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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 shall go no farther than you choose。
So； when you think they've gone quite far enough； It is for you to stop his
mad pursuit； To spare your wife； and not expose me farther Than you shall
need； yourself； to undeceive you。 It is your own affair； and you must end it
When 。 。 。 Here he comes。 Keep still； don't show yourself。
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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。 But shut the door first； and
look everywhere For fear of spies。
（Tartuffe goes and closes the door； and comes back。） We surely can't
afford Another scene like that we had just now； Was ever anyone so
caught before！ Damis did frighten me most terribly On your account； you
saw I did my best To baffle his design； and calm his anger。 But I was so
confused； I never thought To contradict his story； still； thank Heaven；
Things turned out all the better； as it happened； And now we're on an even
safer footing。 The high esteem you're held in； laid the storm； My husband
can have no suspicion of you； And even insists； to spite the scandal…
mongers； That we shall be together constantly； So that is how； without the
risk of blame； I can be here locked up with you alone； And can reveal to
you my heart； perhaps Only too ready to allow your passion。
TARTUFFE Your words are somewhat hard to understand； Madam；
just now you used a different style。
ELMIRE If that refusal has offended you； How little do you know a
woman's heart！ How ill you guess what it would have you know； When it
presents so feeble a defence！ Always； at first； our modesty resists The
tender feelings you inspire us with。 Whatever cause we find to justify The
love that masters us； we still must feel Some little shame in owning it； and
strive To make as though we would not； when we would。 But from the
very way we go about it We let a lover know our heart surrenders； The
while our lips； for honour's sake； oppose Our heart's desire； and in refusing
promise。 I'm telling you my secret all too freely And with too little heed to
modesty。 Butnow that I've made bold to speakpray tell me。 Should I
have tried to keep Damis from speaking； Should I have heard the offer of
your heart So quietly； and suffered all your pleading； And taken it just as I
didremember If such a declaration had not pleased me； And； when I
tried my utmost to persuade you Not to accept the marriage that was
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TARTUFFE OR THE HYPOCRITE
talked of； What should my earnestness have hinted to you If not the
interest that you've inspired； And my chagrin； should such a match compel
me To share a heart I want all to myself？
TARTUFFE 'Tis； past a doubt； the height of happiness； To hear such
words from lips we dote upon； Their honeyed sweetness pours through all
my senses Long draughts of suavity ineffable。 My heart employs its
utmost zeal to please you； And counts your love its one beatitude； And yet
that heart must beg that you allow it To doubt a little its felicity。 I well
might think these words an honest trick To make me break off this
approaching marriage； And if I may express myself quite plainly； I cannot
trust these too enchanting words Until the granting of some little favour I
sigh for； shall assure me of their truth And build within my soul； on firm
foundations； A lasting faith in your sweet charity。
ELMIRE （coughing to draw her husband's attention） What！ Must you
go so fast？and all at once Exhaust the whole love of a woman's heart？
She does herself the violence to make This dear confession of her love；
and you Are not yet satisfied； and will not be Without the granting of her
utmost favours？
TARTUFFE The less a blessing is deserved； the less We dare to hope
for it； and words alone Can ill assuage our love's desires。 A fate Too full of
happiness； seems doubtful still； We must enjoy it ere we can believe it。
And I； who know how little I deserve Your goodness； doubt the fortunes of
my daring； So I shall trust to nothing； madam； till You have convinced my
love by something real。
ELMIRE Ah！ How your love enacts the tyrant's role； And throws my
mind into a strange confusion！ With what fierce sway it rules a conquered
heart； And violently will have its wishes granted！ What！ Is there no escape
from your pursuit？ No respite even？not a breathing space？ Nay； is it
decent to be so exacting； And so abuse by urgency the weakness You may
discover in a woman's heart？
TARTUFFE But if my worship wins your gracious favour； Then why
refuse me some sure proof thereof？
ELMIRE But how can I consent to what you wish； Without offending
Heaven you talk so much of？
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TARTUFFE OR THE HYPOCRITE
TARTUFFE If Heaven is all that stands now in my way； I'll easily
remove that little hindrance； Your heart need not hold back for such a
trifle。
ELMIRE But they affright us so with Heaven's commands！
TARTUFFE I can dispel these foolish fears； dear madam； I know the
art of pacifying scruples Heaven forbids； 'tis true； some satisfactions； But
we find means to make things right with Heaven。
（'Tis a scoundrel speaking。） ＇5＇
＇Footnote 5： Moliere's note； in the original edition。＇
There is a science； madam； that instructs us How to enlarge the limits
of our conscience According to our various occasions； And rectify the evil
of the deed According to our purity of motive。 I'll duly teach you all these
secrets； madam； You only need to let yourself be guided。 Content my
wishes； have no fear at all； I answer for't； and take the sin upon me。
（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 The licorice in the world
will do no good。
TARTUFFE 'Tis very trying。
ELMIRE More than words can say。
TARTUFFE In any case； your scruple's easily Removed。 With me
you're sure of secrecy； And there's no harm unless a thing is known。 The
public scandal is what brings offence； And secret sinning is not sin at all。
ELMIRE （after coughing again） So then； I see I must resolve to yield；
I must consent to grant you everything； And cannot hope to give full
satisfaction Or win full confidence； at lesser cost。 No doubt 'tis very hard
to come to this； 'Tis quite against my will I go so far； But since I must be
forced to it； since nothing That can be said suffices for belief； Since more
convincing proof is still demanded； I must make up my mind to humour
people。 If my consent give reason for offence； So much the worse for him
who forced me to it； The fault can surely not be counted mine。
TARTUFFE It need not； madam； and the thing itself 。 。 。
ELMIRE Open the door； I pray you； and just see Whether my
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husband's not there； in the hall。
TARTUFFE Why take such care for him？ Between ourselves； He is a
man to lead round by the nose。 He's capable of glorying in our meetings；
I've fooled him so； he'd see all； and deny it。
ELMIRE No matter； go； I beg you； look about； And carefully examine
every corner。
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TARTUFFE OR THE HYPOCRITE
SCENE VI ORGON； ELMIRE
ORGON （crawling out from under the table） That is； I own； a man 。 。 。
abominable！ I can't get over it； the whole thing floors me。
ELMIRE What？ You come out so soon？ You cannot mean it！ Get back
under the table； 'tis not time yet； Wait till the end； to see； and make quite
certain； And don't believe a thing on mere conjecture。
ORGON Nothing more wicked e'er came out of Hel