按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
TARTUFFE OR THE HYPOCRITE
TARTUFFE OR THE
HYPOCRITE
by JEAN BAPTISTE POQUELIN MOLIERE
Translated By Curtis Hidden Page
INTRODUCTORY NOTE
Jean Baptiste Poquelin； better known by his stage name of Moliere；
stands without a rival at the head of French comedy。 Born at Paris in
January； 1622； where his father held a position in the royal household； he
was educated at the Jesuit College de Clermont； and for some time studied
law； which he soon abandoned for the stage。 His life was spent in Paris
and in the provinces； acting； directing performances； managing theaters；
and writing plays。 He had his share of applause from the king and from the
public； but the satire in his comedies made him many enemies； and he was
the object of the most venomous attacks and the most impossible slanders。
Nor did he find much solace at home； for he married unfortunately； and
the unhappiness that followed increased the bitterness that public hostility
had brought into his life。 On February 17； 1673； while acting in 〃La
Malade Imaginaire；〃 the last of his masterpieces； he was seized with
illness and died a few hours later。
The first of the greater works of Moliere was 〃Les Precieuses
Ridicules；〃 produced in 1659。 In this brilliant piece Moliere lifted French
comedy to a new level and gave it a new purposethe satirizing of
contemporary manners and affectations by frank portrayal and criticism。
In the great plays that followed； 〃The School for Husbands〃 and 〃The
1
… Page 2…
TARTUFFE OR THE HYPOCRITE
School for Wives；〃 〃The Misanthrope〃 and 〃The Hypocrite〃 （Tartuffe）；
〃The Miser〃 and 〃The Hypochondriac；〃 〃The Learned Ladies；〃 〃The
Doctor in Spite of Himself；〃 〃The Citizen Turned Gentleman；〃 and many
others； he exposed mercilessly one after another the vices and foibles of
the day。
His characteristic qualities are nowhere better exhibited than in
〃Tartuffe。〃 Compared with such characterization as Shakespeare's；
Moliere's method of portraying life may seem to be lacking in complexity；
but it is precisely the simplicity with which creations like Tartuffe embody
the weakness or vice they represent that has given them their place as
universally recognized types of human nature。
CHARACTERS
MADAME PERNELLE； mother of Orgon ORGON； husband of
Elmire ELMIRE； wife of Orgon DAMIS； son of Orgon MARIANE；
daughter of Orgon； in love with Valere CLEANTE； brother…in…law of
Orgon TARTUFFE； a hypocrite DORINE； Mariane's maid M。 LOYAL； a
bailiff A Police Officer FLIPOTTE； Madame Pernelle's servant
The Scene is at Paris
2
… Page 3…
TARTUFFE OR THE HYPOCRITE
ACT I
3
… Page 4…
TARTUFFE OR THE HYPOCRITE
SCENE I
MADAME PERNELLE and FLIPOTTE； her servant； ELMIRE；
MARIANE； CLEANTE； DAMIS； DORINE
MADAME PERNELLE Come； come； Flipotte； and let me get away。
ELMIRE You hurry so； I hardly can attend you。
MADAME PERNELLE Then don't； my daughter…in law。 Stay where
you are。 I can dispense with your polite attentions。
ELMIRE We're only paying what is due you； mother。 Why must you
go away in such a hurry？
MADAME PERNELLE Because I can't endure your carryings…on；
And no one takes the slightest pains to please me。 I leave your house； I tell
you； quite disgusted； You do the opposite of my instructions； You've no
respect for anything； each one Must have his say； it's perfect
pandemonium。
DORINE If 。 。 。
MADAME PERNELLE You're a servant wench； my girl； and much
Too full of gab； and too impertinent And free with your advice on all
occasions。 DAMIS But 。 。 。
MADAME PERNELLE You're a fool； my boyf； o； o； l Just spells
your name。 Let grandma tell you that I've said a hundred times to my poor
son； Your father； that you'd never come to good Or give him anything but
plague and torment。
MARIANE I think 。 。 。
MADAME PERNELLE O dearie me； his little sister！ You're all
demureness； butter wouldn't melt In your mouth； one would think to look
at you。 Still waters； though； they say 。 。 。 you know the proverb； And I
don't like your doings on the sly。
ELMIRE But； mother 。 。 。
MADAME PERNELLE Daughter； by your leave； your conduct In
everything is altogether wrong； You ought to set a good example for 'em；
Their dear departed mother did much better。 You are extravagant； and it
offends me； To see you always decked out like a princess。 A woman who
would please her husband's eyes Alone； wants no such wealth of fineries。
4
… Page 5…
TARTUFFE OR THE HYPOCRITE
CLEANTE But； madam； after all 。 。 。
MADAME PERNELLE Sir； as for you； The lady's brother； I esteem
you highly； Love and respect you。 But； sir； all the same； If I were in my
son's； her husband's； place； I'd urgently entreat you not to come Within our
doors。 You preach a way of living That decent people cannot tolerate。 I'm
rather frank with you； but that's my way I don't mince matters； when I
mean a thing。
DAMIS Mr。 Tartuffe； your friend； is mighty lucky 。 。 。
MADAME PERNELLE He is a holy man； and must be heeded； I can't
endure； with any show of patience； To hear a scatterbrains like you attack
him。
DAMIS What！ Shall I let a bigot criticaster Come and usurp a tyrant's
power here？ And shall we never dare amuse ourselves Till this fine
gentleman deigns to consent？
DORINE If we must hark to him； and heed his maxims； There's not a
thing we do but what's a crime； He censures everything； this zealous
carper。
MADAME PERNELLE And all he censures is well censured； too。 He
wants to guide you on the way to heaven； My son should train you all to
love him well。
DAMIS No； madam； look you； nothingnot my father Nor anything
can make me tolerate him。 I should belie my feelings not to say so。 His
actions rouse my wrath at every turn； And I foresee that there must come
of it An open rupture with this sneaking scoundrel。
DORINE Besides； 'tis downright scandalous to see This unknown
upstart master of the house This vagabond； who hadn't； when he came；
Shoes to his feet； or clothing worth six farthings； And who so far forgets
his place； as now To censure everything； and rule the roost！
MADAME PERNELLE Eh！ Mercy sakes alive！ Things would go
better If all were governed by his pious orders。
DORINE He passes for a saint in your opinion。 In fact； he's nothing
but a hypocrite。
MADAME PERNELLE Just listen to her tongue！
DORINE I wouldn't trust him； Nor yet his Lawrence； without bonds
5
… Page 6…
TARTUFFE OR THE HYPOCRITE
and surety。
MADAME PERNELLE I don't know what the servant's character May
be； but I can guarantee the master A holy man。 You hate him and reject
him Because he tells home truths to all of you。 'Tis sin alone that moves
his heart to anger； And heaven's interest is his only motive。
DORINE Of course。 But why； especially of late； Can he let nobody
come near the house？ Is heaven offended at a civil call That he should
make so great a fuss about it？ I'll tell you； if you like； just what I think；
（Pointing to Elmire） Upon my word； he's jealous of our mistress。
MADAME PERNELLE You hold your tongue； and think what you are
saying。 He's not alone in censuring these visits； The turmoil that attends
your sort of people； Their carriages forever at the door； And all their noisy
footmen； flocked together； Annoy the neighbourhood； and raise a scandal。
I'd gladly think there's nothing really wrong； But it makes talk； and that's
not as it should be。
CLEANT