第4章

Tosparehimnowwouldbeamockery; Hbigot’spridehastriumphedalltoolongOvermyrighteousanger，andhascausedFartoomuchtroubleinourfamily。 Therascalalltoolonghasruledmyfather，Andcrossedmyster’slove，andmineaswell。 Thetraitornowmustbeunmaskedbeforehim: AndProvidencehasgivenmemeanstodoit。 ToHeavenIowetheopportunity，AndifIdidnotuseitnowIhaveit，Ishoulddeservetoloseitonceforall。 ELMIRE Dam DAM No，byyourleave;I’llnotbecounselled。 I’moverjoyed。Youneedn’ttrytotellmeImustgiveupthepleasureofrevenge。 I’llmakeanendofthaffairatonce; And，tocontentme，here’smyfathernow。 SCENEV ORGON，ELMIRE，DAM，TARTUFFE DAM Father，we’venewstowelcomeyourarrival，That’saltogethernovel，andsurpring。 Youarewellpaidforyourcaressingcare，AndthfinegentlemanrewardsyourloveMosthandsomely，withzealthatseeksnolessThanyourdhonour，ashasnowbeenproven。 I’vejustsurpredhimmakingtoyourwifeTheshamefulofferofaguiltylove。 She，somewhatovergentleanddcreet，Instedthatthethingshouldbeconcealed; ButIwillnotcondonesuchshamelessness，Norsofarwrongyouastokeepitsecret。 ELMIRE Yes，IbelieveawifeshouldnevertroubleHerhusband’speaceofmindwithsuchvaingossip; Awoman’shonourdoesnothangontelling; Itenoughifshedefendherself; OrsoIthink;Dam，you’dnothavespoken，Ifyouwouldbuthaveheededmyadvice。 SCENEVI ORGON，DAM，TARTUFFE ORGON JustHeaven！CanwhatIhearbecredited？ TARTUFFE Yes，brother，Iamwicked，Iamguilty，Amerablesinner，steepedinevil，Thegreatestcriminalthateverlived。 Eachmomentofmylifestainedwithsoilures; Andallbutamassofcrimeandfilth; Heaven，formypunhment，Iseeitplainly，Wouldmortifymenow。WhateverwrongTheyfindtochargemewith，I’llnotdenyitButguardagainsttheprideofself—defence。 Believetheirstories，armyourwrathagainstme，Anddrivemelikeavillainfromyourhouse; IcannothavesogreatashareofshameButwhatIhavedeservedagreaterstill。 ORGON（tohson） Youmcreant，canyoudare，withsuchafalsehood，Totrytostainthewhitenessofhvirtue？ DAM What！ThefeignedmeeknessofthhypocriteMakesyoudcredit ORGON Silence，cursedplague！ TARTUFFE Ah！Lethimspeak;youchidehimwrongfully; You’ddofarbettertobelievehtales。 Whyfavourmesomuchinsuchamatter？ HowcanyouknowofwhatI’mcapable？ Andshouldyoutrustmyoutwardsemblance，brother，OrjudgetherefromthatI’mthebetterman？ No，no;youletappearancesdeceiveyou; I’manythingbutwhatI’mthoughttobe，Alas！andthoughallmenbelievemegodly，Thesimpletruth，I’maworthlesscreature。 （ToDam） Yes，mydearson，sayon，andcallmetraitor，Abandonedscoundrel，thief，andmurderer; Heaponmenamesyetmoredetestable，AndIshallnotgainsayyou;I’vedeservedthem; I’llbearthignominyonmyknees，ToexpiateinshamethecrimesI’vedone。 ORGON（toTartuffe） Ah，brother，’ttoomuch！ （Tohson） You’llnotrelent，Youblackguard？ DAM What！Htalkcansodeceiveyou ORGON Silence，youscoundrel！ （ToTartuffe） Brother，re，Ibegyou。 （Tohson） Infamousvillain！ DAM Canhe ORGON Silence！ DAM What ORGON Anotherword，I’llbreakyoureverybone。 TARTUFFE Brother，inGod’sname，don’tbeangrywithhim！ I’dratherbearmyselfthebitteresttortureThanhavehimgetascratchonmyaccount。 ORGON（tohson） Ungratefulmonster！ TARTUFFE Stop。UponmykneesIbegyoupardonhim ORGON（throwinghimselfonhkneestoo，andembracingTartuffe） Alas！Howcanyou？ （Tohson） Villain！Beholdhgoodness！ DAM So ORGON Bestill。 DAM What！I ORGON Bestill，Isay。IknowyourmotivesForthattack。Youhatehim，allofyou; Wife，children，servants，allletlooseuponhim，YouhaverecoursetoeveryshamefultrickTodrivethgodlymanoutofmyhouse; Themoreyoustrivetoridyourselvesofhim，ThemoreI’llstrivetomakehimstaywithme; I’llhavehimstraightwaymarriedtomydaughter，Justtoconfoundtheprideofallofyou。 DAM What！Willyouforcehertoaccepthhand？ ORGON Yes，andthveryevening，toenrageyou，Youngrascal！Ah！I’llbraveyouall，andshowyouThatI’mthemaster，andmustbeobeyed。 Now，downuponyourkneesthinstant，rogue，Andtakebackwhatyousaid，andaskhpardon。 DAM Who？I？Askpardonofthatcheatingscoundrel？ ORGON Doyourest，youbeggar，andinsulthim？ Acudgel，here！acudgel！ （ToTartuffe） Don’trestrainme。 （Tohson） Offwithyou！Leavemyhousethinstant，sirrah，Andneverdaresetfootinitagain。 DAM Yes，Iwillleaveyourhouse，but ORGON Leaveitquickly。 Youreprobate，Idinherityou，Andgiveyou，too，mycurseintothebargain。 SCENEVII ORGON，TARTUFFE ORGON What！SoinsultasaintlymanofGod！ TARTUFFE Heaven，forgivehimallthepainhegivesme！[4] [Footnote4:Somemoderneditionshaveadoptedthereading，preservedbytraditionasthatoftheearlieststageversion:Heaven，forgivehimevenasIforgivehim！Voltairegivesstillanotherreading: Heaven，forgivemeevenasIforgivehim！Whicheverwastheoriginalversion，itappearsinnoneoftheearlyeditions，andMoliereprobablyfeltforcedtochangeitonaccountofitstoocloseresemblancetotheBiblicalphrase。] （ToOrgon） CouldyoubutknowwithwhatdtressIseeThemtrytovilifymetomybrother！ ORGON Ah！ TARTUFFE ThemerethoughtofsuchingratitudeMakesmysoulsuffertorture，bitterly MyhorroratitAh！myheart’ssofullIcannotspeakIthinkI’lldieofit。 ORGON（intears，runningtothedoorthroughwhichhedroveawayhson） Scoundrel！IwhI’dneverletyougo，Butslainyouonthespotwithmyownhand。 （ToTartuffe） Brother，composeyourself，anddon’tbeangry。 TARTUFFE Nay，brother，letusendthesepainfulquarrels。 IseewhattroubloustimesIbringuponyou，Andthink’tneedfulthatIleavethhouse。 ORGON What！Youcan’tmeanit？ TARTUFFE Yes，theyhatemehere，Andtry，Ifind，tomakeyoudoubtmyfaith。 ORGON Whatofit？DoyoufindIltentothem？ TARTUFFE Nodoubttheywon’tstopthere。ThesesamereportsYounowreject，maysomedaywinahearing。 ORGON No，brother，never。 TARTUFFE Ah！myfriend，awomanMayeasilymleadherhusband’smind。 ORGON No，no。 TARTUFFE SoletmequicklygoawayAndthusremoveallcauseforsuchattacks。 ORGON No，youshallstay;mylifedependsuponit。 TARTUFFE ThenImustmortifymyself。Andyet，Ifyoushouldwh ORGON No，never！ TARTUFFE Verywell，then; Nomoreofthat。ButIshallrulemyconductTofitthecase。Honourdelicate，Andfriendshipbindsmetoforestallsuspicion，Preventallscandal，andavoidyourwife。 ORGON No，youshallhaunther，justtospitethemall。 ’Tmydelighttosettheminarage; YoushallbeseentogetheratallhoursAndwhatmore，thebettertodefythem，I’llhavenootherheirbutyou;andstraightwayI’llgoandmakeadeedofgifttoyou，Drawnindueform，ofallmyproperty。 