlshe could hear you speak ofher ihat waylShe'd thank you fo. th€ idd,', but I'm sureShe'd find the old a litde premature.

cLnANrE: My, what a scene she made, and what a dinlAnd how this man Tartufie has talen h€r in!

oonrrr Ye', Lut her son i, eren qor.e deceived,Hh folly must be seen to be believed.In the lale lroubles, he played an able partAnd se.ved his kins with wis€ and loyal heari,But he's quite lost his senses since he tellBeneath Tartufi€'s infatuating spell.He calh him brother, and loves hin as hk life,Preferins him to mother, child, or wife.In him and hin elone will he con6de;He ' made him ni'.on-e,"o. rnd his guid".He pets and pampers him with love more tenderThan any prelty mistress could engender,Ci!er hin the phce olhonor shen lhe) dine.Delights to see him sorsing lile a swine,Stuf,s him with dainiies till his suts distend,And when he belches, cries "Cod bless you, friendl"In short, he's mad; he worships him; he dotes;His deeds he marvels at, his words he quotes,Think'ns each act a mnacle, each wordOracular as those tbal Moses heard.Tartufe, mdch pleased to 6nd so easy a victim,

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Has in a hundred ways beguiled and hicked him,Villcd him of money. and with his pemissionEstablished h€re a sorl oflnquisition.Even Laurent, his lacley, dares to giveUs arrogant advice on how to liv€;He sermonizes us in thundering tonesAnd confiscates our ribbons and colognes.Last week be tore a kerchiefinto piecesBecaus€ he found it pressed in a Life of ksus:He said it was a sin to juxtapos€

Unholy vaniti€s and holy prose.

SCENE ln

ELMTRE: lfo cLfaNrE] You did well not to follow; sh€ stood in ihe doo.And said r?/battn all she'd said before.I saw my husband coming. I thint I'd bestGo upsbns now, and lak€ a little rest.

cLnANrE: I'll wait and greet hin here; tben I must so.I've really only time to my hello.

o,rurs: Sound him about ny sister's weddine, please.

I think Tartufie's againsi it, and that h€ s

Been urgins Fath€r lo withdraw his blessing.Ar 1ou well knou. I d find that mosl di(lr€\sing.Unless my sister and Valere can marry,My hopes to wed iis sister will mis€any,And I'm deternined . . .

oonrrr: He's coming.

oRcoN: Ah, Broth€r, good-day.c#,rmr: Well, welcome back. I m sorD, l can't stay.

How was the country? Blooming, I trusl, and green?

oRcoNr Excuse me, Brother; just one moment.

lto DotuNEl Dorine . . .

lro clri^NrEl To put my mind at .est, I always learnThe household news the moment I relum.lto DoRrNEl Has aI been well, these two days I've been gone?

How are the iamily? What's been soing on?DoRrNEr Your wife, two days ago, had a bad fever,

And a fierce headache which r€tus€d to leave her.oRcoN: Ah. And TarhlFe?DoRTNE: Tartufie? Why, het round and red,

Burstins with heahh, and €xcell€nlly fed.oRcoN: Poor fellowloonrrr: That night, tbe mist.ess was unable

To take a sinsle bite at the dinner-table.Her headache-pains, she sid, were simply hellish.

Tattufe

oRcoN: Ah. And Taltufie?DoRTNE: He ate his meal with relish.

And zealouslv devoured in her presence

A les of mutton and a brac€ ofpheasants.oRcoN: Poor fellowloorrNn: Well, ihe pains continued strong,

And so she toss€d and tossed the whol€ nisbt lons,Now icy<old, now buming like a flame.We sat beside her bed till momins came.

oRcoN: Ah. And Tartutre?DoRTNE: Why, havins eaien, he rose

And soughl his rmm, already in a doze,Gol into his warn bed, and snored awayIn p€rfect peace until the break of day.

oacor: Poor fellowloornc After nuch ado, we talked her

Into dhpalching someon€ for the docior.He bled her, and the fever quickly fell.

orcor: Ah. And Ta{ufie?oonrue: He bore it very well.

To keep his cheerfulnes at any cosi,And male up for the blood Madane had lost,He drank, at lunch, four bealers full of port.

oRcoN: Poor fellowlDoRrNEr Both are doing well, in sho.t.

I'll so aDd tell Mdddns that you've €xpressedKeen sympathy and anxious interest.

cLiANrEr That sirl was laughins in your face, and thoughI've no wish to oF€nd you, even so

I m bound lo 'ay

lhai she had some ercuse.How can you posibly be such a goose?

Are you so dazed by this mant hocuspocusThat all the world, save hin, is out offocus?You've given him clothins, shelter, food, and care;Wby musl you also . . .

oRcoN: Brother, stop right there.You do not know the man of whon you speak.

cL6ANrE: I grani you that. But ny judsment's not so weakThat I can t tell. by hi' "ffecl un olher\ . .

orcor: Ah, when you me€t hin, you iwo will b€ like brothers!There's been no loftier soul since time besan.Heisananwbo... amanwho... an excellent nan.To leep his precepts is to be .ebom,And view thn dunghill of a world with scorn.Yes, thanks to him I'rn a changed man ind€ed.

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Under his tutelase my soult been freedFron earthly loves, and every human tie:My mother, children, brother, and wife could die,And I'd not f€el a sinsle monent's pain.

cLiANrE: That's a fine sentinent, Brotheri most humane.oncor: Oh, had you seen TaduFe as I first kn€w him,

You. heart, like mine, would have surr€ndered to him.Hc used to come into our church each dayAnd humbly kneel nearby, and start to pray.He'd draw the eyes of everybody thereBy the d€ep fervor ofhk heartfelt prayer;He'd sigh and weep, and sometimes with a soundOf raptu.e he would bend and kiss the sround;And when I rose to so, he'd run beforeTo oFer me holy water at the door.His selvins-rnan, no less devoul than he,Informed me ofhis master's pover!;I s?ve him gifts, but in his humblenesHe'd bes m€ every tine to sive hirn l€ss."Oh, tbai's too much," h€'d cry, "ioo much by twice!I don r de\cNe ,r. The tull Sir, would suffc..And when I wouldn'r take it back, be'd shareHalfofit with the poor, right then and there.{r lensrh. Hedven p,umpled me lo rale h,m inTo dwell wirh u,. dnd f,ee our 'oul. lrom 'inHe guides our lives, and to protect my honorstays by my wife, and keeps an eye upon trer;He tells me whom she se€s, and all she do*,And s€ems more jealous than I ever waslAnd how austere h€ isl Why, he can det€ctA mortal sin wher€ you would l€ast suspect;In smailest kifles, he's extremely slrict.Last week, his conscience was severely pricledBccause, while praying, he had causht a feaAnd killed it, so he felt, too wrathfully.

crtrrrr: Good God, manl Have you lost your cornOr h this all som€ joke at my expense?How can you stand tbere and in all sobriety . . .

oRcoN: Brotber, your language savors of impiety.Too much free thinking's made your faith unsteady,And as I've wamed you many tin€s already,'Twill get you into trouble before you re through.

cLfANrEr So I've b€en told before by dupes like you:Being blind, you'd have all others blind as well;The clear eyed man you call an infidel,And he who sees th.oush humbug and pretensel. charged. by )uu. s rlr wrnl of rpveren(e.Spare m€ your warnings, Brother; I have no fear

Tatttffe

Ofspeak:ng out, for you and Heaven to hear,Against atrected zeal and pious knavery.Ther€ s true and fals€ in piely, as in brav€ry,And just as ihose whos€ courage shines the rno51

In battle, are the ieast inclined to boasl,So those whose hearts are truly pure and lowlyDon't make a flashy show ofbeing holy.t here ' d va"t drtrerence, \o il \eem. lo me,Between t.ue piety and hypocrisy:How do you fail to see it, may I asl?k not a face quite diFereni fron a rnask?

CaDnot sincerity and cunnins an,Reality and sernblanc€, be told apart?Are scarecrows just like men, and do you holdThat a false coin is just as good as goldrAh, Broth€r, man's a strangely fasbioned creatureWho seldom is content to follow Nature,But recHessly pursu€s his inclinationBeyond the narrow bounds ofmod€ration,And often, by transs.essing Reason s laws,Perverts a lofty aim or noble cause.A passing observation, but it applies.

oRcoN: I sce, dear Brother, th?t you're profoundly wise;You hrbor all th€ insight ofthe age.

You ar€ our one clear nind, our only sage,

The erat oracle, ih Cato too,And all mankind are fooh compared lo you.

cLiANrE: Brotber, I don't pretend to be a sage,

Nor have I all the wisdom ofthe age.

Therei lusl one rnnghl I would dare ro claimI know lhrt lrue and trl\e a"e nol lhe samei

And just as ihere is nothins I more r€vereThan a soul whose faith is steadfast and sincere,Noihins tbat I rnoie cherish and admneThan honest zeal and irue reJigious fire,So there is nothing tllat I 6nd more base

Than sp€cious piety's dishonest face-Than these bold nountebanls, tbese histriosWhose impious murnmeries and bollow showsExploit our love of H€aven, and make a jest

Of all that m€n thinl holiest and best;These calcul?iiDg souls who ofier prayers

Not to tbeir Maker, but as poblic wares,And seel to buy respect and reputationWith lifted ey€s and sisbs ofexaltation;Tbese charlatans, I say, whose pilgrin soulsProceed, by way of Heaven, toward earihly goals,

Who weep and pray and swindle and extort,

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Who preach the monkish life, but haunt the coun,Who mJke lhen ?eal lhe prdner of rheir \ ice-Such nen are vengeful, sly, and cold as ice,And when there is an enemy io defam€They cloak their spite in fair religion's narnc,Their privat€ spleen and malice being madeTo seem a high and virruous crumde,Until, to manlind's reverent applause,They crucify their foe in HSuch knaves are all tm common; yet, for the wne,True piety isn't hard to recosnize,And happily, ihes€ pr€s€nt times provide usWith bright exanples to instruct and guide us.Conside. A.iston and P6riandre;Look at Oronte, Alcidamas, Cliiandre;Their virlue is acknowledsed; who could doubt it?But you won'l hear them beat the drun about it.They're never ostentatious, never vain.AnJ lhei'

'elis'on\ moderate and humane;

It's not their way to criticize and chide:l-he1 thinl cenroriourne* a ma'k ol pridc.And therefore, lettins othen preach and rave,They show, by deeds, how Chrisiians should behave.They think no €vil oftheir fellow man,Bul judse ofhim kindly as ihey can.t he) don r in(isue and wangle and conspue:To lead a sood life is then one d€sne;The sinner wakes no rancorous hate in ther,;Il is ihe sin alone which they condemn;Nor do they try to show a Fercer zealFor Heaven's cause tian H€aven itself could {eel.These nen I honor, these m€n I advocateAs models for us all to enulate.Your man is not their sort at all, I fear:And, while your praise ofhiln is quite sincere,I think that you've been dreadfuJly deluded.

oRcoN: Now then, dear Brother, is your speech concluded?cLnANrEr Wby, yes.

oRcoN: Your servant, Sir.lHe tutns to eo.)cLi^NrEr No, Broiher; wait.

There's one more matter. You agreed oflateThat young Valire might have your daughtels hand.

oRcoN: I did.cLf^NrE: And set the date. I underslend.oRcoN: Quite so.cI-E^NrE: You've now postponed it; is that tru€,

cLd^NrE: The natcb no longer pieues you?

