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can make me tolerate him。 I should belie my feelings not to say so。 His
actions rouse my wrath at every turn； And I foresee that there must come
of it An open rupture with this sneaking scoundrel。
DORINE Besides； 'tis downright scandalous to see This unknown
upstart master of the house This vagabond； who hadn't； when he came；
Shoes to his feet； or clothing worth six farthings； And who so far forgets
his place； as now To censure everything； and rule the roost！
MADAME PERNELLE Eh！ Mercy sakes alive！ Things would go
better If all were governed by his pious orders。
DORINE He passes for a saint in your opinion。 In fact； he's nothing
but a hypocrite。
MADAME PERNELLE Just listen to her tongue！
DORINE I wouldn't trust him； Nor yet his Lawrence； without bonds
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TARTUFFE OR THE HYPOCRITE
and surety。
MADAME PERNELLE I don't know what the servant's character May
be； but I can guarantee the master A holy man。 You hate him and reject
him Because he tells home truths to all of you。 'Tis sin alone that moves
his heart to anger； And heaven's interest is his only motive。
DORINE Of course。 But why； especially of late； Can he let nobody
come near the house？ Is heaven offended at a civil call That he should
make so great a fuss about it？ I'll tell you； if you like； just what I think；
（Pointing to Elmire） Upon my word； he's jealous of our mistress。
MADAME PERNELLE You hold your tongue； and think what you are
saying。 He's not alone in censuring these visits； The turmoil that attends
your sort of people； Their carriages forever at the door； And all their noisy
footmen； flocked together； Annoy the neighbourhood； and raise a scandal。
I'd gladly think there's nothing really wrong； But it makes talk； and that's
not as it should be。
CLEANTE Eh！ madam； can you hope to keep folk's tongues From
wagging？ It would be a grievous thing If； for the fear of idle talk about us；
We had to sacrifice our friends。 No； no； Even if we could bring ourselves
to do it； Think you that everyone would then be silenced？ Against
backbiting there is no defence So let us try to live in innocence； To silly
tattle pay no heed at all； And leave the gossips free to vent their gall。
DORINE Our neighbour Daphne； and her little husband； Must be the
ones who slander us； I'm thinking。 Those whose own conduct's most
ridiculous； Are always quickest to speak ill of others； They never fail to
seize at once upon The slightest hint of any love affair； And spread the
news of it with glee； and give it The character they'd have the world
believe in。 By others' actions； painted in their colours； They hope to justify
their own； they think； In the false hope of some resemblance； either To
make their own intrigues seem innocent； Or else to make their neighbours
share the blame Which they are loaded with by everybody。
MADAME PERNELLE These arguments are nothing to the purpose。
Orante； we all know； lives a perfect life； Her thoughts are all of heaven；
and I have heard That she condemns the company you keep。
DORINE O admirable pattern！ Virtuous dame！ She lives the model of
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TARTUFFE OR THE HYPOCRITE
austerity； But age has brought this piety upon her； And she's a prude； now
she can't help herself。 As long as she could capture men's attentions She
made the most of her advantages； But； now she sees her beauty vanishing；
She wants to leave the world； that's leaving her； And in the specious veil of
haughty virtue She'd hide the weakness of her worn…out charms。 That is
the way with all your old coquettes； They find it hard to see their lovers
leave 'em； And thus abandoned； their forlorn estate Can find no occupation
but a prude's。 These pious dames； in their austerity； Must carp at
everything； and pardon nothing。 They loudly blame their neighbours' way
of living； Not for religion's sake； but out of envy； Because they can't
endure to see another Enjoy the pleasures age has weaned them from。
MADAME PERNELLE （to Elmire） There！ That's the kind of
rigmarole to please you； Daughter…in…law。 One never has a chance To get a
word in edgewise； at your house； Because this lady holds the floor all day；
But none the less； I mean to have my say； too。 I tell you that my son did
nothing wiser In all his life； than take this godly man Into his household；
heaven sent him here； In your great need； to make you all repent； For your
salvation； you must hearken to him； He censures nothing but deserves his
censure。 These visits； these assemblies； and these balls； Are all inventions
of the evil spirit。 You never hear a word of godliness At thembut idle
cackle； nonsense； flimflam。 Our neighbour often comes in for a share； The
talk flies fast； and scandal fills the air； It makes a sober person's head go
round； At these assemblies； just to hear the sound Of so much gab； with
not a word to say； And as a learned man remarked one day Most aptly； 'tis
the Tower of Babylon； Where all； beyond all limit； babble on。 And just to
tell you how this point came in 。 。 。
（To Cleante） So！ Now the gentlemen must snicker； must he？ Go find
fools like yourself to make you laugh And don't 。 。 。
（To Elmire） Daughter； good…bye； not one word more。 As for this house；
I leave the half unsaid； But I shan't soon set foot in it again；
（Cuffing Flipotte） Come； you！ What makes you dream and stand agape；
Hussy！ I'll warm your ears in proper shape！ March； trollop； march！
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SCENE II CLEANTE； DORINE
CLEANTE I won't escort her down； For fear she might fall foul of
me again； The good old lady 。 。 。
DORINE Bless us！ What a pity She shouldn't hear the way you speak
of her！ She'd surely tell you you're too 〃good〃 by half； And that she's not
so 〃old〃 as all that； neither！
CLEANTE How she got angry with us all for nothing！ And how she
seems possessed with her Tartuffe！
DORINE Her case is nothing； though； beside her son's！ To see him；
you would say he's ten times worse！ His conduct in our late
unpleasantness ＇1＇ Had won him much esteem； and proved his courage In
service of his king； but now he's like A man besotted； since he's been so
taken With this Tartuffe。 He calls h