Agoodtruefriend，myson—in—lawtobe，moretomethanson，andwife，andkindred。 Youwillacceptmyoffer，willyounot？ TARTUFFE Heaven’swillbedoneineverything！ ORGON Poorman！ We’llgomakehastetodrawthedeedaright，Andthenletenvyburstitselfwithspite！ ACTIV SCENEI CLEANTE，TARTUFFE CLEANTE Yes，it’sbecomethetalkofallthetown，Andmakeastirthat’sscarcelytoyourcredit; AndIhavemetyou，sir，mostopportunely，Totellyouinawordmyfrankopinion。 Nottosiftoutthscandaltothebottom，Supposetheworstforus——supposeDamActedthetraitor，andaccusedyoufalsely; ShouldnotaChrtianpardonthoffence，Andstifleinhheartallwhforvengeance？ Shouldyoupermitthat，foryourpettyquarrel，Asonbedrivenfromhfather’shouse？ Itellyouyetagain，andtellyoufrankly，Everyone，highorlow，scandaled; Ifyou’lltakemyadvice，you’llmakeitup，Andnotpushmatterstoextremities。 MakesacrificetoGodofyourresentment; Restorethesontofavourwithhfather。 TARTUFFE Alas！SofarasI’mconcerned，howgladlyWouldIdoso！Ibearhimnoillwill; Ipardonall，laynothingtohcharge，AndwhwithallmyheartthatImightservehim; ButHeaven’sinterestscannotallowit; Ifhereturns，thenImustleavethehouse。 Afterhconduct，quiteunparalleled，Allintercoursebetweenuswouldbringscandal; Godknowswhateveryone’sfirstthoughtwouldbe！ TheywouldattributeittomerestschemingOnmypart——saythatconsciousofmyguiltIfeignedaChrtianloveformyaccuser，Butfearedhiminmyheart，andhopedtowinhimAndunderhandedlysecurehsilence。 CLEANTE Youtrytoputusoffwithspeciousphrases; Butallyourargumentsaretoofar—fetched。 WhytakeuponyourselfthecauseofHeaven？ DoesHeavenneedourhelptopunhsinners？ Leavetoitselfthecareofitsownvengeance，Andkeepinmindthepardonitcommandsus; Besides，thinksomewhatlessofmen’sopinions，WhenyouarefollowingthewillofHeaven。 ShallpettyfearofwhattheworldmaythinkPreventthedoingofanobledeed？ No！——letusalwaysdoasHeavencommands，Andnotperplexourbrainswithfurtherquestions。 TARTUFFE AlreadyIhavetoldyouIforgivehim; Andthatdoing，sir，asHeavencommands。 Butafterthday’sscandalandaffrontHeavendoesnotordermetolivewithhim。 CLEANTE AnddoesitorderyoutolendyourearTowhatmerewhimsuggestedtohfather，Andtoacceptgiftofhestates，Onwhich，injustice，youcanmakenoclaim？ TARTUFFE Noonewhoknowsme，sir，canhavethethoughtThatIamactingfromaselfhmotive。 Thegoodsofthworldhavenocharmsforme; Iamnotdazzledbytheirtreacherousglamour; AndifIbringmyselftotakethegiftWhichheinstsongivingme，Idoso，Totellthetruth，onlybecauseIfearThwholeestatemayfallintobadhands，AndthosetowhomitcomesmayuseitillAndnotemployit，asmydesign，ForHeaven’sgloryandmyneighbours’good。 CLEANTE Eh，sir，giveuptheseconscientiousscruplesThatwellmaycausearightfulheir’scomplaints。 Don’ttakesomuchuponyourself，butlethimPossesswhat’sh，athownrkandperil; Consider，itwerebetterhemusedit，Thanyoushouldbeaccusedofrobbinghim。 IamastoundedthatunblushinglyYoucouldallowsuchofferstobemade！ Tellme——hastruereligionanymaximThatteachesustorobthelawfulheir？ IfHeavenhasmadeitquiteimpossibleDamandyoushouldlivetogetherhere，WereitnotbetteryoushouldquietlyAndhonourablywithdraw，thanletthesonBedrivenoutforyoursake，deadagainstAllreason？’Twouldbegiving，sir，believeme，Suchanexampleofyourprobity TARTUFFE Sir，ithalf—pastthree;certaindevotionsRecallmetomycloset;you’llforgivemeForleavingyousosoon。 CLEANTE（alone） Ah！ SCENEII ELMIRE，MARIANE，CLEANTE，DORINE DORINE（toCleante） Sir，webegyouTohelpusallyoucaninherbehalf; She’ssufferingalmostmorethanheartcanbear; Thmatchherfathermeanstomaketo—nightDriveshereachmomenttodespair。He’scoming。 Letusuniteoureffortsnow，webegyou，Andtrybystrengthorskilltochangehpurpose。 SCENEIII ORGON，ELMIRE，MARIANE，CLEANTE，DORINE ORGON Soho！I’mgladtofindyoualltogether。 （ToMariane） Herethecontractthatshallmakeyouhappy，Mydear。Youknowalreadywhatitmeans。 MARIANE（onherkneesbeforeOrgon） Father，Ibegyou，inthenameofHeavenThatknowsmygrief，andbywhate’ercanmoveyou，Relaxalittleyourpaternalrights，Andfreemylovefromthobedience！ Oh，donotmakeme，byyourharshcommand，ComplaintoHeavenyoueverweremyfather; Donotmakewretchedthpoorlifeyougaveme。 If，crossingthatfondhopewhichIhadformed，You’llnotpermitmetobelongtooneWhomIhavedaredtolove，atleast，IbegyouUponmyknees，oh，savemefromthetormentOfbeingpossessedbyonewhomIabhor！ AnddonotdrivemetosomedesperateactByexercingallyourrightsuponme。 ORGON（alittletouched） Come，come，myheart，befirm！nohumanweakness！ MARIANE Iamnotjealousofyourloveforhim; Dplayitfreely;givehimyourestate，Andifthat’snotenough，addallofmine; Iwillinglyagree，andgiveitup，Ifonlyyou’llnotgivehimme，yourdaughter; Oh，ratherletaconvent’srigidruleWearoutthewretcheddaysthatHeavenallotsme。 ORGON Thesegirlsareninnies！——alwaysturningnunsWhenfathersthwarttheirsillylove—affairs。 Getonyourfeet！Themoreyouhatetohavehim，Themore’twillhelpyouearnyoursoul’ssalvation。 So，mortifyyoursensesbythmarriage，Anddon’tvexmeaboutitanymore。 DORINE Butwhat？ ORGON Youholdyourtongue，beforeyourbetters。 Don’tdaretosayasingleword，Itellyou。 CLEANTE Ifyouwillletmeanswer，andadve ORGON Brother，Ivalueyouradvicemosthighly; ’Twellthoughtout;nobettercanbehad; Butyou’llallowme——nottofollowit。 ELMIRE（toherhusband） Ican’tfindwordstocopewithsuchacase; Yourblindnessmakesmequiteastoundedatyou。 Youarebewitchedwithhim，todbelieveThethingswetellyouhappenedhereto—day。 ORGON Iamyourhumbleservant，andcanseeThings，whenthey’replainasnosesonfolks’faces，Iknowyou’repartialtomyrascalson，Anddidn’tdaretodavowthetrickHetriedtoplayonthpoorman;besides，Youweretoocalm，tobebelieved;ifthatHadhappened，you’dhavebeenfarmoredturbed。 ELMIRE AndmustourhonouralwaysrushtoarmsAtthemerementionofillicitlove？ OrcanweanswernoattackuponitExceptwithblazingeyesandlipsofscorn？ Formypart，Ijustlaughawaysuchnonsense; I’venodesiretomakealoudto—do。 Ourvirtueshould，Ithink，begentle—natured; NorcanIquiteapprovethosesavageprudesWhosehonourarmsitselfwithteethandclawsTotearmen’seyesoutattheslightestword。 Heavenpreservemefromthatkindofhonour！ Ilikemyvirtuenottobeavixen，AndIbelieveaquietcoldrebuffNolesseffectivetorepulsealover。 