Tartuffe

oncor: Who knows?cLiANrE: D'you mean to eo back on your word?oRcoN: I won't say that.cLiANrE: Has anything occurred

Which might entitle you to break your pledge?

cLiaNrE: Why must you hem, and haw, and hedge?'l ne boy a'ked me to sound you in

'his affar . . .

oRGoN: Itt b€en a pleasure.cLtANrEr But what shall I tell Vala.€?oncor: Whatever you like.cL6aNrE: But what hav€ you d€cided?

What are your plans?orcor: I plan, Sn, to be guided

By Heaven's will.cL€ANrE: Cone, Brother, don'i talk rot.

You've given Valire your word; will you leep it, or nol?orcor: Good day.cLE^NrE: This looks like poor V?ldre's undoing;

l ll so and wdrn him thrr there r trouble brewing.

ACT II

MARTAN.: Yes. Faiher?oRcoN: A word with youi come here.Mmre""r: What are you looking for?a{co\: lpeetins into a snall closeil Eavesdroppen, dear.

I'n maling sure we shan't be overheard.Som€one in tbele could catch our every wold.Ah, good, weie safe. Now, Mariane, rny child,You're a sweet sirl who's tractable and mild,Whom I hold dear, and thinl rnost bighly oi

MARTANT: I'n deeply srateful, Father, for your love.oRcoN: Thatt well said, Daushter; and you can repay me

Il in all things, you'll checrful)y obey me.runr,ruu To please you, Sir, n what delishh me b€si.

oncor: Good, eood. Now, what d'yoD think ofTaduF€, ourguest?

uenrert: I. Sn?oRcoN: Yes. Weigh your answer; thinl it through.r'rarr,ur: Oh, dear. I'll say wbatever you wish me to.oRcoNr That! wisely said, rny Daughter. Say ofhim, tben,

That he's the very worthiest of m€n,And rnar you ,e lond ot hrm. dnd $ould

'eiorceln being his uiie. il thal 'hould be mv choice

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Well?

oRcoN: What's that?

urnnre: Forgive me, pray.oRcoN: Did you not hear me?MAR,ANE: Ofvfiom, Sn, nust I sy

That I am fond ofhim, and would.eioiceIn being his wife, if that should be yoor choice?

orcor: Why, of TartuFe.MARTANE: But, Father, that s false, you lnow.

Why would you have me say what isn't so?

oRcoN: Becaus€ I am resolved it shall be hue.Thal il's my wish should be €noush for you.

M^RI^NE: You can't mean. Father . . .

oRcoN: Yes. Tartufe shall beAlli€d by rnarriase to this family,And he's to b€ your husband, is ihat clear?Itiafatheisprivilece . . .

oRcoNr [fo DoRTNE] What are you doins in here?Is curiosiiy so 6erce a pa$ionWith you, thai you must eavesdrop in this fdhion?

DoRTNE: There's lately b€en a rumor goins ?bout-Based on some hunch or chance remarl. no doubt-That you mean Madane to wed Tartufe.I've laughed it of, ofcourse, as just a spoof.

oRcoN: You find it so incredible?

I won't accept tMt story, €ven {rom you.oncoN: Well, you ll believ€ it wh€n lhe thins is done.oonrrr: Yes, yes, ofcourse. Go on and bave your fun.oncor: I've never been more seriou in my life.DotuNE: Ha!oRcoN: Dauchter, I nean it; you're to be his wife.DoRTNE: No, don't beli€ve your father; ilt all a hoax.oncor: See here, young woman . . .

oonrrr: Come, Sn, no more iokes;You can't fool Ds.

oRcoN: How dare you talk that way?DoRTNE: All risht, then: we believe you, md to say.

But how d ndn lile )ou. who look so uneAnd w€?rs a moustache of such splendid size,Can be so foolish as to . . .

orcoN: Silence,pleasel

Taduffe

My girl, you take too many liberties.I'm master bere, as you nust not forget.

DoRrNEr Do let's discuss this calnly; don't be upset.You can't be serious, Sn, about this plan.What should that bigot want wilh Ma ane?

Praying and fasting ousbt to keep him busy.And then, in terms of wealth and ranl, what is he?Why should a man of property like youPick oui a beggar son in law?

oRcoN: Thal will do.Speal ofhis poverty with reverence.His is pure and saintly indigenceWhich far transcends all worldly pride and pelf.H€ lost his fonune, as he says himself,Because he cared lor Hea\en alone.,nd .oWas car€l€ss ofhis interests here below.I mean to get him out o{his present straitsAnd help him to recover his estates-Which, in his part ofihe world, have no small fame.Poor though he is, het a genileman iust the same.

oonrrr: Yes, so he tells us;and, Sir, it seems to meSuch pride soes very ill with piety.A rnan whose spiril spurns this dunsy earthOushr nol ro b'Js o{ lrnds and noble brrlh.Such woddly arogance will hardly squareWitb meel devotion and the life ofprayer.. . . But this approach, I see, has drawn a blank;Let s spea}, then, ofhh person, not his rank.Doesn't it se€m to you a trifle grinTo give a girl like her to a man Iile him?When two are so ill suil€d, can't you see

Whal tbe sad consequence is bound to be?A young gnl's virtue is imperilled, Sn,When such a ma ace is imposed on her;For ifone s bridegroon isn't to one's taste,It's hardly an inducenent to be chasl€,And many a man with homs upon his browHas made his wife the thing lhat she is now.It's hard to be a faitbful wife, in short,To cerlain husbands ofa cenain sort,And he who gives his dausht€r to a man she baiesVu't an,ucr tor her

"rn' al Healen \ g,tps.

Thiuk, Sn, before you play so risly a role.oRcoN: This s€rvani-gnl presumes io save Iny soulloonrrr: You would do wel to ponder what I've said.oncoN: Daughter, we'll disregard ihis dunderhead.

lust lrust your fathe.s judgment. Oh, I'm awareThat I orce promred 1or lo young Valer":

207

208

But now I hear he gambJes, which greatly shocks rne;What's nore. I've doubh about his orthodoxv.His visits to church, I note, are very few.

nonru: Would you have him go at the sarne hours as you,And kneel nearby, to be sure ofbeing seen?

oRcoN: I can dispense with such remarlc, Dorine.tro MARr^NEI

TanuFe, however, ir.ure of Heaven, ble-ine.And that's the only treasule worth possessing.

This match will b'ins you ioys beyond all measure;\our cup sillo\e'flow with "ver) pleasure;

You two will interchange your faithtul lovesLike two sweet ch€rubs, or two turtle-doves.No hanh word shall be heard, no frown be seen,And he shall male you happy as a queen.

notuNs: And she'l male him a cuckold, just wait and see.

Moliirc

oRcoN: What languag€lDoRTNE: Oh, he s a man of destiny;

He s made Ior horns. and what the stan demandYour daughteis virtue surely can't wilhstand.

oRcoN: Don'l int€rrupt me fu be.. Why can't you leamThat certain tbings a.e none ofyour concern?

r:orrrr It's for your own sake tltat I interfere.IShe rcpeatedly intenupts oRcoN irsl ds fte is tumtne to sPeak to hisdaushtet.)

oRcoN: Most kind of you. Now, hold your tongue, d'you hear?DoRTNE: If l didn't love you . . .

oRcoN: Spare me your atrection.oonruu I'JJ Jove you, Sir, in spii€ ofyour objection.oRcoN: BlastlDoRTNE: I can't bear, Sir, for your honor's sale,

To let you rnake this ludicros mistake.oRcoN: You mean to go on talking?DoRTNE: Ifl didn't protest

This sinful marriase, my conscience couldn't rest.oncor: Ifyou don't hold your tonsue, you littl€ shr€w . . .

DoRrNEr What, lost your iemp€r7 A pious man like you?oncoN: Yesl Yesl You tall and ialk. I'm

'naddened by it.

Once and for all, I tell you to be quiet.oonrro: Well, I'llbe quiet. But I'llbe thinking hard.oncor: Think all you like, but vou had better euard

That saucy tonsue ofyours, or I' . . . [tuming ]acl ro M,\nl{r€l Now,child,

I've weighed this matter fuJJy.

DoRTNE: [dsid"] It drives n€ wildThat I can't speal.

loRcoN trrns nts nedd, ard she is sile .loRcoN: Tartufie is no young dandy,

Tanufe 209

But, still, bis p€rson . . .

DoRTNE: ldsde] Is as sweet as candy.oRGoN: Is such that, even ifyou shouldn't care

Fo. his other rnerih . . .

[He tums and stdnds facins oorrro, a'as crosed.]oonrIle: [aside] They'll make a lovely pan.

If I were she, no man would marry meAg.inst my inclination, and go scot fr€e.He'd learn, before ihe wedding-day was over,How readily a wife can 6nd a lover.

oncou: [to oonrrrl It seems you treat my orders as a ioke.DoRTNE: Why, what's the matter?'Twas not to you I spoke.oRcoN: What eerc you doingTnorrNr: Talling to myself, that's all.oncor: Ahl [as;de]: One nore bit ofinpudence and gall,

And Lhall grve her a g"od 'lap ,n lhe ia.e.[He puts hinself in Position to slap her; Do{tNE,Nhenel)er he slances ather, Ntands immobile and silent.)

Daughter, you shall accepi, and wilh good grace,The husband lve selected . . . Your wedding-day . . .

llo DoRrNEl Why don't you tall to youreelf?DoRTNE: I've nothing to say.

oRcoN: Come, just one wo.d.DoRTNE: No thank you, Sir. I pass.

oRcoN: Come, sp€ak; I'm wailing.ponrrr: I'd not be such an ass.

oRcoN: lturntag lo MAR,arrl In short, dear Daughier, ] rnean to be obeyed,And you must bow to the sound choice I've made.

DoRTNE: lmorins ddr] I'd not wed such a monster, even in iest.loRcoN dtr?mrls to sldp Aet, but 'r'tuses.)

oRcoNi Daughter, tbat maid of yours is a tborough pest;She mates me sintully annoyed and nettled.I can't speal further; my nerves are too unseiiled.Shet so upset me by her insolent talk,I'll calm myselfby going for a wdL

DoRTNE: l/eturnins] Well, h?ve you lost your tonsue, gnl? Must I playYour part, and say the lines you ought to say?

Fz.ed wilh a fate so hideous and absurd.Can you not utter on€ dissenting word?

Mrnr,rrc What good would it do? A father's power is great.DoRTNE: Resist bim now. or it will be ioo late.MARI^NE: But...norru: Tell him one cannot lov€ al a fath€r's whin;

fhat 1ou 'hall many for yourrelf not him:That since it's you who are to be tbe bride,

210

It's you, not he, who musi be satis6ed;And that ifhis TartuFe is so sublime,He's free to narry him .t any time.

MARIANE: I've bowed so long to Father's strict control,I couldn't oppose him now, to save my soul.

norwr: Come, come, Mariane. Do listen to reason, won't you?Valtre has asked your hand. Do you love him, or don't

vou?MAR,ANE: Oh, how unjust ofyout Whar can you mean

By askins such a question, dear Dorine?You know lhe dFprh ot my agection for him;I've told you a hundred rimes how I adore him.

DoRTNE: I don't believe in everything I hear;Who knows ifyour professions were sinc€re?

M^R,^NE: They were, Dorine, and you do me wrong to doubr ir;Heaven knows that I've been all too fr.!k about it.

