Act IV
Scene I
Cléante, Tartuffe. | |
Cléante |
Yes, it’s become the talk of all the town,
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Tartuffe |
Alas! So far as I’m concerned, how gladly
|
Cléante |
You try to put us off with specious phrases;
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Tartuffe |
Already I have told you I forgive him;
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Cléante |
And does it order you to lend your ear
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Tartuffe |
No one who knows me, sir, can have the thought
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Cléante |
Eh, sir, give up these conscientious scruples
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Tartuffe |
Sir, it is half-past three; certain devotions
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Cléante |
Alone. Ah! |
Scene II
Elmire, Mariane, Cléante, Dorine. | |
Dorine |
To Cléante. Sir, we beg you
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Scene III
Orgon, Elmire, Mariane, Cléante, Dorine. | |
Orgon |
So ho! I’m glad to find you all together. |
To Mariane. Here is the contract that shall make you happy,
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|
Mariane |
On her knees before Orgon.
Father, I beg you, in the name of Heaven
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Orgon |
A little touched. Come, come, my heart, be firm! no human weakness! |
Mariane |
I am not jealous of your love for him;
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Orgon |
These girls are ninnies!—always turning nuns
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Dorine |
But what … ? |
Orgon |
You hold your tongue, before your betters.
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Cléante |
If you will let me answer, and advise … |
Orgon |
Brother, I value your advice most highly;
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Elmire |
To her husband. I can’t find words to cope with such a case;
|
Orgon |
I am your humble servant, and can see
|
Elmire |
And must our honour always rush to arms
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Orgon |
I know … and you can’t throw me off the scent. |
Elmire |
Once more, I am astounded at your weakness;
|
Orgon |
See it? |
Elmire |
Yes. |
Orgon |
Nonsense. |
Elmire |
Come! If I should find
|
Orgon |
All rubbish. |
Elmire |
What a man! But answer me.
|
Orgon |
Why, then, I’d say … say nothing. It can’t be. |
Elmire |
Your error has endured too long already,
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Orgon |
Amen! I take you at your word. We’ll see
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Elmire |
To Dorine. Send him to me. |
Dorine |
To Elmire. The man’s a crafty codger,
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Elmire |
To Dorine. Oh no! A lover’s never hard to cheat,
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To Cléante and Mariane. And you, withdraw. |
Scene IV
Elmire, Orgon. | |
Elmire |
Bring up this table, and get under it. |
Orgon |
What? |
Elmire |
One essential is to hide you well. |
Orgon |
Why under there? |
Elmire |
Oh, dear! Do as I say;
|
Orgon |
I’m going a long way to humour you,
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Elmire |
And then you’ll have, I think, no more to say. |
To her husband, who is now under the table.
But mind, I’m going to meddle with strange matters;
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Scene V
Tartuffe, Elmire; Orgon under the table. | |
Tartuffe |
They told me that you wished to see me here. |
Elmire |
Yes. I have secrets for your ear alone.
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Tartuffe goes and closes the door, and comes back. |
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We surely can’t afford
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Tartuffe |
Your words are somewhat hard to understand,
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Elmire |
If that refusal has offended you,
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Tartuffe |
’Tis, past a doubt, the height of happiness,
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Elmire |
Coughing to draw her husband’s attention.
What! Must you go so fast?—and all at once
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Tartuffe |
The less a blessing is deserved, the less
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Elmire |
Ah! How your love enacts the tyrant’s role,
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Tartuffe |
But if my worship wins your gracious favour,
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Elmire |
But how can I consent to what you wish,
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Tartuffe |
If Heaven is all that stands now in my way,
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Elmire |
But they affright us so with Heaven’s commands! |
Tartuffe |
I can dispel these foolish fears, dear madam;
’Tis a scoundrel speaking.5
There is a science, madam, that instructs us
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Elmire coughs still louder. |
|
Your cough is very bad. |
|
Elmire |
Yes, I’m in torture. |
Tartuffe |
Would you accept this bit of licorice? |
Elmire |
The case is obstinate, I find; and all
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Tartuffe |
’Tis very trying. |
Elmire |
More than words can say. |
Tartuffe |
In any case, your scruple’s easily
|
Elmire |
After coughing again.
So then, I see I must resolve to yield;
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Tartuffe |
It need not, madam; and the thing itself … |
Elmire |
Open the door, I pray you, and just see
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Tartuffe |
Why take such care for him? Between ourselves,
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Elmire |
No matter; go, I beg you, look about,
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Scene VI
Orgon, Elmire. | |
Orgon |
Crawling out from under the table.
That is, I own, a man … abominable!
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Elmire |
What? You come out so soon? You cannot mean it!
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Orgon |
Nothing more wicked e’er came out of Hell. |
Elmire |
Dear me! Don’t go and credit things too lightly.
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As Tartuffe enters, she makes her husband stand behind her. |
Scene VII
Tartuffe, Elmire, Orgon. | |
Tartuffe |
Not seeing Orgon.
All things conspire toward my satisfaction,
|
Orgon |
Stopping him.
Softly! You are too eager in your amours;
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Elmire |
To Tartuffe. ’Twas quite against my character to play
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Tartuffe |
What? You believe … ? |
Orgon |
Come, now, no protestations.
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Tartuffe |
But my intent … |
Orgon |
That talk is out of season.
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Tartuffe |
You’re the one
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Scene VIII
Elmire, Orgon. | |
Elmire |
What sort of speech is this? What can it mean? |
Orgon |
My faith, I’m dazed. This is no laughing matter. |
Elmire |
What? |
Orgon |
From his words I see my great mistake;
|
Elmire |
The deed of gift … |
Orgon |
Yes, that is past recall.
|
Elmire |
What’s that? |
Orgon |
You shall know all. Let’s see at once
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