ORGON Iknowandyoucan’tthrowmeoffthescent。 ELMIRE Oncemore，Iamastoundedatyourweakness; Iwonderwhatyourunbeliefwouldanswer，IfIshouldletyouseewe’vetoldthetruth？ ORGON Seeit？ ELMIRE Yes。 ORGON Nonsense。 ELMIRE Come！IfIshouldfindAwaytomakeyouseeitclearasday？ ORGON Allrubbh。 ELMIRE Whataman！Butanswerme。 I’mnotproposingnowthatyoubelieveus; Butlet’ssupposethathere，fromproperhiding，Youshouldbemadetoseeandhearallplainly; Whatwouldyousaythen，toyourmanofvirtue？ ORGON Why，then，I’dsaysaynothing。Itcan’tbe。 ELMIRE Yourerrorhasenduredtoolongalready，Andquitetoolongyou’vebrandedmealiar。 Imustatonce，formyownsatfaction，Makeyouawitnessofthethingswe’vetoldyou。 ORGON Amen！Itakeyouatyourword。We’llseeWhattricksyouhave，andhowyou’llkeepyourprome。 ELMIRE（toDorine） Sendhimtome。 DORINE（toElmire） Theman’sacraftycodger，Perhapsyou’llfinditdifficulttocatchhim。 ELMIRE（toDorine） Ohno！Alover’sneverhardtocheat，Andself—conceitleadsstraighttoself—deceit。 Bidhimcomedowntome。 （ToCleanteandMariane） Andyou，withdraw。 SCENEIV ELMIRE，ORGON ELMIRE Bringupthtable，andgetunderit。 ORGON What？ ELMIRE Oneessentialtohideyouwell。 ORGON Whyunderthere？ ELMIRE Oh，dear！DoasIsay; IknowwhatI’mabout，asyoushallsee。 Getunder，now，Itellyou;andoncethereBecarefulnooneeitherseesorhearsyou。 ORGON I’mgoingalongwaytohumouryou，Imustsay;butI’llseeyouthroughyourscheme。 ELMIRE Andthenyou’llhave，Ithink，nomoretosay。 （Toherhusband，whonowunderthetable。） Butmind，I’mgoingtomeddlewithstrangematters; Prepareyourselftobeinnoweshocked。 WhateverImaysaymustpass，because’Tonlytoconvinceyou，asIpromed。 Bywheedlingspeeches，sinceI’mforcedtodoit，I’llmakethhypocriteputoffhmask，Flatterthelongingsofhshamelesspassion，Andgivefreeplaytoallhimpudence。 But，since’tforyoursake，toprovetoyouHguilt，thatIshallfeigntosharehlove，Icanleaveoffassoonasyou’reconvinced，Andthingsshallgonofartherthanyouchoose。 So，whenyouthinkthey’vegonequitefarenough，Itforyoutostophmadpursuit，Tospareyourwife，andnotexposemefartherThanyoushallneed，yourself，toundeceiveyou。 Ityourownaffair，andyoumustenditWhenHerehecomes。Keepstill，don’tshowyourself。 SCENEV TARTUFFE，ELMIRE;ORGON（underthetable） TARTUFFE Theytoldmethatyouwhedtoseemehere。 ELMIRE Yes。Ihavesecretsforyourearalone。 Butshutthedoorfirst，andlookeverywhereForfearofspies。 （Tartuffegoesandclosesthedoor，andcomesback。） Wesurelycan’taffordAnotherscenelikethatwehadjustnow; Waseveranyonesocaughtbefore！ DamdidfrightenmemostterriblyOnyouraccount;yousawIdidmybestTobafflehdesign，andcalmhanger。 ButIwassoconfused，IneverthoughtTocontradicthstory;still，thankHeaven，Thingsturnedoutallthebetter，asithappened，Andnowwe’reonanevensaferfooting。 Thehighesteemyou’reheldin，laidthestorm; Myhusbandcanhavenosuspicionofyou，Andeveninsts，tospitethescandal—mongers，Thatweshallbetogetherconstantly; Sothathow，withouttherkofblame，Icanbeherelockedupwithyoualone，Andcanrevealtoyoumyheart，perhapsOnlytooreadytoallowyourpassion。 TARTUFFE Yourwordsaresomewhathardtounderstand，Madam;justnowyouusedadifferentstyle。