DoRTNE: You love him. thenTMARTANE: Oh, mor€ than I can express.DoRTNE: And he, I rele it, cares for you no l€ss?MARTANE: I think so.DoRTNE: And you borh, with equal fire,

Burn to be narried?M^RrANr: That is our one desire.DoRINE: What of TariuFe, then? What of your fathels plan?MARTANET I'll kill myself, if I'm forced to wed that man.DoRTNE: I hadn't thought ofth.t recours€. How splendid!

lust die, and all your troubles wiil be endedlA fine solDtion. Oh, it maddens meTo hear you talk in tbat seif,pitying key.

MARIANE: Dorine, how harsh you arel It s nost unfair.Yor! have no sympathy for my despan.

DoR,NE: I've none at all for people who talk driveJAnd, faced with dificulti€s, whine and snivel.

MARj^NE: No doubt I'rn timid, but it would be wrory . . .

DoRINE: True love requires a heart that's firm and strong.MARTANE: I'm st.ong in my aFection for Valire,

But coping with my fatber is his afair.DoR,NE: But if your fathert brain has grown so cracked

Ov€r hh d€ar Tailuffe that he can retractHis blesing, though your wedding-day was named,Itt surely not Valere whot to b€ blamed.

MARTANE: IfI d€6ed my father, as you sugsest,Would it not seem unnaidenly, at best?Shall I defend my love at the expenseOf brazennes and disobedience?Shall I parade ny heart s desi.es, and faunt . . .

DoRTNE: No, I ask nothing of you. Clearly you wantTo be Madam€ TartuFe, and I feel bound

Tatuffe

Not to oppose a wish so very sound.Wbai righl hrve I io criticize the match?Indeed, my dear, the man's a brilliant catch.Monsieur Tanuffe! Now, tbere's a man ofweightlYes, yes, Monsieur Tartufie, I'm bound to state,Is quite a person; tbat's not to be denied;'Twill be no little thing lo be hn bride.The world already rings with his renown;He s a great noble-in his native town;His ears are r€d, he h3s a pink complexion,And all in all, h€'ll suit you to perfection.

riurr,rNn: Dear GodlDoRrNEr Oh, how lriumphant you will I€el

At having causht a husband so ideallMARTANE: Oh, do stop teasing, and use your clevernes

To get me out ofthis appalling mess.

Advise ne, and I'll do wbaieve' you say.

DoRTNE: Ah no, a dutiful dausht€r musl obeyHer father, ev€n ifhe we& h€r to an ape.You've a bright fohrre; vhy strussle to escape?

Tadufie will take you bacl where his family lives,To a smalltown aswarm with relatives-Uncles and cousins whom you'll be charmed to m€et.You'jl be .eceived at once by the elite,Calling upon the bailifs wife, no less-Even, perhaps, upon the mayoress,Who ll sil )ou down in lhe ,?{ Lrlchen chJi'.Then, once a year, you'll danc€ at tbe villase lairTo the drone ofbagpip€s-two ofthem, in fact-And se€ a puppet show, o! an animal act.Yourhusband. . .

MARTaNE: Oh, you turn ny blood to icelStop torturirg me, and give me your advice.

DoRtNE: Ithrcatenins to sol Your seNant, Madam.M^RTANE: Dorine,I beg ofyou . . .

DoRTNE: No, you deserve it;tbis marriage musi go through.MARTANE: Dorinel

MAR,ANT: Not T tufe: You lnoq I thrnl hrm .

DoRTNE: Tartufie's your cup oftea, and you shall drink him.MARTANE: I've always told you everylhing, and relied . . .

oonrrr: No. You deserve lo be la uffified.venrem: Well, since you mock ne and refuse to care,

I'll henceforih seek my solace in despair:Despair shall be my counsellor and friend,And help me bring my sorrows to an end.

IShe sta.ts to baee.)oonrrr: There now, cone bach my aneer has subs;ded

2t1

212

You do deseNe some pity, I've decided.M^RI^NE: Donne, if Father males ne Undergo

This dreadfin martyrdom, I'll die, I [now.DoRTNE: Don't fret; it won'l be di6cult to dhcover

Some ptan of action . . . But here s Valare, your lover.

v LiRE: Madan, I've iust received some wondrous newsRegarding which I'd like to hear your views.

M^RTANE: What nem?vALtRE: You're marrying Tartufi€.rannrc: I find

That Father does have such a match in mind.v^LtRE: Your father, Madan . . .

. has iust this rninute saidThat [t Tartufie he wishes me to wed.

v^LtRE: Can he b€ s€rious?M^RI^NE: Oh, indeed he can;

Het clearly set his heart upon the plan.vALiiREr And what position do you propose to take,

MadamTu^RwE: Why-I don't loow.v^LiRE: For heaven's sale-

You don't lnow?

vALnRE: Well, welllvanww: Advise me, do.VAGRE: Marry the man. That's my advice to you.M^R'^NE: That's your advice?

MARTANE: Truly?v^LnREr Oh, absolutely.

You couldn't choose more whely, mor€ astutely.MARTANET Thanks for this counsel; I'il follow it, ofcourse.v[irr: Do, do; I'm sure'twill cost you no r€morse.MARI^NE: To give it didn't cause your heart to break.v^LnRE: I gave it, Madam, only for your sale.v^RrANr: And il s for )our \ake that I lale it. Si'.DoRrNEr [pifhdrduins to the rcat of the stdge]

Let's see which fool will prove the stubbomer.verirr: Sol I am nothing to you, and il was flrt

Deception when you . . .

M^R'^NE: Please, enoush of that.You've told me plainly that I should asreeTo wed the man my fatheis chosen for me,And since you've deigned to counsel me so wisely,I promise, Sir, to do as you advise me.

MoliArc

Taftuffe

v^LirRE: Ah, no, 'twas not by me that you were swayed.No, your decision was already nade;Though now, to save appearances, you protestThat youie betraying lne at my behest.

MAR,ANE: Just ar you say.v^LnREr Quile so. And I now see

Thal )ou $ere ne\er lruly rn love wilh me.u,rrr,rlln: Alas, you're free to lhink so ifyou choose.vALiRE: I choose to think so, and here's a bit ofnews:

You've spurned my hand, but I Inow where to turnFor kinder treatment, as you shall quickly leam.

vrnrerr: I'm sure you do. Your noble qualitiesInspireaEectioD...

vALnRE: Forget my qualifies, please.Tbey don't inspire you overmuch, I 6nd.But theret another lady I have in mindWhose sweet and senerous nature will not scornTo conpensate me fo. the loss I've borne.

MARIANE: I'm no sreat lo$, and I'n sure that you'll transferYou' hpalquih painlesll {rom me lo her.

vALiREr I'll do my best to take ii in my st.ide.The pain I feel at beinc cast asideTime and forgetfulness may put an €nd to.Or if I canl forset, I shall pretend to.No self-respecting person is expectedTo go on loving once he's be€n rejected.

MARTANET Now, that's 6ne, high-minded sentiment.vALtRE: One to whicb any sane man would asent.

Would you p.ef€r it if I pined awayIn hopeles pasion till my dying day?AIn I to yield you to a rival's armsAnd not console nyseifwitb other cbarmsT

MARTANE: Go then: console yourselq don't hesitat€.I wish you to; indeed, I canDot waii.

vAr-nRE: You wish me to?

vALiRE: That s the 6nal straw.Madam, farewell. Your wish shall be my law.

[I\e sta s to ledre. ana thes rcturns: this rcpedear.lMAR'ANE| Splendid.v*n€ lcoming back agatnl This breach, remember, is ofyour makine;

Itk you who've driven ne to the step I'm tating.ulrrrrn: OIcourse.v^Lnl't: Icomine back aedinl Remember, too, that I am me.ely

Followins your exampl€.M^RTANE: I see that cleally.v,rr-inr: Enough. I'! go and do your bidding, then.urn,me; Good.

2t7

214

v^LiNE: [conine back aed;n] You sbalJ never see rny face again.u*rrrn: Excellent.v^LnRE: lvdlkins to the d@t, then tutnins aboutl Y es?

vALiREr Whatt that? What did you My?MARTANE: Nothins. Youie dreamiDg.vrine: Ah. Well, I m on my way.

Fareslell. Madame.

[He nows slowly away.l

oounr: [to uatnre] Iryou:sk me,Both ofyou are as mad as mad can be.Do stop this nonsense, now. I've only iet youSquabble so long to see whe.€ it would set you.Whoa there. Monsieure Valare!

[She goes and seizes Yalire by the atm: he nakes a ereat shou of rcsist-

vALnRE: What's this, Dorine?nonrru Come here.vALiREr No, no, my hqrt's too full ofsple€n.

Don't hold me back; her wish must be obeycd.

vALiREi It s too late nowi my decision's made.DoRTNE: Oh, pooh!MARTANE: lastde] He haies the sisht of rne, lhat's plain.

I'll go, and so deliver hin from pain.DoRTNE: Udrtns vALiRE, russi's dfter MARTANEI A,rd now you run awayl

Come back.

Nothing you say will }eep me here. Let gol\ 4, ' R, : [drid"] S\e ,.nnor bea' ny precnce. I perco,..

To spa.e her further toment, I sball leave.DoRTNE: Urdrtns MARr^NE, tuntins dftet v^Ln\El Asain! You'll not escape, Sn;

don't you try it.Come here, you two. Stop fusing, and be quiet.

ISft? rz&es vALiRF rr tfie fi dnd, then M^RI^NE, and drdws then toeethet .lverirr: [lo mrrrr] What do you w.ni ofme?urnrrrr: [to oonrNE] What is the point of ihis?DoRTNE: We're going to have a liitle amistice.

lto vAr.iRnl Now, weren'l you silly to get so overheated?vALnRE: Didn't you se€ how badly I was treaied?DoRTNE: [fo MARhNEI Aren't you a sinpleton, to have lost your head?MARj^NE: Didn t you hear tbe hatetul tbings he $id?DoRr\tr: lto VALERE] You're both great fools. Her sole desire, Valare,

h to be yours in maniase. To that I'll swear.

[to umnrr] He loves you only, and he wants no wifeBut you, Mariane. On thal I'll stake my life.

vrnlAnn: fto v,rr.iael Then why you advised me so, I cannot see.

Tdrtufe 215

vaLiRE: lto MARhNE] On sucb a queslion, why ask advice of ne?oonne: Oh, you're impossible. Give me your hands, you two.

lfo v^LnREl You6 661.vALirRE: btrtns DoRTNE i;s landj But why?DoRr\r tro vARrrNEl And nou a trand iom 1ou.MARTANE: krso st,ins DoRTNE [e/ Adnd] what are you doins?ooRrNEr Ther€: a pefecl fit.

You suit each othe. better than you'll admit.

lvALiRE dnd M^Rr^NE nold hands for sone tine vithout lookinq at eachother.l

vALiREr ltIrrntns lowdld MARTANE] Ah, come, don't be so baushty. Civ€ a nanA look ofkindnes, won't you, Marian€7

IMAR,aNE rsrns toydrd vAr.n^E and sniles.lDoRTNE: I'll tell you, lovers are completely madlvALiREr lto MARTANEI Now corne, confess that you were very bad

To hurt my feeliDss as you did just now.I have a just complaini, you must allow.

M^nrANE: You must allow that you were most unpleasani . . .

DoRTNE: Let's table that discussion for the present;Your father has a plan which must be stopped.

