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hundred times； and din it in your ears？
MADAME PERNELLE My dear； appearances are oft deceiving； And
seeing shouldn't always be believing。
ORGON I'll go mad。
MADAME PERNELLE False suspicions may delude； And good to
evil oft is misconstrued。
ORGON Must I construe as Christian charity The wish to kiss my
wife！
MADAME PERNELLE You must； at least； Have just foundation for
accusing people； And wait until you see a thing for sure。
ORGON The devil！ How could I see any surer？ Should I have waited
till； before my eyes； He 。 。 。 No； you'll make me say things quite improper。
MADAME PERNELLE In short； 'tis known too pure a zeal inflames
him； And so； I cannot possibly conceive That he should try to do what's
charged against him。
ORGON If you were not my mother； I should say Such things！ 。 。 。 I
know not what； I'm so enraged！
DORINE （to Orgon） Fortune has paid you fair； to be so doubted； You
flouted our report； now yours is flouted。
CLEANTE We're wasting time here in the merest trifling； Which we
should rather use in taking measures To guard ourselves against the
scoundrel's threats。
DAMIS You think his impudence could go far？
ELMIRE For one； I can't believe it possible； Why； his ingratitude
would be too patent。
CLEANTE Don't trust to that； he'll find abundant warrant To give
good colour to his acts against you； And for less cause than this； a strong
cabal Can make one's life a labyrinth of troubles。 I tell you once again：
armed as he is You never should have pushed him quite so far。
ORGON True； yet what could I do？ The rascal's pride Made me lose
all control of my resentment。
CLEANTE I wish with all my heart that some pretence Of peace could
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be patched up between you two
ELMIRE If I had known what weapons he was armed with； I never
should have raised such an alarm； And my 。 。 。
ORGON （to Dorine； seeing Mr。 Loyal come in） Who's coming now？
Go quick； find out。 I'm in a fine state to receive a visit！
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TARTUFFE OR THE HYPOCRITE
SCENE IV ORGON； MADAME PERNELLE；
ELMIRE； MARIANE； CLEANTE； DAMIS； DORINE；
MR。 LOYAL
MR。 LOYAL （to Dorine； at the back of the stage） Good day； good
sister。 Pray you； let me see The master of the house。
DORINE He's occupied； I think he can see nobody at present。
MR。 LOYAL I'm not by way of being unwelcome here。 My coming
can； I think； nowise displease him； My errand will be found to his
advantage。
DORINE Your name； then？
MR。 LOYAL Tell him simply that his friend Mr。 Tartuffe has sent me；
for his goods 。 。 。
DORINE （to Orgon） It is a man who comes； with civil manners； Sent
by Tartuffe； he says； upon an errand That you'll be pleased with。
CLEANTE （to Orgon） Surely you must see him； And find out who he
is； and what he wants。
ORGON （to Cleante） Perhaps he's come to make it up between us：
How shall I treat him？
CLEANTE You must not get angry； And if he talks of reconciliation
Accept it。
MR。 LOYAL （to Orgon） Sir； good…day。 And Heaven send Harm to
your enemies； favour to you。
ORGON （aside to Cleante） This mild beginning suits with my
conjectures And promises some compromise already。
MR。 LOYAL All of your house has long been dear to me； I had the
honour； sir； to serve your father。
ORGON Sir； I am much ashamed； and ask your pardon For not
recalling now your face or name。
MR。 LOYAL My name is Loyal。 I'm from Normandy。 My office is
court…bailiff； in despite Of envy； and for forty years； thank Heaven； It's
been my fortune to perform that office With honour。 So I've come； sir； by
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TARTUFFE OR THE HYPOCRITE
your leave To render service of a certain writ 。 。 。
ORGON What； you are here to 。 。 。
MR。 LOYAL Pray； sir； don't be angry。 'Tis nothing； sir； but just a little
summons： Order to vacate； you and yours； this house； Move out your
furniture； make room for others； And that without delay or putting off； As
needs must be 。 。 。
ORGON I？ Leave this house？
MR。 LOYAL Yes； please； sir The house is now； as you well know； of
course； Mr。 Tartuffe's。 And he； beyond dispute； Of all your goods is
henceforth lord and master By virtue of a contract here attached； Drawn in
due form； and unassailable。
DAMIS （to Mr。 Loyal） Your insolence is monstrous； and astounding！
MR。 LOYAL （to Damis） I have no business； sir； that touches you；
（Pointing to Orgon） This is the gentleman。 He's fair and courteous；
And knows too well a gentleman's behaviour To wish in any wise to
question justice。
ORGON But 。 。 。
MR。 LOYAL Sir； I know you would not for a million Wish to rebel；
like a good citizen You'll let me put in force the court's decree。
DAMIS Your long black gown may well； before you know it； Mister
Court…bailiff； get a thorough beating。
MR。 LOYAL （to Orgon） Sir； make your son be silent or withdraw。 I
should be loath to have to set things down； And see your names inscribed
in my report。
DORINE （aside） This Mr。 Loyal's looks are most disloyal。
MR。 LOYAL I have much feeling for respectable And honest folk like
you； sir； and consented To serve these papers； only to oblige you； And thus
prevent the choice of any other Who； less possessed of zeal for you than I
am Might order matters in less gentle fashion。
ORGON And how could one do worse than order people Out of their
house？
MR。 LOYAL Why； we allow you time； And even will suspend until to…
morrow The execution of the order； sir。 I'll merely； without scandal；
quietly； Come here and spend the night； with half a score Of officers； and
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TARTUFFE OR THE HYPOCRITE
just for form's sake； please； You'll bring your keys to me； before retiring。 I
will take care not to disturb your rest； And see there's no unseemly
conduct here。 But by to…morrow； and at early morning； You must make
haste to move your least belongings； My men will help youI have chosen
strong ones To serve you； sir； in clearing out the house。 No one could act
more generously； I fancy； And； since I'm treating you with great
indulgence； I beg you'll do as well by me； and see I'm not disturbed in my
discharge of duty。
ORGON I'd give this very minute； and not grudge it； The hundred best
gold louis I have left； If I could just indulge myself； and land My fist； for
one good square one； on his snout。
CLEANTE （aside to Orgon） Careful！don't make things worse。
DAMIS Such insolence！ I hardly can restrain myself。 My hands Are
itching to be at him。
DORINE By my faith； With such a fine broad back； good Mr。 Loyal； A
little beating would become you well。
MR。 LOYAL My girl； such infamous words are actionable。 And
warrants can be issued against women。
CLEANTE （to Mr。 Loyal） Enough of this discussion； sir； have done。
Give us the paper； and then leave us； pray。
MR。 LOYAL Then /au revoir/。 Heaven keep you from disaster！
ORGON May Heaven confound you both； you and your master！
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SCENE V ORGON； MADAME PERNELLE；
ELMIRE； CLEANTE； MARIANE； DAMIS； DORINE
ORGON Well； mother； am I right or am I not？ This writ may help
you now to judge the matter。 Or don't you see his treason even yet？
MADAME PERNELLE I'm all amazed； befuddled； and beflustered！
DORINE （to Orgon） You are quite wrong； you have no right to blame
him； This action only proves his good intentions。 Love for his neighbour
makes his virtue perfect； And knowing money is a root of evil； In
Christian charity； he'd take away Whatever things may hinder your
salvation。
ORGON Be still。 You always need to have that told you。
CLEANTE （to Orgon） Com