Etext prepared by Dagny, dagnyj@hotmail.com and John Bickers, jbickers@templar.actrix.gen.nz
TARTUFFE OR THE HYPOCRITE
by JEAN BAPTISTE POQUELIN MOLIERE
Translated By
Curtis Hidden Page
INTRODUCTORY NOTE
Jean Baptiste Poquelin, better known by his stage name of Moliere, stands without a rival at the head of French comedy. Born at Paris in January, 1622, where his father held a position in the royal household, he was educated at the Jesuit College de Clermont, and for some time studied law, which he soon abandoned for the stage. His life was spent in Paris and in the provinces, acting, directing performances, managing theaters, and writing plays. He had his share of applause from the king and from the public; but the satire in his comedies made him many enemies, and he was the object of the most venomous attacks and the most impossible slanders. Nor did he find much solace at home; for he married unfortunately, and the unhappiness that followed increased the bitterness that public hostility had brought into his life. On February 17, 1673, while acting in “La Malade Imaginaire,” the last of his masterpieces, he was seized with illness and died a few hours later.
The first of the greater works of Moliere was “Les Precieuses Ridicules,” produced in 1659. In this brilliant piece Moliere lifted French comedy to a new level and gave it a new purpose–the satirizing of contemporary manners and affectations by frank portrayal and criticism. In the great plays that followed, “The School for Husbands” and “The School for Wives,” “The Misanthrope” and “The Hypocrite” (Tartuffe), “The Miser” and “The Hypochondriac,” “The Learned Ladies,” “The Doctor in Spite of Himself,” “The Citizen Turned Gentleman,” and many others, he exposed mercilessly one after another the vices and foibles of the day.
His characteristic qualities are nowhere better exhibited than in “Tartuffe.” Compared with such characterization as Shakespeare’s, Moliere’s method of portraying life may seem to be lacking in complexity; but it is precisely the simplicity with which creations like Tartuffe embody the weakness or vice they represent that has given them their place as universally recognized types of human nature.
TARTUFFE
A COMEDY
CHARACTERS
MADAME PERNELLE, mother of Orgon
ORGON, husband of Elmire
ELMIRE, wife of Orgon
DAMIS, son of Orgon
MARIANE, daughter of Orgon, in love with Valere CLEANTE, brother-in-law of Orgon
TARTUFFE, a hypocrite
DORINE, Mariane’s maid
M. LOYAL, a bailiff
A Police Officer
FLIPOTTE, Madame Pernelle’s servant
The Scene is at Paris
ACT I
SCENE I
MADAME PERNELLE and FLIPOTTE, her servant; ELMIRE, MARIANE, CLEANTE, DAMIS, DORINE
MADAME PERNELLE
Come, come, Flipotte, and let me get away.
ELMIRE
You hurry so, I hardly can attend you.
MADAME PERNELLE
Then don’t, my daughter-in law. Stay where you are. I can dispense with your polite attentions.
ELMIRE
We’re only paying what is due you, mother. Why must you go away in such a hurry?
MADAME PERNELLE
Because I can’t endure your carryings-on, And no one takes the slightest pains to please me. I leave your house, I tell you, quite disgusted; You do the opposite of my instructions;
You’ve no respect for anything; each one Must have his say; it’s perfect pandemonium.
DORINE
If . . .
MADAME PERNELLE
You’re a servant wench, my girl, and much Too full of gab, and too impertinent
And free with your advice on all occasions.
DAMIS
But . . .
MADAME PERNELLE
You’re a fool, my boy–f, o, o, l
Just spells your name. Let grandma tell you that I’ve said a hundred times to my poor son, Your father, that you’d never come to good Or give him anything but plague and torment.
MARIANE
I think . . .
MADAME PERNELLE
O dearie me, his little sister!
You’re all demureness, butter wouldn’t melt In your mouth, one would think to look at you. Still waters, though, they say . . . you know the proverb; And I don’t like your doings on the sly.
ELMIRE
But, mother . . .
MADAME PERNELLE
Daughter, by your leave, your conduct In everything is altogether wrong;
You ought to set a good example for ’em; Their dear departed mother did much better. You are extravagant; and it offends me,
To see you always decked out like a princess. A woman who would please her husband’s eyes Alone, wants no such wealth of fineries.
CLEANTE
But, madam, after all . . .
MADAME PERNELLE
Sir, as for you,
The lady’s brother, I esteem you highly, Love and respect you. But, sir, all the same, If I were in my son’s, her husband’s, place, I’d urgently entreat you not to come
Within our doors. You preach a way of living That decent people cannot tolerate.
I’m rather frank with you; but that’s my way– I don’t mince matters, when I mean a thing.
DAMIS
Mr. Tartuffe, your friend, is mighty lucky . . .
MADAME PERNELLE
He is a holy man, and must be heeded; I can’t endure, with any show of patience, To hear a scatterbrains like you attack him.