MARTANtr| Advis€ us, th€n; what means must we adopt?oonnn: We'll use all manner of means, and all at once.

lto MARTANEI Your f?thels addled; he s aciing like a dunce.The.efore you'd betler humor the old fossil.P.etend to yield io him, be sweet and docile,And then postpone, as otten as nec€ssary,The day on which you have asreed to marry.You'll thus gain time, and tim€ will tlm the tricl.Sometimes, for instance, you'll be tak€n sicl,And that will seern sood reason for delay;Or sorne bad omen will nale you change the day-You'll dream of muddy water, or you'll pass

A dead man's heane, or break a looling-gJasIfall else fails, no man can many youUnless you tale his ring and say "l do."But now, let s separate. Ifthey should findUs talking here, our plot might be divined.lfo vAr-iREl Co to your friends, and tell thcrn whalt occurred,And have them urge her father to keep his word.Meanwhile, we'll sln her broth€r into action,{nd get Flmire. cs well. ro torn our fa(uon.Good bye.

vALiRE: Jlo MARTANEI Though each otus will do hk ben,It's your true heart on which rny hopes sball rest.

u^Rr^NE: llo v^LrRE] Resardles ofwhrt Father may decide,None but Valare shall claim me as his bride.

VALERE: Oh. how those words content mel Come wbat will . . .

ooarrn: Ob,loven, loversl Their tonsues are ncvcr still.

2t6

Be of, now.v^LiF.E [tumine to eo, then t nins 6dcA] One last wo.d . ..DoRTNE: No time to chat:

You leave by thn door; and )'ou leave by ihat.lDoRrNE pu&es rfie'n, br fhe shouldets, t.''t/ad oppxins d@n.l

ACT III5CENE I

DAMrs: May lishlnins sirike me even as I speak,

May all men call me cowardly and weak,Ifany fear or scruple holds me backFrom settling things, at once, with tbat g.eat quackl

oonrrr: No", don t ei'" wa' lo violenl emorrun.Your father's rnerely talked about this notion,And words and deeds are far from being one.Much thal is lalked about is left undone.

DAMrs: No, I must stop that scoundrel's machinations;I'11go and tell him ofi; l'm out ofpatience.

mn,re: Do calm down and be practical. I had ratherMy nistress dealt with him and with yoor father.She has sorne influence witb Tartuffe, I'v€ noted.He bangs upon her words, seems most devoted,And may. indeed. be 5mrlten by her charm.Pray Heaven it's lru€l 'Tivould do our cause no harn.She sent for him, iusl now, to sound bim outOn this afian youle so incensed about;She'll find out where he stands, and tell him, tooWhat dreadful strife and trouble will ensueIfhe lends count€nance to your father's p]an.I couldn t set in to

'ee hrm. but hir man

S?ys lhat he s almost finhhed with his prayers.Go, now. I'll catch him when he comes downstairs.

DAMrs: I want to hear this conference, and I will.oonrr.rt: No, they must be alone.orvrs: Oh, I'11leep still.DoRINE: Not you. I know your ienper. You'd stad a brawl,

And shout and stamp your foot and spoil il all.Go on.

DAMrs: I won'i; I have a p€rfect right . . .

oorrrr: Lord, youte a nuisanc€l He's coming; get out ofsight.[awts nnceals himself in d closet at the rcd of the stase.)

renrurrr: fobse ng rrrNE, dnd calling to his manvnant offstasel Hans \\pmy hair-shirt, put my scourge in place,

And pray, Laurent, for Heaven's perpetual grace.

Tanulfe 217

I'm going to the prison now, to shareMy last few €oins with the poor wretch€s there.

oonrNr: [asi&l Dear God, what atrecraiiont What a fa]elraRruFFE: You wish€d to see me?

't AN1]FFH [takins a handkdchief fion his bocket] F or mercy's sake,Please take this handkerchie! before you speak.

TARTUFFE: Cover that bosom, gni. The flesh is weak,And unclean thoushts are dimcult to control.Such

"rghts a thdr can undermine the

'oul.oonrrr: Your soul, it seems, has very poor defenses,And flesh makes quite an impact on your senses.It's strange that you're so easily excit€d;My own desires are not so soon ignit€d,And if I saw you naled as a beast,Noi all yoDr hide would tempt me in the least.

r,rnrunrr: Gnl, speal more modestly; uDless you do,I shrll be forc€d to take my leave ofyou.

DoRTNE: Oh, no, itt I who mut be on my way;I've just one little message to convey.Madarne ir coming down. and begr 1ou. Srr.To wait and have a word or two with her.

TARTUFFE: Cladly.oonru: [aside] Tnat had a softenins effectl

I think rny guess about bim was correct.r,rnrunnr: Will she be long?DoRTNE: No: ihat s her step I hea..

Ah, here she is, and I shall disappear.

r,*rurnr: May heaven, whose inhnile soodness we adore,PreseNe your hody and soul forevermore,And bles your days, and answer thus the pleaOfone who is ih humblest votary.

ELMIRE: I thank you for that pious wish. But pleesc,Do take a chair and let's be more at ease.

fThey sit down.lTARTUFFE: I trust that you are once more well and strong?ELMTRE: Oh, yesr the f€ver didn't last for long.rrnrunnr: My prayers are too unworthy, I am sure,

To have garned ftom Hea\en lhb mosl s,aciou' cure:Blt lately, Madam, my €very supplicationHd had for object your re€upe.ation.

trLMrRE: You shouldn't have troubled so. I don'r desere it.TARTUFFE: Your heallh is priceless, Madam, and io preseNe it

I'd eladly giv€ ny own, in all sincerity.

218

Er-MrRE: Sn, you outdo us all in Chnstian charity.You've b€en most lind. I count nyselfyour debtor.

rARruFrE: 'Twas nothing, Madan. I long to serve you better.ELMTRE: Theie's a private matter I'm anxious lo discuss-

I'm glad theret no one her€ io hinder us.

TARTUFFE: I too an glad; it floods my heart with bliss

To find mvself alone with vou like this.For just this chance I've pray€d with all ny power-But prayed in vain, until this happy hour.

ELN,TRE: Thh won't l3ke long, Si, and I hope you'JJ beEnth€ly frank and unconstmined with me.

r.rnrurrr: Indeed, tbere's notbing I had rather doThan bar€ my inmost heart and soul to you.Firsi,let me say that what remarls I've rnadeAbout lhe constant visits you are paid

Were prompted not by any mean emoiion,But rather by a pure and deep devotion,A fervent zeal . . .

ELMTRIj No need for explanation.Your sole concern, I'm sure, was my salvation.

TARTUFFE: Italtns ELMTRE'i hdnd dnd prcssins het fng?rtpq Quite so; 3nd suchgreal fewor do I feeJ . . .

ELMTRET Ooh! Pleasel You're pinchins!rarrurre: 'Twas ftom exces of zeal.

I never meant to cause you pain, I swear.I'd rather . . . [IIe places hi' hdnd on ELMIRLS &ae?.]

ELMTRE: What can your hand be doins there?rrnrurnn: Feeling your gown; what soft, fine-woven stuF!nr-mnr: Please, I'n extremely ticUish. That's enough-

[She draws her chan away; r,*rurrt pulls his after her.]r tlrLtrrt: lfondling the lace collar of her eown) Mv, rny, what Jove)y lacework

on your dresslThe worlmanshipi mnaculous, no les.I've not seen anything to equal it.

nr.vrne; Yes, quite. But let's talk business for a bit.They sy rny husband means to b.eal his wordAnd sive bis daughter to you, Sn. Had you heard?

rerrorrr: He did once mention it. But I confessI dream ofquite a diFerent happiness.It s elsewhere, Madam, that ny €yes discernThe promise of that bliss for which I yearn.

nr-urnn: I see: you care for nothins h€re below.r,rnrrrrrr: Ah, well-my heart's not nade of stone, you know.rrwrne: All your desnes mount heavenward, I'n sure,

In scom ofall thai's e?rtbly and impure.r,{Rrurre: A love oi heavenly beauty does not p.eclude

A proper love ior earthly pulchritude;

Tdnuffe

Ou. senses are quit€ rightly captivat€dBy perfect wo.ks our Maker has created.Some glory clings to all that Heaven has made;In you, all Heaven's marv€h are dhplayed.On that fair face, such beauties hav€ been lavished,The eyes are dazzled and tbe heart h ravhhed;How could I look on you, O flawless creature,And not adore the Autho. ofall Nature,Feelins a love botb passionale and pureFor you, his triumpb of self'portraih.e?Ai first- I hemble.t lesl th,r love shorrld heA subtle snare thal Hell had lajd for me;I vowed to flee ihe sisht of you, eschewineA

'rprure ,hal mighl prove m1 'oul r undoing:

But soon, fair being, ] became awareTbai my deep passion could be made to squareWrlh reclrlude. and s ilh my bounden duly.I tbereupon sunendered to you. beauty.It is, I lnow, presumptuous on my partTo bring you tbis poor ofering of my heart,And it is not my merit, Hcavcn Inows,But your compassion on which my hopes repose.You are m1 peace my \ohrc. m).al\alion.On you depends ny bliss-or desolation;I bide your judsment .nd, as you thinl best,I shall be either mherable or blest.

ELMTRE: Your declaration is most gallant, Sir,But don't you thinl it's out ofchracter?'\ ou J ha.. d"n" bat"' ,o rerlrdrn yoLu passron

And think before you spole in such a fashion.It ill becomes a pious nan Iile you . . .

r*rurrr: I may be pious, but I'm hunan too:With your celestial charms before his eyes,A man has not tbe power to be wise.I lnow such words sound strangely, coming from me,But I'm no angel, nor was meant to be,And ifyou blam€ my passion, you must needsReproach as well tbe charms on which ii feeds.Your lovelines I had no soon€r seenTban you became my soul's unrivalled queen;Before your seraph glance, divinely sw€et,My heart s defenses crumbled in defeat,And nothing fastine, prayer, or tears mishl doCould stay my spidt from adorins you.My eyes, ny sighs have told you in the pa$What now my lips make bold to say at last,And it in your great goodnes, you will deign

2t9

220

To look upon yotr slave, and ease his pain, -If, in compassion for my soult distres,You'll stoop to comfort my unwodhiness,I'll .aise to you, in thanks for that sw€et manna,An endless hymn, an infinite hosanna.With m€, ofcoulse, ihere need be no anxi€t,No fear of scandal or of notoriety.These young court sallants, whom all the )adies fancy,

Ar€ vain in speech, in action rash and chancy;When they succeed in Jove, tbe world soon knows it;No favo.s granled them but they disclose itAnd by the looseness of their tonsues profaneThe vcry altar where their hearts hnelarn.Men ofmy sort, however,love discreetly,And one may trust our reticence completely.My keen concem for my good name insures

The absolute s€curily of yous;In shon, I ofier you, my dear Ehne,Love without scandal, pleasure without fear'

erwrne: I've heard your well hlm€d speeches to th€ end,And what you urge I clearly apprehend.Aren't you afraid tbat I may take a notionTo tell my husband of your warm devotion,And that, supposing he were duly told,His ieelinss toward you m'ght srow rather cold?

rARrurnp: I know, dear lady, that your exceedins charityWill lead your heart to pardon my temerily;That you'll excuse my violent afectionAs hunan weaknes, humaD imperfection;And that-O fa'resl!-you will bear in mindThal I'n bur flesh and blood. and an nor blind.

ELMTRE: Some women might do otherwise, perhaps,

But I shal) be discreei about your laPse;

I'lliell my husband nothing ofwhat\ occuredIl in return, you'll sive your solemn wordTo advocate as forcefu)Jy as you can

The maniaee of Valare and Mariane,Renouncins all desne io dispossess

Another of his rishtful happiness,

Moliirc

SCENE IV

D^M]s lEmeryine fion the closet where he has been &idinsl Nol We'Il not hush

up lhis vile afiairiI h€ard it all inside tbat clos€t there.Where Heaven, in order to confound the pride

Tanufe

Of this sreat racal, prompted me to hide.Ah, now I have ny Jong,await€d chanceTo punish his deceit and arrosance,And give my father clear and shocking proofOfthe black character ofhis dear Tartufie.

