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（Mariane looks sideways toward Valere； with just a bit of a smile。）
DORINE My faith and troth； what fools these lovers be！
VALERE （to Mariane） But come now； have I not a just complaint？
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TARTUFFE OR THE HYPOCRITE
And truly； are you not a wicked creature To take delight in saying what
would pain me？
MARIANE And are you not yourself the most ungrateful 。 。 。 ？
DORINE Leave this discussion till another time； Now； think how
you'll stave off this plaguy marriage。
MARIANE Then tell us how to go about it。
DORINE Well； We'll try all sorts of ways。
（To Mariane） Your father's daft；
（To Valere） This plan is nonsense。
（To Mariane） You had better humour His notions by a semblance of
consent； So that in case of danger； you can still Find means to block the
marriage by delay。 If you gain time； the rest is easy； trust me。 One day
you'll fool them with a sudden illness； Causing delay； another day； ill
omens： You've met a funeral； or broke a mirror； Or dreamed of muddy
water。 Best of all； They cannot marry you to anyone Without your saying
yes。 But now； methinks； They mustn't find you chattering together。
（To Valere） You； go at once and set your friends at work To make him
keep his word to you； while we Will bring the brother's influence to bear；
And get the step…mother on our side； too。 Good…bye。
VALERE （to Mariane） Whatever efforts we may make； My greatest
hope； be sure； must rest on you。
MARIANE （to Valere） I cannot answer for my father's whims； But no
one save Valere shall ever have me。
VALERE You thrill me through with joy！ Whatever comes 。 。 。
DORINE Oho！ These lovers！ Never done with prattling！ Now go。
VALERE （starting to go； and coming back again） One last word 。 。 。
DORINE What a gabble and pother！ Be off！ By this door； you。 And
you； by t'other。
（She pushes them off； by the shoulders； in opposite directions。）
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TARTUFFE OR THE HYPOCRITE
ACT III
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TARTUFFE OR THE HYPOCRITE
SCENE I DAMIS； DORINE
DAMIS May lightning strike me dead this very instant； May I be
everywhere proclaimed a scoundrel； If any reverence or power shall stop
me； And if I don't do straightway something desperate！
DORINE I beg you； moderate this towering passion； Your father did
but merely mention it。 Not all things that are talked of turn to facts； The
road is long； sometimes； from plans to acts。
DAMIS No； I must end this paltry fellow's plots； And he shall hear
from me a truth or two。
DORINE So ho！ Go slow now。 Just you leave the fellow Your father
tooin your step…mother's hands。 She has some influence with this
Tartuffe； He makes a point of heeding all she says； And I suspect that he is
fond of her。 Would God 'twere true！'Twould be the height of humour
Now； she has sent for him； in your behalf； To sound him on this marriage；
to find out What his ideas are； and to show him plainly What troubles he
may cause； if he persists In giving countenance to this design。 His man
says； he's at prayers； I mustn't see him； But likewise says； he'll presently
be down。 So off with you； and let me wait for him。
DAMIS I may be present at this interview。
DORINE No； no！ They must be left alone。
DAMIS I won't So much as speak to him。
DORINE Go on！ We know you And your high tantrums。 Just the way
to spoil things！ Be off。
DAMIS No； I must seeI'll keep my temper。
DORINE Out on you； what a plague！ He's coming。 Hide！
（Damis goes and hides in the closet at the back of the stage。）
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TARTUFFE OR THE HYPOCRITE
SCENE II TARTUFFE； DORINE
TARTUFFE （speaking to his valet； off the stage； as soon as he sees
Dorine is there） Lawrence； put up my hair…cloth shirt and scourge； And
pray that Heaven may shed its light upon you。 If any come to see me； say
I'm gone To share my alms among the prisoners。
DORINE （aside） What affectation and what showing off！
TARTUFFE What do you want with me？
DORINE To tell you 。 。 。
TARTUFFE （taking a handkerchief from his pocket） Ah！ Before you
speak； pray take this handkerchief。
DORINE What？
TARTUFFE Cover up that bosom； which I can't Endure to look on。
Things like that offend Our souls； and fill our minds with sinful thoughts。
DORINE Are you so tender to temptation； then； And has the flesh such
power upon your senses？ I don't know how you get in such a heat； For my
part； I am not so prone to lust； And I could see you stripped from head to
foot； And all your hide not tempt me in the least。
TARTUFFE Show in your speech some little modesty； Or I must
instantly take leave of you。
DORINE No； no； I'll leave you to yourself； I've only One thing to say：
Madam will soon be down； And begs the favour of a word with you。
TARTUFFE Ah！ Willingly。
DORINE （aside） How gentle all at once！ My faith； I still believe I've
hit upon it。
TARTUFFE Will she come soon？
DORINE I think I hear her now。 Yes； here she is herself； I'll leave you
with her。
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TARTUFFE OR THE HYPOCRITE
SCENE III ELMIRE； TARTUFFE
TARTUFFE May Heaven's overflowing kindness ever Give you good
health of body and of soul； And bless your days according to the wishes
And prayers of its most humble votary！
ELMIRE I'm very grateful for your pious wishes。 But let's sit down； so
we may talk at ease。
TARTUFFE （after sitting down） And how are you recovered from your
illness？
ELMIRE （sitting down also） Quite well； the fever soon let go its hold。
TARTUFFE My prayers； I fear； have not sufficient merit To have drawn
down this favour from on high； But each entreaty that I made to Heaven
Had for its object your recovery。
ELMIRE You're too solicitous on my behalf。
TARTUFFE We could not cherish your dear health too much； I would
have given mine； to help restore it。
ELMIRE That's pushing Christian charity too far； I owe you many
thanks for so much kindness。
TARTUFFE I do far less for you than you deserve。
ELMIRE There is a matter that I wished to speak of In private； I am
glad there's no one here To listen。
TARTUFFE Madam； I am overjoyed。 'Tis sweet to find myself alone
with you。 This is an opportunity I've asked Of Heaven； many a time； till
now； in vain。
ELMIRE All that I wish； is just a word from you； Quite frank and open；
hiding nothing from me。
（DAMIS； without their seeing him； opens the closet door halfway。）
TARTUFFE I too could wish； as Heaven's especial favour； To lay my
soul quite open to your eyes； And swear to you； the trouble that I made
About those visits which your charms attract； Does not result from any
hatred toward you； But rather from a passionate devotion； And purest
motives 。 。 。
ELMIRE That is how I take it； I think 'tis my salvation that concerns
you。
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TARTUFFE OR THE HYPOCRITE
TARTUFFE （pressing her finger tips） Madam； 'tis so； and such is my
devotion 。 。 。
ELMIRE Ouch！ but you squeeze too hard。
TARTUFFE Excess of zeal。 In no way could I ever mean to hurt you；
And I'd as soon 。 。 。
（He puts his hand on her knee。）
ELMIRE What's your hand doing there？
TARTUFFE Feeling your gown； the stuff is very soft。
ELMIRE Let be； I beg you； I am very ticklish。
（She moves her chair away； and Tartuffe brings his nearer。）
TARTUFFE （handling the lace yoke of Elmire's dress） Dear me how
wonderful in workmanship This lace is！ They do marvels； nowadays；
Things of all kinds were never better made。
ELMIRE Yes； very true。 But let us come to business。 They say my
husband means to break his word。 And marry Mariane to you。 Is't so？
TARTUFFE He did hint some such thing； but truly； madam； That's not