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the doing of a noble deed？ No！let us always do as Heaven commands；
And not perplex our brains with further questions。
TARTUFFE Already I have told you I forgive him； And that is doing；
sir； as Heaven commands。 But after this day's scandal and affront Heaven
does not order me to live with him。
CLEANTE And does it order you to lend your ear To what mere whim
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TARTUFFE OR THE HYPOCRITE
suggested to his father； And to accept gift of his estates； On which； in
justice； you can make no claim？
TARTUFFE No one who knows me； sir； can have the thought That I
am acting from a selfish motive。 The goods of this world have no charms
for me； I am not dazzled by their treacherous glamour； And if I bring
myself to take the gift Which he insists on giving me； I do so； To tell the
truth； only because I fear This whole estate may fall into bad hands； And
those to whom it comes may use it ill And not employ it； as is my design；
For Heaven's glory and my neighbours' good。
CLEANTE Eh； sir； give up these conscientious scruples That well may
cause a rightful heir's complaints。 Don't take so much upon yourself； but
let him Possess what's his； at his own risk and peril； Consider； it were
better he misused it； Than you should be accused of robbing him。 I am
astounded that unblushingly You could allow such offers to be made！ Tell
mehas true religion any maxim That teaches us to rob the lawful heir？ If
Heaven has made it quite impossible Damis and you should live together
here； Were it not better you should quietly And honourably withdraw； than
let the son Be driven out for your sake； dead against All reason？ 'Twould
be giving； sir； believe me； Such an example of your probity 。 。 。
TARTUFFE Sir； it is half…past three； certain devotions Recall me to
my closet； you'll forgive me For leaving you so soon。
CLEANTE （alone） Ah！
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TARTUFFE OR THE HYPOCRITE
SCENE II ELMIRE； MARIANE； CLEANTE；
DORINE
DORINE （to Cleante） Sir； we beg you To help us all you can in her
behalf； She's suffering almost more than heart can bear； This match her
father means to make to…night Drives her each moment to despair。 He's
coming。 Let us unite our efforts now； we beg you； And try by strength or
skill to change his purpose。
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TARTUFFE OR THE HYPOCRITE
SCENE III ORGON； ELMIRE； MARIANE；
CLEANTE； DORINE
ORGON So ho！ I'm glad to find you all together。
（To Mariane） Here is the contract that shall make you happy； My dear。
You know already what it means。
MARIANE （on her knees before Orgon） Father； I beg you； in the name
of Heaven That knows my grief； and by whate'er can move you； Relax a
little your paternal rights； And free my love from this obedience！ Oh； do
not make me； by your harsh command； Complain to Heaven you ever
were my father； Do not make wretched this poor life you gave me。 If；
crossing that fond hope which I had formed； You'll not permit me to
belong to one Whom I have dared to love； at least； I beg you Upon my
knees； oh； save me from the torment Of being possessed by one whom I
abhor！ And do not drive me to some desperate act By exercising all your
rights upon me。
ORGON （a little touched） Come； come； my heart； be firm！ no human
weakness！
MARIANE I am not jealous of your love for him； Display it freely；
give him your estate； And if that's not enough； add all of mine； I willingly
agree； and give it up； If only you'll not give him me； your daughter； Oh；
rather let a convent's rigid rule Wear out the wretched days that Heaven
allots me。
ORGON These girls are ninnies！always turning nuns When fathers
thwart their silly love…affairs。 Get on your feet！ The more you hate to have
him； The more 'twill help you earn your soul's salvation。 So； mortify your
senses by this marriage； And don't vex me about it any more。
DORINE But what 。 。 。 ？
ORGON You hold your tongue； before your betters。 Don't dare to say a
single word； I tell you。
CLEANTE If you will let me answer； and advise 。 。 。
ORGON Brother； I value your advice most highly； 'Tis well thought
out； no better can be had； But you'll allow menot to follow it。
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TARTUFFE OR THE HYPOCRITE
ELMIRE （to her husband） I can't find words to cope with such a case；
Your blindness makes me quite astounded at you。 You are bewitched with
him； to disbelieve The things we tell you happened here to…day。
ORGON I am your humble servant； and can see Things； when they're
plain as noses on folks' faces； I know you're partial to my rascal son； And
didn't dare to disavow the trick He tried to play on this poor man； besides；
You were too calm； to be believed； if that Had happened； you'd have been
far more disturbed。
ELMIRE And must our honour always rush to arms At the mere
mention of illicit love？ Or can we answer no attack upon it Except with
blazing eyes and lips of scorn？ For my part； I just laugh away such
nonsense； I've no desire to make a loud to…do。 Our virtue should； I think；
be gentle…natured； Nor can I quite approve those savage prudes Whose
honour arms itself with teeth and claws To tear men's eyes out at the
slightest word。 Heaven preserve me from that kind of honour！ I like my
virtue not to be a vixen； And I believe a quiet cold rebuff No less effective
to repulse a lover。
ORGON I know 。 。 。 and you can't throw me off the scent。
ELMIRE Once more； I am astounded at your weakness； I wonder what
your unbelief would answer； If I should let you see we've told the truth？
ORGON See it？
ELMIRE Yes。
ORGON Nonsense。
ELMIRE Come！ If I should find A way to make you see it clear as
day？
ORGON All rubbish。
ELMIRE What a man！ But answer me。 I'm not proposing now that you
believe us； But let's suppose that here； from proper hiding； You should be
made to see and hear all plainly； What would you say then； to your man of
virtue？
ORGON Why； then； I'd say 。 。 。 say nothing。 It can't be。
ELMIRE Your error has endured too long already； And quite too long
you've branded me a liar。 I must at once； for my own satisfaction； Make
you a witness of the things we've told you。
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TARTUFFE OR THE HYPOCRITE
ORGON Amen！ I take you at your word。 We'll see What tricks you
have； and how you'll keep your promise。
ELMIRE （to Dorine） Send him to me。
DORINE （to Elmire） The man's a crafty codger； Perhaps you'll find it
difficult to catch him。
ELMIRE （to Dorine） Oh no！ A lover's never hard to cheat； And self…
conceit leads straight to self…deceit。 Bid him come down to me。
（To Cleante and Mariane） And you； withdraw。
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TARTUFFE OR THE HYPOCRITE
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； I know what I'm about； as you shall
see。 Get under； now； I tell you； and once there Be careful no one either
sees or hears you。
ORGON I'm going a long way to humour you； I must say； but I'll see
you through your scheme。
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； Prepare yourself to be in no wise shocked。
Whatever I may say must pass； because 'Tis only to convince you； as I
promised。 By wheedling speeches； since I'm forced to do it； I'll make this
hypocrite put off his mask； Flatter the longings of his shameless passion；
And give free play to all his impudence。 But； since 'tis for your sake； to
prove to you His guilt； that I shall feign to share his love； I can leave off as
soon as you're convinced； And things s