Eln,rRE: Ah no, Damis; I'll be content if heWill sludy to deserue my leniency.I've promised silence-don't mate me break my word;To make a scandal would be too absurd.Good wives laugh oFsuch trifles, and forget them;Why should they tell then husbands, and ups€t them?

oeurs: You have your reasons for lakins such a course,And I have reasons, too, of equal force.To spare him now would be insanely wrons.I've swallowed my iust wrarh for far too lorsAnd watched this insolent bigot bringing strifeAnd bilt€rne$ into our family life.Too lons hei neddled in my father's atraiF,Thwartins my marriase hopes, and poor Vala.€ s.

ICs hish time that my father was undeceived,And now I've proofthat can't be disbeliev€d-Proofthat was furnished me by Heaven above.It's too good not to tale advantage olThis is my chanc€, and I deserve to lose itIf, for one mon€nl, I hesitate to use it.

ELMTRET Damis...o.rMrs: No, I must do wbat I think right.

Madam, my heart is bursting with d€lisht,And, say what€ver you wil, I'll not consentTo lose tbe sweet revenge on which I'm bent.I'll settle matte.s without more ado;And here, most opportunely, is ny cue.

SCENE V

ours: Father, I'm glad you've ioined us. L€t us advise youOl."m. ie,h new. uhic\ douhrle* wrll

"u'pn,e you.

You've just now been repaid with intereslFor all your lovine-kindnes to ou. guest.

He's proved his warm and grateful feelings toward you;Ilk wilh a pan ofhorns he would reward you.Yes, I surprised him wilh your wife, and heardHis whole adulterous ofier, every word.She, with her all too sentle disposition,Would not have told you ofhis proposition;But I sball not male terms with brazen lechery,And fcel that not to tell you would be treachery.

221

222

ELMTRE: And I hold ihat one's husbandt peace of mindShould not be spoilt by tattle ofthis kind.Onet honor doesn't require it to be proficientIn keeping men at bay is quite sumcient.lhe€ a,e m' .enlirenr,. and I snh. DJmF.Thal you had heeded me and heid your peace.

SCENE VI

oRcoNr Can it be true, this dreadful thing I hear?TARTuFFE: Yes, Brother, I'm a wicked man, I fear:

A wr€tched sinner, all depraved and twisted,Th€ greatest vilain lhat has ever exntedMy )ifei one heap of crines, wbich grows each minute;There! naught but foulness and corruption in it;And I perceive that Heaven, oulraged by me,Has chosen this occasion io mortify ne-Charse me with any d€ed you wish to narne;I'll noi defend myself, bui take the blame.Believe whal you are told, and drive TartufeLile some base c.iminal from beneath your roof;Yes, drive me hence, and with a parting curse:I shan't protest, for I deserve far worse.

oncor: [to orurs] Ah, you deceitful boy, how dare you tryTo stain his purity with so foul a lieT

D^Mrs: Whatl Ar€ you taken in by such a blufi?Did you not hear . . . ?

onco*: Enough, you rogue, eroughlr,rnrurrr: Ab, Brother,lel him speak: youie being uniust.

Believe hh story; the boy deseres your irust.Wby, after all, should you have faith in me?How can you lnow what I might do, or be?ls it on ny good actions that you base

You. favor? Do you trust my pious face?Ah, n". don t be decerred by hollos .hor'.I m far. a)a'. from berng whar men suppo.e:Though the world takes ne for a man ofwonh,I'm iruly tbe most worthless man on eath.[to omrs] Yes, my dear son, speak out now: call me the chiefOf sinnes, a wretch, a murd€rer, a thieqLoad me with all the nanes men most abhor;I'll nol complaini I've eamed then aI, and more;I'll kneel here whiJe you pour lhem on my headAs a just punishment for the life I've led.

oncor: {to rrnrumrl This is too much, dear Brother.

llo D^M,sl Have you no heart?o,rurs: Are you so hoodwinked by this rascal s an . . . ?

oncor: Be still, you monster.

IErit.l

Tanuffe 223

[to TARTuFFE] Broiher, I pray you, rise.

[io DAMrs] VillainlDAME:But...

DAMrs: Can't you r€alize . . . 7

oRcoN: lust one word more, and I'll tear you linb frorn limb.TARTUFFE: In Cod's name, Brothe., don't b€ harsh with him.

I'd ratber far be iortured at the staleThan s€e him bear one scratch for my poor sake.

oRcoN: [to DAMrs] InsratelTAR'rL'FFE: If I rnust bes you, on bended knee,

To pardon him . . .

oRcoN: [fa ins to his kne"s, dddlessirs r^RruFFE] Such goodnes cannot berllo DAMrsl Now, ffter"t true charityl

DAMrs: What,you. . . ?

oRcoN: Villain, be stilllI know your motives; I know you wisb him ill:Yes, all of you-wife, children, servanls, all-Conspire asainst him and desire his fall,EmpJoying every shamelul irick you cinTo alienate me f.om lhis saintly nan.Ab, but the more you seel to drive him away,The more I'll do to keep bim. Without d€lay,I'll spite this household and confound iis prideBy civing him my daught€r as his bride.

DAMrs: Youie soing to forc€ h€r to accepl bis band?oncor: Yes, and this very nisht, d'you understand?

I shall defy you all, and make it clearThal I m the one $ho giver the orderr here.Come, wretch, kneel down and clasp his blessed feei,And ask his pardon for your blacl deceit.

oAMrs: I ask that swindl€r s pardon? Why, I'd ratber . . .

oRcoNr So! You insult him, and defy your fathe.!A stickl A slickl [to rrnrunne] No, no release me, do.

[lo oewx]Out of my house this minutel Be oF with you,And never dare set foot in it again-

oevx: Well,I shall eo, but . . .

oRcoN: Well, go quickly, then.I disinherii yoq an enpty purs€k all you'll get from m€ - except my curse!

oRcoNr How he blasphemed your goodnesl What a sonlTARTUFFE: Forsive hin, Lord, as I've already done.

[to oncor] You can't know how it hurts when someone triesTo black€n me in ny dear Brother's eyes.

224

rARrurFEr The mere ihousht of such ingratitudePlunees my soul into so dark a moodSuch honor grips my heart . . . I sasp for breath,

And cannot speal, and feel rnyself near death.

oRcoN: [He runs, in tedls , to the doot thrcueh \ihich he has iust dttuen his son.]

You blacksuardl Wby did I spare you? Why did I notBreak you in little pieces on the spot?

Compose younelf, and don't be hurt, dea. friend.rARruFrE: Tbes€ scenes, tbese dreadfirl quatrels, hav€ sot to end

Iie 'nuch uprt your \ou'ehold. and I perceiteThal rhe bert r\ins will be lor me to lea'e.

oRcoN: What are you sayinglraRluFrE: Theyre .ll against me here;

They'd have you think me false and insincele.oRGoN: Ah, wbat of that? Have I ceased believing in you?

r \Rll rFr Thei-Jd\e,.e rall srllce,rain\ (onlinue.And cbarses which you now repudiateYou may find credible at a later date.

oncor: No, Brother, never.r,rnrurre: Brother, a wife can sway

Her hu<bandi mrnd in many a 'ubtle war.

.^RTTJFFE: To leave at once is the solution:Thus only can I end th€n pesecution.

oacor: No, no,I'll not allow it;you shall remain.r,rnrunrE: Ah, wcll;'twill m€an much marlyrdorn and pain,

But if you wisb it . . .

raRruFFE: Enough;so be it.BDt one thing must be settled, as I see it.For your dear honor, and for our friendship s sake,

There\ one p.ecaution I feel bound io lake.I shdll aloid 1uu, s,le, and ltePP awa)

oRcoN: No, you shall not, what€ve! they nay say

It pleases ne to vex them, and for spiteI'd have them see you with her day and nisht.What's more, I'm going to drive them io despair

By making you my only son and heir;This very day, I'll give to you aloneCl€ar dced and title lo everything I own.A dear, good friend and son-inlaw to-beIs more than wife, or child, or ldn to rneWill you accept my ofer, dearest son?

r^Rrunrr: In all things, )et th€ will of H€aven be done.

oncor: Poor fellowl Corne, we'll go draw up the deed

Then let them bursi with disappointed gre€dl

Tdnufe

ACT IV

SCENE I

cLiANrE: Yes, all the town's discussing it, and truly,t he,rrommenr, do nol Batler you undu\.I m sldd $e\ e mer. Su. and I JJ grve my viewOf thh sad matter in a word or two.As for wbo's guilty, lhat I shan't discuss;

Let i 'ry it wa\ Damis who Lau.ed the fu*:Assumins, then, that you have been ill-usedBy young Damis, and groundlesiy accused,Ousht not a Christian to forgive, and oughtHe not to stifl€ every vengeful thought?Should you star,d by and watch a fath€r maleHis only son an exil€ for your sale?Asain I tell you frankly, be advised:The whole town, high and low, is scandalized;This quarrel mu't be mended. and my advice nNot to push matters to a further crisis.No, sacrifice your wrath to Cod abov€,And he)p Damis regain his fatheis love.

r rn r r r r r : AJa". for my part I'hould'rke creat io.In doing so. I've noihing against the boy.I pardon all, I harbor no resentment;To sewe him would aford me mtsch contenhnent.But Heavent interest will not have it so:

Ifhe cones back then I shall havc to go.Afre, hF conducr-'o , \r,eme. .o vi.iou'-Our further intercourse would lool ruspicious.God knows what people would thinll Why, they'd describeMy goodness to him as a sort ofbribe;They'd say that out ofguilt I made pretenseOfJoving kindnes and benevolenceThrl. {ering m1 accusen l"ngue. I n or"To buy his silence wilh a show oflove.

cL6ANrt: Your reasonins is badly warped and streiched,And these excuses, Sn, are most farfetched.Why put yourselfin charge ofHeavent causc?Does Heaven need our help to enforce its laws?Leave venseance to the Lord, Sir; while we live,Our duty's not to punish, but forsive;And what the Lord commands, we sbould obeyWithout

'egarJ lo $hat rh" uorld may.ry.

What! Sballthe fear ofbeing misunderstoodPrcvent our doins what is righl and soodTNo, no; let's sinply do whai Heav€n ordains,And let no other thoushts perplex our brains.

22t

226

raRruFFEr Again, Sir, let me say that I've forgivenDamis, and thus obeyed ihe iaws of Heavcn;But I am not commanded by the BibleTo live with one who smears my name with libel.

cl-i^Nrtr: Were you commanded, Sn, to indulge the whimOf poor Orgon, and to €ncourage himln suddenly transferring to your nameA large esiate to wbicb you hav€ no clain?

rARruFFEr 'Twould never occu. to thos€ who lnow me best'Io lhink I acled frorn selfinterest.The lreasures ofthis wo.ld I quite despise;Then specious glitter does not charrn my eyes;And if I have resisned myself to takingThe sift which my dear Brother insists on makins,I do so only, as he well understands,Lest so much wealtb fail into wicked hands,Lest those to whom it might descend in iineTurn it to purposes ofsin and crime,And not, as I shall do, male use ofilFor HeaveD's slory aDd mankindt benefit.

cLdANrr: Forget these trumped-up fe?$. Your argumentIs one the rightful hen might well resentiIt ts a moral burden to inheritSuch wealth, but give Damis a chance to bear it.And world it not be w.rse to he eccrrsedOfswindlins, than to see that wealth misused?I'm shocled that you allowed Orson ro broachThis maller, and thai you feel no self-reproach;Do€s irue relision teacb that lawful h€nsM.y freely be deprived of what is theirs?And ifthe Lord has told you in you! hea.tThat you and young Damis nust dwell apart,Would it not be tbe decent thins to beatA generous and honorable retreat,Rather lhan lel ibe son ofth€ house be sent,For your conv€nience, into banishment?Sir, ifyou wish to prove tbe honestyOfyour intentions . - .

nnrurre: Sir, it is half-past three.I've cenain pious duties to attend to,And hope my prompt departure won't ofiend you.

crdANrE: [dlon?] Damn.

