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TARTUFFE Yes； they hate me here； And try； I find； to make you doubt
my faith。
ORGON What of it？ Do you find I listen to them？
TARTUFFE No doubt they won't stop there。 These same reports You
now reject； may some day win a hearing。
ORGON No； brother； never。
TARTUFFE Ah！ my friend； a woman May easily mislead her
husband's mind。
ORGON No； no。
TARTUFFE So let me quickly go away And thus remove all cause for
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such attacks。
ORGON No； you shall stay； my life depends upon it。
TARTUFFE Then I must mortify myself。 And yet； If you should
wish 。 。 。
ORGON No； never！
TARTUFFE Very well； then； No more of that。 But I shall rule my
conduct To fit the case。 Honour is delicate； And friendship binds me to
forestall suspicion； Prevent all scandal； and avoid your wife。
ORGON No； you shall haunt her； just to spite them all。 'Tis my delight
to set them in a rage； You shall be seen together at all hours And what is
more； the better to defy them； I'll have no other heir but you； and
straightway I'll go and make a deed of gift to you； Drawn in due form； of
all my property。 A good true friend； my son…in…law to be； Is more to me
than son； and wife； and kindred。 You will accept my offer； will you not？
TARTUFFE Heaven's will be done in everything！
ORGON Poor man！ We'll go make haste to draw the deed aright； And
then let envy burst itself with spite！
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ACT IV
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SCENE I CLEANTE； TARTUFFE
CLEANTE Yes； it's become the talk of all the town； And make a stir
that's scarcely to your credit； And I have met you； sir； most opportunely；
To tell you in a word my frank opinion。 Not to sift out this scandal to the
bottom； Suppose the worst for ussuppose Damis Acted the traitor； and
accused you falsely； Should not a Christian pardon this offence； And stifle
in his heart all wish for vengeance？ Should you permit that； for your petty
quarrel； A son be driven from his father's house？ I tell you yet again； and
tell you frankly； Everyone； high or low； is scandalised； If you'll take my
advice； you'll make it up； And not push matters to extremities。 Make
sacrifice to God of your resentment； Restore the son to favour with his
father。
TARTUFFE Alas！ So far as I'm concerned； how gladly Would I do so！
I bear him no ill will； I pardon all； lay nothing to his charge； And wish
with all my heart that I might serve him； But Heaven's interests cannot
allow it； If he returns； then I must leave the house。 After his conduct； quite
unparalleled； All intercourse between us would bring scandal； God knows
what everyone's first thought would be！ They would attribute it to merest
scheming On my partsay that conscious of my guilt I feigned a Christian
love for my accuser； But feared him in my heart； and hoped to win him
And underhandedly secure his silence。
CLEANTE You try to put us off with specious phrases； But all your
arguments are too far…fetched。 Why take upon yourself the cause of
Heaven？ Does Heaven need our help to punish sinners？ Leave to itself the
care of its own vengeance； And keep in mind the pardon it commands us；
Besides； think somewhat less of men's opinions； When you are following
the will of Heaven。 Shall petty fear of what the world may think Prevent
the doing of a noble deed？ No！let us always do as Heaven commands；
And not perplex our brains with further questions。
TARTUFFE Already I have told you I forgive him； And that is doing；
sir； as Heaven commands。 But after this day's scandal and affront Heaven
does not order me to live with him。
CLEANTE And does it order you to lend your ear To what mere whim
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suggested to his father； And to accept gift of his estates； On which； in
justice； you can make no claim？
TARTUFFE No one who knows me； sir； can have the thought That I
am acting from a selfish motive。 The goods of this world have no charms
for me； I am not dazzled by their treacherous glamour； And if I bring
myself to take the gift Which he insists on giving me； I do so； To tell the
truth； only because I fear This whole estate may fall into bad hands； And
those to whom it comes may use it ill And not employ it； as is my design；
For Heaven's glory and my neighbours' good。
CLEANTE Eh； sir； give up these conscientious scruples That well may
cause a rightful heir's complaints。 Don't take so much upon yourself； but
let him Possess what's his； at his own risk and peril； Consider； it were
better he misused it； Than you should be accused of robbing him。 I am
astounded that unblushingly You could allow such offers to be made！ Tell
mehas true religion any maxim That teaches us to rob the lawful heir？ If
Heaven has made it quite impossible Damis and you should live together
here； Were it not better you should quietly And honourably withdraw； than
let the son Be driven out for your sake； dead against All reason？ 'Twould
be giving； sir； believe me； Such an example of your probity 。 。 。
TARTUFFE Sir； it is half…past three； certain devotions Recall me to
my closet； you'll forgive me For leaving you so soon。
CLEANTE （alone） Ah！
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SCENE II ELMIRE； MARIANE； CLEANTE；
DORINE
DORINE （to Cleante） Sir； we beg you To help us all you can in her
behalf； She's suffering almost more than heart can bear； This match her
father means to make to…night Drives her each moment to despair。 He's
coming。 Let us unite our efforts now； we beg you； And try by strength or
skill to change his purpose。
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TARTUFFE OR THE HYPOCRITE
SCENE III ORGON； ELMIRE； MARIANE；
CLEANTE； DORINE
ORGON So ho！ I'm glad to find you all together。
（To Mariane） Here is the c