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SCENE V ORGON； ELMIRE； DAMIS；
TARTUFFE
DAMIS Father； we've news to welcome your arrival； That's
altogether novel； and surprising。 You are well paid for your caressing care；
And this fine gentleman rewards your love Most handsomely； with zeal
that seeks no less Than your dishonour； as has now been proven。 I've just
surprised him making to your wife The shameful offer of a guilty love。
She； somewhat over gentle and discreet； Insisted that the thing should be
concealed； But I will not condone such shamelessness； Nor so far wrong
you as to keep it secret。
ELMIRE Yes； I believe a wife should never trouble Her husband's
peace of mind with such vain gossip； A woman's honour does not hang on
telling； It is enough if she defend herself； Or so I think； Damis； you'd not
have spoken； If you would but have heeded my advice。
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TARTUFFE OR THE HYPOCRITE
SCENE VI ORGON； DAMIS； TARTUFFE
ORGON Just Heaven！ Can what I hear be credited？
TARTUFFE Yes； brother； I am wicked； I am guilty； A miserable sinner；
steeped in evil； The greatest criminal that ever lived。 Each moment of my
life is stained with soilures； And all is but a mass of crime and filth；
Heaven； for my punishment； I see it plainly； Would mortify me now。
Whatever wrong They find to charge me with； I'll not deny it But guard
against the pride of self…defence。 Believe their stories； arm your wrath
against me； And drive me like a villain from your house； I cannot have so
great a share of shame But what I have deserved a greater still。
ORGON （to his son） You miscreant； can you dare； with such a
falsehood； To try to stain the whiteness of his virtue？
DAMIS What！ The feigned meekness of this hypocrite Makes you
discredit 。 。 。
ORGON Silence； cursed plague！
TARTUFFE Ah！ Let him speak； you chide him wrongfully； You'd do
far better to believe his tales。 Why favour me so much in such a matter？
How can you know of what I'm capable？ And should you trust my
outward semblance； brother； Or judge therefrom that I'm the better man？
No； no； you let appearances deceive you； I'm anything but what I'm
thought to be； Alas！ and though all men believe me godly； The simple truth
is； I'm a worthless creature。
（To Damis） Yes； my dear son； say on； and call me traitor； Abandoned
scoundrel； thief； and murderer； Heap on me names yet more detestable；
And I shall not gainsay you； I've deserved them； I'll bear this ignominy on
my knees； To expiate in shame the crimes I've done。
ORGON （to Tartuffe） Ah； brother； 'tis too much！
（To his son） You'll not relent； You blackguard？
DAMIS What！ His talk can so deceive you 。 。 。
ORGON Silence； you scoundrel！
（To Tartuffe） Brother； rise； I beg you。
（To his son） Infamous villain！
DAMIS Can he 。 。 。
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TARTUFFE OR THE HYPOCRITE
ORGON Silence！
DAMIS What 。 。 。
ORGON Another word； I'll break your every bone。
TARTUFFE Brother； in God's name； don't be angry with him！ I'd
rather bear myself the bitterest torture Than have him get a scratch on my
account。
ORGON （to his son） Ungrateful monster！
TARTUFFE Stop。 Upon my knees I beg you pardon him 。 。 。
ORGON （throwing himself on his knees too； and embracing Tartuffe）
Alas！ How can you？
（To his son） Villain！ Behold his goodness！
DAMIS So 。 。 。
ORGON Be still。
DAMIS What！ I 。 。 。
ORGON Be still； I say。 I know your motives For this attack。 You hate
him； all of you； Wife； children； servants； all let loose upon him； You have
recourse to every shameful trick To drive this godly man out of my house；
The more you strive to rid yourselves of him； The more I'll strive to make
him stay with me； I'll have him straightway married to my daughter； Just
to confound the pride of all of you。
DAMIS What！ Will you force her to accept his hand？
ORGON Yes； and this very evening； to enrage you； Young rascal！ Ah！
I'll brave you all； and show you That I'm the master； and must be obeyed。
Now； down upon your knees this instant； rogue； And take back what you
said； and ask his pardon。
DAMIS Who？ I？ Ask pardon of that cheating scoundrel 。 。 。 ？
ORGON Do you resist； you beggar； and insult him？ A cudgel； here！ a
cudgel！
（To Tartuffe） Don't restrain me。
（To his son） Off with you！ Leave my house this instant； sirrah； And
never dare set foot in it again。
DAMIS Yes； I will leave your house； but 。 。 。
ORGON Leave it quickly。 You reprobate； I disinherit you； And give
you； too； my curse into the bargain。
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TARTUFFE OR THE HYPOCRITE
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TARTUFFE OR THE HYPOCRITE
SCENE VII ORGON； TARTUFFE
ORGON What！ So insult a saintly man of God！
TARTUFFE Heaven； forgive him all the pain he gives me！ ＇4＇
＇Footnote 4： Some modern editions have adopted the reading；
preserved by tradition as that of the earliest stage version： Heaven； forgive
him even as I forgive him！ Voltaire gives still another reading： Heaven；
forgive me even as I forgive him！ Whichever was the original version； it
appears in none of the early editions； and Moliere probably felt forced to
change it on account of its too close resemblance to the Biblical phrase。＇
（To Orgon） Could you but know with what distress I see Them try to
vilify me to my brother！
ORGON Ah！
TARTUFFE The mere thought of such ingratitude Makes my soul
suffer torture； bitterly 。 。 。 My horror at it 。 。 。 Ah！ my heart's so full I
cannot speak 。 。 。 I think I'll die of it。
ORGON （in tears； running to the door through which he drove away
his son） Scoundrel！ I wish I'd never let you go； But slain you on the spot
with my own hand。
（To Tartuffe） Brother； compose yourself； and don't be angry。
TARTUFFE Nay； brother； let us end these painful quarrels。 I see what
troublous times I bring upon you； And think 'tis needful that I leave this
house。
ORGON What！ You can't mean it？
TARTUFFE Yes； they hate me here； And try； I find； to make you doubt
my faith。
ORGON What of it？ Do you