DoRrNEr Stay, Sir, and help Mariane, for Heaveni sak€lShe s suffering so, I fear her heart will breal.Her fathe.'s plan to mary her ofitonishl

Moliire

Tattuffe

Has put the poor child in a desperate plighr.I hear him coming. Let s stand toeether, now,And see if we can't chanse his mind, sonehow,About this match we all deplore and fee.

227

SCENE NI

oRcoN: Hahl Clad to find you all asembled here.

llo MARj^NEj This contract, child, coniains your happin€ss,And what it says I think your heart can gu€ss.

urxrrNr: falling to ner Ans?sl Sn, by that Heaven which sees me here distressed,And by whtever ehe can move your breast,Do not employ a father's power, I pray you,To .rush my hearl and force it to obey you,Nor by your harh commands oppress me soThat I ll bcgrudge the duty $hich I n$e-And do not so embitter and enslave meIhal I .hall hate lhc re y li{e you gare m".Ifmy sweet hopes rnust perish, ifyoD refus€To give me to lh€ one I've dared to choose,Sprre me dl ledn - I be8 )ou. I implorThe pain ofwedding one whon I abhor;And do not, by a headles use of force,Drive me to contemplate sornc dcspcrate course.

otcoN: Weline himself touched by het) Bc E n, ny soul. No human ,reakncss.

MAR,ANE: I don'l resent your love for him. AllowYour hearl free rein, Si.; sive hirn your propcrt,,And ifthat's not enough, take mine from ne;He's welcome to my money; iake it, do,But don't, I pray, include my person loo.Spare ne, I beg you; and let me end the laleofmy sad days behind a convent veil.

oRcoN: A conventl Hahl When crossed in then amours,AU lovesick snls have tbe same thoushl as yours.Get upl Tbe morc you loalhe the man, and dread bin,The more ennobbns ,l $'ll b. lo wcd him.Marry Tsrtufe, and monify your flesblEnough; don't starl lhat whimpering afresh.

DoRTNE: Butwhy. . . 7

oRcoN: B€ still, tbere. Speak when youie spoken lo.Not one more bit of impudence out ofyou.

crfNrr: Irlmal "fler a $ord olLounrl here . .

oRcoN: Brother, in counseling you have no peer;All your advice is forceful, sound, and clever;I don't propose to follow it, however.

ELMIRE: [fo oRcoN] I am anazed, and don't know what to say;

Your blindness simply tales my breath away.

228

You are indeed bewitched, to t3k€ no warDingFrom.ur account ofwhdt o(cuned lhn mu'nrng.

oRcoN: Madam, I kDow a f€w plain facls, and oneIs that you'.e partial to my rascal son;Hence, when he sought to make Tailufic ihe victimOfa base lie, you dared not contradict him.Ah, but you underplayed your part, my pet;You should bave looled more ansry, mor€ upset.

rrvrne: When men male overtures, mDst we replyWith righteous anger and a battle cry?Mst we turn bacl then amorous advance"With sharp reproaches and with fiea, elan€€s?Myscll I find such ofer merely amusing,And make no scenes and fosses in refusing;My taste is for good-naturcd rcctilude,And I dislike lhe savage sort ofprudeWho suards h€r virtue with her teeth and claws,And tears men's eyes out for the slightest cause:Tbe Lord pr€se.ve me from sDch honor as that,Which bites and scratches like an alley catlI've found that a polite and cool rebufiDiscourages a lover quite enough.

oRGoN: I know the facis. and I shall not be shale".ELMjRET I marvel at your power to b€ mistaken.

Would it, I wonder, cany weishl witb youIf I could siow you that our lale was true?

ELMTRE: Come, what if I found a w3yTo make you s€e tbe facts as plain as day?

rr,urnp: Do answer me: don't be absurd.I'm not now asking you to lrust our word.Suppose that from some hiding place in hereYou learned lhe whole sad lruth by eye and ear-What would you say ofyour sood fiiend, after that?

oRcoN: Why, I'dsay . . . nothing,byfehoshaphatlIt can't be true.

ELMIRE: You've been too long deceived,And I'm quite tired ofbeing disbelieved.Com€ now: let's put my statem€nts to the test,And )ou rhdll ,ee rhe r,ulh mdde manif€n.

oRcoNr I'll take that chalenge. Now do your uttermost.We ll see how you make good your empty boasi.

ELMIRE: lto DoRTNE] Send hin to me.DoRTNE: He's crafty; it nay be hard

To €atch ih€ connine scoundrel ofihis guard.

Taft'ffe

ELMTRE: No, amorous nen ar€ sullible. Their conceitSo bl;Dds them that they re never hard to cheat.Have him corne down. lfo cLd^NrE & MARIANE]

SCENE IV

ELMTRE: Pull up this tabl€, and s€t under it.

ELMTREj lt's essential that vou be well hidden.oRGoN: Why there?ELMTRE: Oh, H€avens! Just do as you are bidden.

I have my pianr: *e ll 'oon 'ee

hou thel lare.Under the table, now; and once you're there,Take care that you are neither se€n nor heard.

oncor: Well,l'll indulge you, since I gav€ my wordTo s€e you through thh infantile charade.

ELMTRE: Once it is over, you'llbe gJad we played.

fto her husband, vho is now undet the tdhle]I'm going to act quite strangely, now, and youMust not be shocked at anything I do.Whatever I lnay say, yoD must excuseAs pail of that deceit I'm forced to us€.I shll employ swe€t speeches in the laslO{ ma}ins that imposter drop his mask;I'll sive encourasement to his bold desires,And fu.nish fuel to his amorous fires.Since it's for your sale, and for his destruction,That I rhall reem lo yield to hi\ \educlion.I'll gladly stop whenever you decideThat all you. doubts are tully Mtisfied.I'll counl on you, as soon as you have seenWhat sort of man he is, to intervene,And not €xpos€ me lo his odious lustOne moment longer than you feel you must.Remember: youie to save me from my plisht

229

Please leave us. for a bit.

He's cominsl Hush! Keep out of sightl

scExE v

rerrurrr: You wish to have a word with me, I'm told.ELMTRE: Yes. I've a little secret to lnfold.

Before I speak, however, it would be wise

To clos€ thai door, and look for spies.

lrARruFFE goei ro tte doo\ closes it, and rctums.lThe very last thing that musl happen nowIs a repetition ofthis morning s row.I've never been so badly caught ofguard.Ob, how I feal€d for youl You saw bow hard

I tried to make that koublesome Damis

230

Control his dreadful temper, and hold his peace.In my contusion, I didn't have the senseSimply to contradict his eviden.e;But as il happ€ned, that was for the best,And all has worled out in our interest.Thi5 norm ha! only bellered your po{ron.My husband doesn't have the least sospicior,And now, in rnockery ofthose who do,H€ bids me be continually with you.And that is why, quiii fearles of.eprootI now can be alone with ny Ta.tuFe,And why my heari perhaps too quick to yield-Feeis free to let its pasion be .evealed.

renrucrr: Madam, your words confuse me. Not long ago,You spole in quile a difierent style, you [now.

ELMTRE: Ah, Sir, if that refusal made you smart,It's little that you lnow ofwoman's heart,Or what thai heart is irying io conveyWhen it resists in such a feeble waylAlways, at firsl, our modesty preventsThe frank avowal of lender sentirn€nis;However high the passion which inflames us,Still, to confess its power somebow shames us.Thus we reluct, at 6rst, yet in a toneWhich telk you that our heart is overtltrown,That wbat our lips deny, our pulse confeses,And tbal, in time, all noes will turn to yess€s.

I tear my words are all too frank and free,And a poor proofof woman s modest;But.in,p I m,tarted.lell me. rlyou srll-Would I have tried to male Damh be still,Would I have lhtened, calm and unoFended,Until your lengthy oFer oflove was ended,And be so very mild in my reaction,Had your sweet words not given me salisfaction?And when I tried to force you to undoThe maniage-plans my busband has in view,Whal did my urs€nt pleading signifyIfnot that I admned you, and that IDeplored the thought that someone ehe might ownPart ofa heart I wisbed tor mine alonei

r,cnrunrE: Madam, no happiness is so completeAs when, from lips we lov€, come words so sweet;Thetr ne(rar flood. my every .en.e. dnd dtuin'In honeyed rivulets through all my veins.To please you is my joy, my only goal;Your love is the restorer ofmy soul;And yet I must bee leave, now, lo confess

ranulfe

Somc ling€ring doubts as to my bappiness.Might thh not be 3 trick? Might not the caichBe that you wish me to break oF ihe matchWith Mari?n€, and so have feigned to love me?I shan't quite kust your fond opinion of rn€Until lhe feelings you've expre$ed so swe€tlyAre demonstrated sonewhat more concleiely,And you have .houn. br cerrJin lrnd conce.'ion'.That I nay put my faith in your professions.

rrurnu [S/re couglrs, to n a rn her husband.)tt]hylrc h such a hurly? Must my heartExhaust its bounty at the v€ry stalt?To make lhat sweet admission cost me dear,But you'll nol be content, it would appear,Unless my slore oifavors is disbuGedTo the lasl farthing, and at the very first.

r,rnrunre: The les we rnerit, the less we dare to hope,And with ou. doubts, nere words can never cope.We trust no prornised bliss iill we receive itiNot till a joy is ours can we believe it.I, who so little merit your esteem,Can't credit this fulfillment of my d.eam,{nd 'han lbel,e\e it, Vad,m, unril l\aroSome palpable assurance ofyour favor.

ELMTRE: My, how tyrannical your love can bc,And how it flusters and perplexes rnelHow furioudy you tale onet heail in hand,And make your every wish a fierce command!Come, musl you hound and harry rn€ to death?Will you not give me time to catch my breaih?Can it be rrgnr tu prrs. m, wuh rurh fnrce.

Give me no quader, showAnd take advantag€, by your stem insistencc,Ofthe fond feelings which wealen ny reshiance?

r,rnrunrn: Well, ifyou lool with favor upon rny lov€,Why, then, besrudse me sone clear proofthereof?

Er-MrRE: But how can I consent without ofi€nseTo Heaven, toward whicb you feel such reverence?

rmrurrc If Heaven is all tbat holds you back, don't wony.I can remove that hindrance in a hurry.Nothing oftbat sorl n€ed obstruct our path.

ELMTRE: Must one nol be afraid ofHeaven's wratb?renrurre: Madan, forget such fean, and be my pupil,

And I sball teach you how to conquer scrupl€.Some joys, it's true, are wrong in Heaven's eyes;Yet Heav€n is not averse to compromise;There h a science, Iately formulated,Whereby one's conscience nay be liberated,And any wronsful aci you care to mention

232

May be redeemed by purity ofintenfion.I'll teach you, Madam, the secrets ofthat s€ience;M€anwhile, just place on me your full reliance.Assuage my keen desnes, and feel no dread:The sin, if any, shall be on my head.