DAMIS
What! Shall I let a bigot criticaster Come and usurp a tyrant’s power here?
And shall we never dare amuse ourselves Till this fine gentleman deigns to consent?
DORINE
If we must hark to him, and heed his maxims, There’s not a thing we do but what’s a crime; He censures everything, this zealous carper.
MADAME PERNELLE
And all he censures is well censured, too. He wants to guide you on the way to heaven; My son should train you all to love him well.
DAMIS
No, madam, look you, nothing–not my father Nor anything–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 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 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 them–but 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!
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 him brother, loves him A hundred times as much as mother, son,
Daughter, and wife. He tells him all his secrets And lets him guide his acts, and rule his conscience. He fondles and embraces him; a sweetheart Could not, I think, be loved more tenderly; At table he must have the seat of honour, While with delight our master sees him eat As much as six men could; we must give up The choicest tidbits to him; if he belches, (’tis a servant speaking) [2]
Master exclaims: “God bless you!”–Oh, he dotes Upon him! he’s his universe, his hero;
He’s lost in constant admiration, quotes him On all occasions, takes his trifling acts For wonders, and his words for oracles.
The fellow knows his dupe, and makes the most on’t, He fools him with a hundred masks of virtue, Gets money from him all the time by canting, And takes upon himself to carp at us.
Even his silly coxcomb of a lackey
Makes it his business to instruct us too; He comes with rolling eyes to preach at us, And throws away our ribbons, rouge, and patches. The wretch, the other day, tore up a kerchief That he had found, pressed in the /Golden Legend/, Calling it a horrid crime for us to mingle The devil’s finery with holy things.
[Footnote 1: Referring to the rebellion called La Fronde, during the minority of Louis XIV.]
[Footnote 2: Moliere’s note, inserted in the text of all the old editions. It is a curious illustration of the desire for uniformity and dignity of style in dramatic verse of the seventeenth century, that Moliere feels called on to apologize for a touch of realism like this. Indeed, these lines were even omitted when the play was given.]
SCENE III
ELMIRE, MARIANE, DAMIS, CLEANTE, DORINE
ELMIRE (to Cleante)
You’re very lucky to have missed the speech She gave us at the door. I see my husband Is home again. He hasn’t seen me yet,
So I’ll go up and wait till he comes in.
CLEANTE
And I, to save time, will await him here; I’ll merely say good-morning, and be gone.
SCENE IV
CLEANTE, DAMIS, DORINE
DAMIS
I wish you’d say a word to him about My sister’s marriage; I suspect Tartuffe Opposes it, and puts my father up
To all these wretched shifts. You know, besides, How nearly I’m concerned in it myself;
If love unites my sister and Valere, I love his sister too; and if this marriage Were to . . .
DORINE
He’s coming.
SCENE V
ORGON, CLEANTE, DORINE
ORGON
Ah! Good morning, brother.
CLEANTE
I was just going, but am glad to greet you. Things are not far advanced yet, in the country?
ORGON
Dorine . . .
(To Cleante)
Just wait a bit, please, brother-in-law. Let me allay my first anxiety
By asking news about the family.
(To Dorine)
Has everything gone well these last two days? What’s happening? And how is everybody?
DORINE
Madam had fever, and a splitting headache Day before yesterday, all day and evening.
ORGON
And how about Tartuffe?
DORINE
Tartuffe? He’s well;
He’s mighty well; stout, fat, fair, rosy-lipped.
ORGON
Poor man!
DORINE
At evening she had nausea
And could’t touch a single thing for supper, Her headache still was so severe.
ORGON
And how
About Tartuffe?
DORINE
He supped alone, before her,
And unctuously ate up two partridges, As well as half a leg o’ mutton, deviled.
ORGON
Poor man!
DORINE
All night she couldn’t get a wink
Of sleep, the fever racked her so; and we Had to sit up with her till daylight.
ORGON
How
About Tartuffe?
DORINE
Gently inclined to slumber,
He left the table, went into his room, Got himself straight into a good warm bed, And slept quite undisturbed until next morning.
ORGON
Poor man!
DORINE
At last she let us all persuade her, And got up courage to be bled; and then
She was relieved at once.
ORGON
And how about
Tartuffe?
DORINE
He plucked up courage properly,
Bravely entrenched his soul against all evils, And to replace the blood that she had lost, He drank at breakfast four huge draughts of wine.
ORGON
Poor man!
DORINE
So now they both are doing well;
And I’ll go straightway and inform my mistress How pleased you are at her recovery.
SCENE VI
ORGON, CLEANTE
CLEANTE
Brother, she ridicules you to your face; And I, though I don’t want to make you angry, Must tell you candidly that she’s quite right. Was such infatuation ever heard of?
And can a man to-day have charms to make you Forget all else, relieve his poverty,
Give him a home, and then . . . ?
ORGON
Stop there, good brother,
You do not know the man you’re speaking of.
