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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。 No； let
yourself be thoroughly convinced； Don't yield too soon； for fear you'll be
mistaken。
（As Tartuffe enters； she makes her husband stand behind her。）
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TARTUFFE OR THE HYPOCRITE
SCENE VII TARTUFFE； ELMIRE； ORGON
TARTUFFE （not seeing Orgon） All things conspire toward my
satisfaction； Madam； I've searched the whole apartment through。 There's
no one here； and now my ravished soul 。 。 。
ORGON （stopping him） Softly！ You are too eager in your amours； You
needn't be so passionate。 Ah ha！ My holy man！ You want to put it on me！
How is your soul abandoned to temptation！ Marry my daughter； eh？and
want my wife； too？ I doubted long enough if this was earnest； Expecting
all the time the tone would change； But now the proof's been carried far
enough； I'm satisfied； and ask no more； for my part。
ELMIRE （to Tartuffe） 'Twas quite against my character to play This
part； but I was forced to treat you so。
TARTUFFE What？ You believe 。 。 。 ？
ORGON Come； now； no protestations。 Get out from here； and make no
fuss about it。
TARTUFFE But my intent 。 。 。
ORGON That talk is out of season。 You leave my house this instant。
TARTUFFE You're the one To leave it； you who play the master here！
This house belongs to me； I'll have you know； And show you plainly it's
no use to turn To these low tricks； to pick a quarrel with me； And that you
can't insult me at your pleasure； For I have wherewith to confound your
lies； Avenge offended Heaven； and compel Those to repent who talk to me
of leaving。
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TARTUFFE OR THE HYPOCRITE
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； The deed of gift is
one thing troubles me。
ELMIRE The deed of gift 。 。 。
ORGON Yes； that is past recall。 But I've another thing to make me
anxious。
ELMIRE What's that？
ORGON You shall know all。 Let's see at once Whether a certain box is
still upstairs。
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TARTUFFE OR THE HYPOCRITE
ACT V
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TARTUFFE OR THE HYPOCRITE
SCENE I ORGON； CLEANTE
CLEANTE Whither away so fast？
ORGON How should I know？
CLEANTE Methinks we should begin by taking counsel To see what
can be done to meet the case。
ORGON I'm all worked up about that wretched box。 More than all else
it drives me to despair。
CLEANTE That box must hide some mighty mystery？
ORGON Argas； my friend who is in trouble； brought it Himself； most
secretly； and left it with me。 He chose me； in his exile； for this trust； And
on these documents； from what he said； I judge his life and property
depend。
CLEANTE How could you trust them to another's hands？
ORGON By reason of a conscientious scruple。 I went straight to my
traitor； to confide In him； his sophistry made me believe That I must give
the box to him to keep； So that； in case of search； I might deny My having
it at all； and still； by favour Of this evasion； keep my conscience clear
Even in taking oath against the truth。
CLEANTE Your case is bad； so far as I can see； This deed of gift； this
trusting of the secret To him； were bothto state my frank opinion Steps
that you took too lightly； he can lead you To any length； with these for
hostages； And since he holds you at such disadvantage； You'd be still more
imprudent； to provoke him； So you must go some gentler way about。
ORGON What！ Can a soul so base； a heart so false； Hide neath the
semblance of such touching fervour？ I took him in； a vagabond； a
beggar！ 。 。 。 'Tis too much！ No more pious folk for me！ I shall abhor them
utterly forever； And henceforth treat them worse than any devil。
CLEANTE So！ There you go again； quite off the handle！ In nothing do
you keep an even temper。 You never know what reason is； but always
Jump first to one extreme； and then the other。 You see your error； and you
recognise That you've been cozened by a feigned zeal； But to make up
for't； in the name of reason； Why should you plunge into a worse mistake；
And find no difference in character Between a worthless scamp； and all
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TARTUFFE OR THE HYPOCRITE
good people？ What！ Just because a rascal boldly duped you With pompous
show of false austerity； Must you needs have it everybody's like him； And
no one's truly pious nowadays？ Leave such conclusions to mere infidels；
Distinguish virtue from its counterfeit； Don't give esteem too quickly； at a
venture； But try to keep； in this； the golden mean。 If you can help it； don't
uphold imposture； But do not rail at true devoutness； either； And if you
must fall into one extreme； Then rather err again the other way。
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TARTUFFE OR THE HYPOCRITE
SCENE II DAMIS； ORGON； CLEANTE
DAMIS What！ father； can the scoundrel threaten you； Forget the
many benefits received； And in his base abominable pride Make of your
very favours arms against you？
ORGON Too true； my son。 It tortures me to think on't。
DAMIS Let me alone； I'll chop his ears off for him。 We must deal
roundly with his insolence； 'Tis I must free you from him at a blow； 'Tis I；
to set things right； must strike him down。
CLEANTE Spoke like a true young man。 Now just calm down； And
moderate your towering tantrums； will you？ We live in such an age； with
such a king； That violence can not advance our cause。
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TARTUFFE OR THE HYPOCRITE
SCENE III MADAME PERNELLE； ORGON；
ELMIRE； CLEANTE； MARIANE； DAMIS； DORINE
MADAME PERNELLE What's this？ I hear of fearful mysteries！
ORGON Strange things indeed； for my own eyes to witness； You see
how I'm requited for my kindness； I zealously receive a wretched beggar； I
lodge him； entertain him like my brother； Load him with benefactions
every day； Give him my daughter； give him all my fortune： And he
meanwhile； the villain； rascal； wretch； Tries with black treason to suborn
my wife； And not content with such a foul design； He dares to menace me
with my own favours； And would make use of those advantages Which
my too foolish kindness armed him with； To ruin me； to take my fortune
from me； And leave me in the state I saved him from。
DORINE Poor man！
MADAME PERNELLE My son； I cannot possibly Believe he could
intend so black a deed。
ORGON What？
MADAME PERNELLE Worthy men are still the sport of envy。
ORGON Mother； what do you mean by such a speech？
MADAME PERNELLE There are strange goings…on about your house；
And everybody knows your people hate him。
ORGON What's that to do with what I tell you now？
MADAME PERNELLE I always said； my son； when you were little：
That virtue here below is hated ever； The envious may die； but envy never。
ORGON What's that fine speech to do with present facts？
MADAME PERNELLE Be sure； they've forged a hundred silly
lies 。 。 。
ORGON I've told you once； I saw it all myself。
MADAME PERNELLE For slanderers abound in calumnies 。 。 。
ORGON Mother； you'd make me damn my soul。 I tell you I saw with
my own eyes his shamelessness。
MADAME PERNELLE Their tongues for spitting venom never lack；
There's nothing here below they'll not attack。
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TARTUFFE OR THE HYPOCRITE
ORGON Your speech has not a single grain of sense。 I saw it； harkee；
saw it； with these eyes I sawd'ye know what saw means？must I say it A
hundred times； and din it in your ears？
MADAME PERNELLE My dear； appearances are