[ewtae coughs, this time nore loudly.lYou've a bad cough.

ELMTRE: Yes, yes. It's bad indeed.rtnurrr: lhrorlucing a little papet bael '\t it of licoric€ nay be what you needELMTRE: No,l've a stubborn cold, it seems. I'n sure it

Will iake much more tban licorice to cur€ it.TARTUFFE: How agg.avating.nr-urrr: Oh, more than I can say.

rARruFFEr lfyou're stil troubled, think of thinss this way:

No one shal lnow our joys, save us alone,And the.e s no €vil till the act is loown;It's scandal, Madam, which males ;t an ofiense,And it's no sin to sin in confidence.

zt v,tan [ha ns coushed once rrore] well, clearly I mut do as you require,And yield to your inporlunate desire.It is apparerl, now, that nothing less

Will satisfy you, and so I acqui€sce.To go so far is much asainst my will;I'm vexed that it should come to this; but still,Since you are so determined on it, since youWill not allow nere languase to convince you,And since you ask for concrele evidence, ISee nothing for it, now, but lo comply.Ifthn is sinful, if I'm wrons lo do it,So mmh the worse for hin who drove me to it.fhc ftuh cdn 'urely nol b€ charged to me.

r^RrurFE: Madam, the fault is nine, if fault there be,

ELMTRET Open the doo. a little, and peek out;I wouldn'l want my huband pokins about.

r,rnrunru Why wony about the man? Each day he srowsMore gullible; one can lead him by ihe nose.To find us here would 6ll him with delight,And ifhe saw the wo^t, he'd doubt his sishl.

ELMTRE: Nevertheless, do step out for a minut€Into the hall, and see that no one s in it.

o\co]N [conine out ftom undet the table] Thar man's a p€rlect monster, I mustadmit!

I'm simply stunned. I can't get over it.ELMTRE: What, cornins out so soon? How prematur€l

Tattuffe 233

Cet bacl in hidins, and wait until yoD're sure.

Stay ti]] the end, and be convinced completely;We musln t stop iill things are proved concreiely

orcor: Hell never harbored anl'lhins so viciouslrrurnu Tut, don't be hasiy. Try to be iudicious.

WJit, rnJ be cerlain rhrl there. no mistrle.No iumping to conclusions, for Heaven's sakel

lshe Pldces otcoN behind her, as r;laurrn re'enters )

SCENE VII

TARToFFE: lnol s?eing oRcoN] Madam, all lhings have worled out to perfection;I've given lhe neighboring rooms a full insp€ciion;\o one ' aboul; and nou I ma) ar lal . .

ol.cox [interceptins him] Hold on, my passionate fellow, not so fastl

I should advise a little more restraint.Well, so you ihousht you'd fool me, my dear saintlHow 'oon you uerried o{ lhe \arntly lifeWedding my daughter, and coveting my wifelI've long suspected you, and had a feelingThat soon I'd catch you ai your double dealins.

Just now, you've siver ne evidence galore;lr'' qurle enough: I hare no wnh for rorc.

ELMTRE: lto TARTuFFE] I'm sony to have treated you so slyly,

Bui cncunstances forced me to be wily.rARruFFEr Brother, you can'i thinl . . .

orcon: No more talk from you;

lust leave this househoJd, without more ado.

r,rnrurrr: What l intended . . .

oncoN: That seems fairly clear.

Sparr me your fahehoods rnd set our ulhererARI ar' \o, I m the mr.l.r, and you rc lhe one lo go'

This bouse belonss to me, I'11 have you knouAnd I shall show you that you can't burt ms

By thl, contempnble conrpnacy,Thr ho'e "ho cro.. m" kno$ not whal lh€y do.

And that I'v€ means to expose and punish you,Arenge offended Helen. and make 'ou

gneteThat ever you dared order n€ 10 leave.

SCENE VNI

ELMTRE: What was the point of all that angly chatter?oncor: Dear Cod, I'm worried. This is no laDshins matter'ELMTRET How so?

oRcoN; I fear I understood his drift.I'm nuch disturbed about that deed of sift.

rr-unr: You gave him . . . ?

oRcoN: Yes, it's alt been drawn and signed.

234

But one thing more is weighins on my mind.ELMIRE: WhAI,S that?oRcoN: I ll tell you; but first let's s€e ifthere's

A certain sirong box in his room uPstairs.

ACT V

CLEANTE: Where are you soins so fast?

oRcoN: God knows!cLfANrEr Then wait;

Let s have a conference, and deliberateOn how this situation's to be met.

oncor: That strong-box has me utterly upset;This is the worst ofmany, many shocks.

cLiANrE: Is there some f€aful mystery in that box?

oncoN: My poor friend A.gas brought that box to meWith his own hands, is utmost secrecy;'Twas on the very morning ofhis flight.Itt full of papen which, ifthey came io light,Would ru;n hin-or such is my impresion.

crdmrr: Then why did you let it out ofyour poss€ssion?

orcoN: Those papers vexed my conscience, and it seemed beslTo ask the counsel ofmy pious guest.The cunning scoundrel got me to asreeTo leave the strons box in his custody,So th?t, in case ofan investigation,I could employ a disht equivocationAnd swear I didn't have it, and thereby,At no expense io conscience, le a lie.

cLi^NrE: lt looks to me as ifyouie out on a limb.Tru.lrng him with lhrl bor. and ofrerrng hrmThai d€ed ofsift, were actions of a kindWhich scarcely ind;cate a prudent nind.With two such weapons, he has the upper hand,And since youie vulnerable, as matters stand,You ered once more in bringing him to bay.You should have acted in some subtler way.

oRcoN: Just think ofit: b€hind that fervent face,A heart so vr'icked, and a soul so bas€lI lool him rn. a hunsry beggar. and then . . .

Enough, by Cod! I'm throush with pious men:Henceforth I'll hate the whole fahe brotherhood,And persecute then worse than Satan could.

cr6,1Nrr: Ah, there you go-extravaganl as ever!Why can you not be rational? You neverManase to tak€ th€ middle couse, it seems,

But iump, instead, betw€en absurd exhemes.

Tattufe

You've recognized your receni grave mistakeIn falling victim to a pious fakeiNow, to correct that er!o., must you embraceAn even greater error in its place,And ,udse our $orlh) n.i8hbo,. a" a {holeBy what you've learned ofone corrupled soul?Come, just because one rascal mad€ you swallowA show of zeal whicb turned out to be hollow.Shall you conclude that all men are deceivqs,And that, today, there are no true believere?Let atheists make that foolish inference;Leam to distinguish virtue from pretense,Be cautious in bestowing adrniration,And cultivale a sober moderation.Don't humor fraud, but also don't asperse

True pi€ly; the latt€r fault is wo6e,And it is best to err, iferr one must,As you have done, upon the side of trust.

our: Father, I hear that scoundrel's uttered threatsAsainst you; tbat h€ pridefully forgehHow, in his need, be was befriendedby you,And means to use your sifts to cruciry you.

oncor: It's true, my boy. I'm too dist.ess€d for tears.DAMrs: Leave it io Ine, Sir; let me trim his ears.

Faced with such insolence, lre must not waver.I shall rejoice in doing you ihe favorOfcuttins short his life, and you. distress.

cL6ANrE: What a display of young hotheadedneslDo lea.n !o moderate your 6ts of rage.In this iust linsdom, th;s enlightened age,One does not settle thinss by violence.

lent?ring ttn ELMIRE d'd MARIANEI

I hear stlange tales of very strange events.

oRcoN: Yes, strange ev€nls which these two eyes beheld.The man's ingratitude is unparalleled.I save a wretched pauper from staflstion,House him. and ireat him lile a blood relation,Shower hin every day with my largese,Give him my daughter, and all that I possess;

And meanwhile the uncon.cionable lnaveTries to induc€ my wife to m;sbehave;And not cont€nt wilh such extr€me lascality,Now threatens me with my own liberality,

2?t

236

And aims, by lakins base advantase ofThe sifts I save him out ofchristian love,To drive me fton my house, a ruined man,And make me end a pauper, as he began.

ooans: Poor fellowlMADAME PERNELLE: No, my son, I'll neve. bring

Vyrlf to thinl, hrm gu'lq of \uch a rhins.oRcoN: How's that?

The righteous always were maligned.oncor: Speal clearly, Mother. Say $,hati on your mind.

I mean that I can smell a rat, my dear.You know how nerybody hate' him, here.

oncor: That has no bearing on the case at all.I told you a hundred tim€s, when you were small,

That virtue in this world is hated ever:Malicious men may die, but malice never.

oRcoN: No doubt lhat's true, but how do€s it apply?MADAME pERNELLE: They've turDed you against him by a clever lie.oRcoN: I've told you, I was there and saw it done.

Ah, slanderen will stop at nothing, Son.oRcoN: Mother, I'll lose rny temper . . . For the last time,

I teil you I was witness to the crime.The tongues of spite are busy night and noon,

And to their venom no msn is immune.onLoN: youie l,lkrng non,en\e. Can t you realize

I saw it; saw it; saw it wilh my eyes?

Saw, do you undenland me? Must I shout itInto your ean before you'll cease to doubt it?

Appearanc€s can deceive, rny son. Dear me,We cannoi always judge by what we see.

oRcoN: Dratl DratlOne often int€rprets things awry;

Cood can seem evil to a sDspicious €ye.oRcoN: Was I to see his pawing at Elmire

As an act of cbarity?Till hh guilt is clea.,

A man desewes the benefit of the doubt.You should have wait€d, to see how things turned out.

or.cor: Great Cod in Heaven, what morc proof did I need?Wa l lo \rl l\cre. walchins unlrl he d . . .

You drivc me to the brink of impropriety.No, no, a man ofsucb surpassing piety

Could not do sucb a tbing. You cannot shale me.I don't belicve it, and you shall not make me.

oRcoN: You vex me so that, ifyou weren't my mother,I'd say to you . . . some dreadful tbing or other.

DoRTNE: It's your turn now, Sir, noi to be listened to;You'd not trust us, and now she won't trust you-

Molihe

Tattuffe 237

cr"i,rrrr: My friends, we're wast'ns iime which should be speniIn facing up to our predicameni.I feal that scoundr€l s threats weren't made in spon.

DlMrsr Do you think he'd have the nerye to go to court?rl-l\rrrr: I'm sure he won't they'd find it all too crude

A cas€ ofswindling and ingratitude.cLiANrEr Don't be too sur€. He won't be at a los

To sive his claims a high and risht€ous sloss;And clever rosues with ftr less valid causeHave trapped their victims in a web of laws.I say again that to antagonizeA man so "trong\

.:r,ed wa\ most un$ne.oRcoN: I lnow it; but the man's appalling cheel

Outraged me so, I couldn't control my pique-cL6ANrE: I wish to Heaven that we could devise

Some I'ucp berween lou. or 5ome compromne.u-urro: If I had lnown what cards he held, I'd not

Have roused his anser by my little plot.oacor: [to oonwe, as u. roy^L €nt"rs] What is that fellow lookins for? Who is he?

Go ralk to him-and tell hirn ihat I'm busy.

Cood day, dear sbter. Kindly let me see

DoRrNEr He's involved witb company,And cannot be disturbed just now, I fear.

MoNSTEUR LoyAL: I hate to inlrude; but wbat has brougbt me hereWill not disturb your master, in any event.Indeed, my news will nale him rnosi contenl.

DoRTNE: Your nameT

lust say lhat I b.ing sreetings fromMonsieur TaltuFe, on whose behalf I've come.

nonrrr: [to oncor] Sn, heh a very gracious man, and beasA mesage from Tanufie, which, he declares,Will male you most conient.

cr.taNrE: Upon my word,I think this man had best be seen, and heard.

oacor: Perhaps he has some settlement lo suggest.How shall I treat him? What manner would b€ b€sl?

cr-6^NrE: Control your anger, and ifbe should rnentionSom€ fsir adjuslment, sive him your tul| attention.

Cood health to you, good Sir. May Heaven confoundYour enemies, aDd may your joys abound.

oRcoN: [ds;d", io cLriANrE] A genile salulationr it confirrnsMy guess that h€ is here to offer terms.

I've always held your fanily nost dear;I served your father, Sir, for many a year.

238

oRcoN: Sirr I must ask your pardon; to my shame,I cannot now recall your face or name.

Loyal's my name; I come from Nonnandy,And I'm a bailif, in all modesty.For forty yean, praise Cod, it's been my boastTo setre with honor in that vital post,And I am here, Sn, ifyou will pe.mitlhe libc'ly. ,o \eNe )ou $ilh thi' writ . . .

oRcoN: To-rtdt?MoNSTEUR LoyAL: Now, please, Sir, l€t us have no friction:

Il's nothine but an o.der ofeviction.You are to move your soods and family outAnd make way for new occupanis, withoutDefernenl or del,). rnd give the key, . . .

oRcoN: I? Leave this house?Wby yes, Sn, ifyou please.

Thn hour, Si , Lo'n the cellrr ro rh" 'oof,Belonss now to the sood Monsieur TanuFe,And he is lord and master ofyour estatcBy vidue ofa deed ofpresent date,D.ahn in duc fo,m.wilh cledrest legal ph,a,ing . . .

DAMrs: Your insolence is utterly amazinelYoung rnan, my busincs here is not with you,

But witb your wise and tenpcratc father, who,Like every worthy citizen, stands in aweOfjustice, and would never obstruct the law.

Not for a million, Sir, would you rebeJ

Asainst autbority; I know that well.You'll not make troublc, Sir, or inlerfereWiih the execution ofmy duti€s here.

n,rurs: Someone may execute a smart tattooOn thal black iaclet ofyours, before you're throusb.

MoNSTEUR LoyAL: Sn, bid your son b€ silent. I'd much res.etHaving to mention such a nasiy threalOfviolence, in writing my report.

oonrue: {audel This man Loyrl's a most disloyal sortlI love all men ofuprighl charactcr,

{nd whcn I agreed to rerve rhese prpp s. Sir.It rvas your feelings that I had in nind.I couldn'i bear to see the case assienedTo someone ehe, who mieht esteem you less

And so subject you to unpleasantne$.oRcoN: What's mor€ unpleasant than tellinc a man to l€ave

His house and home?MoNSTEUR LoyAL: You'd lik€ a short reprieve?

Ifyou desire it, Sir, I sha)) not press you,But wail until tomorrow to dispossess you.

Moliire

Tanufe

Splendid. I'll corne and spend tbe night here, then,Mosr quietly, with half, score ofmen.For form! sake, you misbi brins me, iust beforeYou go to bed, the keys to the front door.My men,I promise, willbe on theirbestBehavior, and will not disturb your rest.But bright and early, Sir, you must be qDiclAnd nove ort all your furniture, every siick:The men I've chosen are both young and sirong,And with their help it shouldn't take you lons.In shon, I'll make things pleasanr and convenienr,And since I'm beins so extremely lenient,Please show me, Sn, a like consideration,And give rne your entire cooperation.

oRcoN: [dsde] I may be all but bankrupt, but I vowI d sive a hundred louii, here and now,

Just for th€ pleasure oflandins one sood cloutRishl on thp end oi lhar complJcen, ,nout.

CLEANTE: Careful; don'l make things worse.DAMrs: My bootsole ii.h€s

To give that bessar a sood kick iD the b.eech€s.DoRTNE: Monsieur Loyal, I'd love to hear the whack

Of a nout ni, l. Jlros )uur hnF brord backTake care: a woman too may go to jail if

She uses threatening languase to a bailifi.cri.rrrn: Enough, enough, Sir. This must not go on.

Cive me that paper, pleas€, and tben besone.Well, tu raotl. cod give you all good ch€erl

oRcoN: May God confound you, snd him who sent you herel

oRcoNi Now, Moiher, was I risbt or not? This writShouid change your notion of TariuF€ a bit.Do vou perc€iv€ his villainy at ldt?

I'm lhunderstrucl. I'm utterly aghast.DoRTNE: Oh, come, be fair. You nustn't tale ofiense

At thh new proofofhis b€nevolence.He's acting out ofselfless love, I know.Material lhinss enslave th€ soul, and soHe kindly bas ananged your liberationFron all lhat might endanger your salvation.

oRcoN: Will you nol ever hold your tongue, you dunce?CLEANTE: Com€, you must take some action, and at once.ELMTRE: Go t€1l lhe wodd of the low trick he's tried.

The deed ofsift is slirely nu11i6edBy sDch behavior, and public rase will notPerrnit tbe wretch to cafty oui his plot.

239

240

vALnRE: Si', tbough I hale lo brins you more bad news,Such is the danger that I cannot choose.A friend wbo is extremely close to meAnd knows rny interest in your famiiyHas, for my sake, presumed to violateThe secrecy thal's du€ to lhings ofstate,And sends me word that you are in a plightFrom which your one salvation lies in fligbt.That scoundrel who's imposed upon you so

Denounced you to the King an hour agoAnd, as supportins evidence, displayedThe strone-box of a certain renesadeWhose secret Fpers, so he testified,You had disloyally asr€ed to hide.I don'i know iust what charges may be pressed,

But lh€re's a warant out for your arrest;TartuFe has be€n instructed, furthermor€,To guid" lh" aaering officer lu )our dool

cr-ierre: He's rlearly done this to facilitateHis seizure of your house and your estat€.

oncor: That man, I must say, is a vicrous beastlvALtRE: Quick, Sn; you mustn't iarry in the l€st.

My caniage is outside, to tale you hence;This thousand louis should cover all expense.Ler ' lose no l,me. or you 'hall be undune.Tbe sole defense, in this case, is to run.I shall so with you aI the way, and place youIn a safe refuge to which they'll never trace you.

oRcoNi Alas, dear boy, I wish thai I could show youMy srstitude for everything I owe you.But now is nol th€ iime; I pray tbe LordThat I may live to sive you your reward.Farewell, my dearq be careful . . .

CLEANTE: Brother, hurry.We shall take care ofthingsi you needn't worry.

SCENE VN

TARTUFFE: Cently, S;, gently; stay risht whe.e yuu arc.No nced for haste; your lodging isn't far.You ,e uff r" p'i,on. by orde, ol the P,in, ".

oRcoN: This is the crowning blow, you wretch; and sinceIt means my total ruin and defeat,Your villainy is now at last complete.

r^RruFFE: You ne€dn't try to provole me; it's no use.Those who serve Heaven nust expect abuse.

cLa^NrE: You are inde€d most patient, sweet, and blameless.DoRTNE: How he exploits the name ofHeavenl lt's shan€less.

Tanufe

r^RruFFE: Your taunh and mocleries are all for naueht;To do my duly is my only thought.

vennrr: Your love of duty is most neritorious,And $hal )ou ve done k lirlle

"horl olgloriou'.

rtrrrner AJI deeds are glorious, Madam, which obeyThe sovereisn prince who sent me here today.

oncor: I rescued you when you w€re desiiiute;Have you forgolten lhat, you thankles brute?

urrurre; No, no, I rvell remember everythins;But my fist dDty is to serve my King.That obligation is so paranountThat other clains, beside it, do not count;And for it I would sacrifice my wife,My family, my friend, or my own life.

rLMrRtr: HlpocdtelDoRTNE: All thst we most revere. he uses

To cloal his plots and camouflage his ruses.

cr.iANrE: Ifit is true that you are animatedBy pure and lo'al zea). ^ you hdve +rted.Why was this zeal not roused until you'd soughtTo make Orgon a cuclold, and been c"usht?Why w€ren't you mov€d lo give your evidenceUntil youl oukaged host had driven you hence?I shan't say ihat the gift of all his treasureOught to have damped your zeal in any measure;

But ifhe n a traitor, as you d€clare,How could you condescend 1o be his hen?

rerrurre: [to t/re orrrcrn] Sn, spare m€ all this clamor; ii's growing shrill.Please cany out your orders, ifyou will.

onrrcnn: Yes, I've delayed too Ions, Sn. Tbanl you l(indly.You're iust ihe proper person to remind me.Come, you are of to join the other boarde.sIn lh€ Kins's pnsoD, accordins to his orders.

TARTUFFE: Who? I, Sn?

r,rarurrr: To prison? This can't be true!orrrcer: I owe an explanation, but not io you.

Ito oRcoNl Sn, all is well; rest easy, and be grateful.We seNe a Princ€ io whom all sham is hateful,A Prince who sees into our inmost bearts.And can't be fmled by any tr;ckner's arts.His royal soul, though senerous and human,Views all things with discernment and acunen;Hn.overeisn rea.on n nollightly \$,yed.And all his judgments are discleetly weished.He honors righteous men of every kind,And yet his zeal for vi ue is not blind,Nor does his love of piety numb his witsAnd make him tolerant of hypGriies.

241

212

'Trvas hardly likely that thn nan could cozenA King who's foiled such lian by the dozen.With on€ ke€n shnce, the Kins perceived the wholePerv€rseness and corruption ofhis soul,And thus bish Hsven s justic€ was displayed:Beiraying you, tbe rogue stood s€lf'betrayed.Thp Kins .oon ,eLognjred TlriuFe a, oneNotorious by another name, who'd doneSo nuny vicious crines that one could fillTen volurnes with them, and be writine still.BL,t to be bliet our sovereign was appallcdBy lhh man's treachery toward you, which he elledThe last, wont villainy ofa vile career,And bade me toliow lh€ imposlor her€To .ee hou g o- hi' impuderce .ould be.And {orcc hiln to restore your property-Your private papers, by the Kins's comrnand,I her€by sei,e and give into your hand.The Kins, by royal order, invalidatesThe deed which gave this rascal your estates,And pardons, funhermore, your grave oFenseIn harborins an exile s documenh.By these decrees, our Prince rewards you forYour loyal deeds in the late civil war,And shows how heartf€lt is his satisfactionIn recompensing any worthy action,How much he prizes merit, and how he mal<es

More ofm€n's virtu€s than ofthen mistakes.oonrrr: Heaven be praisedl

I breathe asain, at last.

M^R,^NE: I can't believe the dansers past.

oncor: {to rip rr . rLl well. rrd,ror. now )ou see . .

cLiANrE: Ah, Brother, pleas€,Let's not descend to such indignities.Lcave lhe poor wretcb to his unhappy fate,And don't s.y anytbing to agsravaieHis present woes; but r.ther bope that heWill soon embrace an hon€st piety,And rnend his ways, and by a lru€ repentanceMove our jusi Kins io moderate his sentcnce.Meanwhile, go lnee] before your sovereign's th.oneAnd thank him for the mercies he has shown.

oRcoN: Well said: let s so ai oncc and, gJadly lneeling,Expres the gralitude which all are ieeling.Then, when that 6rst sreai duty has been done,We'll tu.n with pleasure io a second one,And give Valere, wbose lov€ has proven so true,The wedded happiness which is h; due.