CLEANTE
Since you will have it so, I do not know him; But after all, to tell what sort of man
He is . . .
ORGON
Dear brother, you’d be charmed to know him; Your raptures over him would have no end. He is a man . . . who . . . ah! . . . in fact . . .a man Whoever does his will, knows perfect peace, And counts the whole world else, as so much dung. His converse has transformed me quite; he weans My heart from every friendship, teaches me To have no love for anything on earth;
And I could see my brother, children, mother, And wife, all die, and never care–a snap.
CLEANTE
Your feelings are humane, I must say, brother!
ORGON
Ah! If you’d seen him, as I saw him first, You would have loved him just as much as I. He came to church each day, with contrite mien, Kneeled, on both knees, right opposite my place, And drew the eyes of all the congregation, To watch the fervour of his prayers to heaven; With deep-drawn sighs and great ejaculations, He humbly kissed the earth at every moment; And when I left the church, he ran before me To give me holy water at the door.
I learned his poverty, and who he was, By questioning his servant, who is like him, And gave him gifts; but in his modesty
He always wanted to return a part.
“It is too much,” he’d say, “too much by half; I am not worthy of your pity.” Then,
When I refused to take it back, he’d go, Before my eyes, and give it to the poor. At length heaven bade me take him to my home, And since that day, all seems to prosper here. He censures everything, and for my sake
He even takes great interest in my wife; He lets me know who ogles her, and seems Six times as jealous as I am myself.
You’d not believe how far his zeal can go: He calls himself a sinner just for trifles; The merest nothing is enough to shock him; So much so, that the other day I heard him Accuse himself for having, while at prayer, In too much anger caught and killed a flea.
CLEANTE
Zounds, brother, you are mad, I think! Or else You’re making sport of me, with such a speech. What are you driving at with all this nonsense . . . ?
ORGON
Brother, your language smacks of atheism; And I suspect your soul’s a little tainted Therewith. I’ve preached to you a score of times That you’ll draw down some judgment on your head.
CLEANTE
That is the usual strain of all your kind; They must have every one as blind as they. They call you atheist if you have good eyes; And if you don’t adore their vain grimaces, You’ve neither faith nor care for sacred things. No, no; such talk can’t frighten me; I know What I am saying; heaven sees my heart.
We’re not the dupes of all your canting mummers; There are false heroes–and false devotees; And as true heroes never are the ones
Who make much noise about their deeds of honour, Just so true devotees, whom we should follow, Are not the ones who make so much vain show. What! Will you find no difference between Hypocrisy and genuine devoutness?
And will you treat them both alike, and pay The self-same honour both to masks and faces Set artifice beside sincerity,
Confuse the semblance with reality, Esteem a phantom like a living person,
And counterfeit as good as honest coin? Men, for the most part, are strange creatures, truly! You never find them keep the golden mean; The limits of good sense, too narrow for them, Must always be passed by, in each direction; They often spoil the noblest things, because They go too far, and push them to extremes. I merely say this by the way, good brother.
ORGON
You are the sole expounder of the doctrine; Wisdom shall die with you, no doubt, good brother, You are the only wise, the sole enlightened, The oracle, the Cato, of our age.
All men, compared to you, are downright fools.
CLEANTE
I’m not the sole expounder of the doctrine, And wisdom shall not die with me, good brother. But this I know, though it be all my knowledge, That there’s a difference ‘twixt false and true. And as I find no kind of hero more
To be admired than men of true religion, Nothing more noble or more beautiful
Than is the holy zeal of true devoutness; Just so I think there’s naught more odious Than whited sepulchres of outward unction, Those barefaced charlatans, those hireling zealots, Whose sacrilegious, treacherous pretence Deceives at will, and with impunity
Makes mockery of all that men hold sacred; Men who, enslaved to selfish interests,
Make trade and merchandise of godliness, And try to purchase influence and office With false eye-rollings and affected raptures; Those men, I say, who with uncommon zeal Seek their own fortunes on the road to heaven; Who, skilled in prayer, have always much to ask, And live at court to preach retirement;
Who reconcile religion with their vices, Are quick to anger, vengeful, faithless, tricky, And, to destroy a man, will have the boldness To call their private grudge the cause of heaven; All the more dangerous, since in their anger They use against us weapons men revere,
And since they make the world applaud their passion, And seek to stab us with a sacred sword. There are too many of this canting kind. Still, the sincere are easy to distinguish; And many splendid patterns may be found, In our own time, before our very eyes
Look at Ariston, Periandre, Oronte, Alcidamas, Clitandre, and Polydore;
No one denies their claim to true religion; Yet they’re no braggadocios of virtue,
They do not make insufferable display, And their religion’s human, tractable;
They are not always judging all our actions, They’d think such judgment savoured of presumption; And, leaving pride of words to other men, ‘Tis by their deeds alone they censure ours. Evil appearances find little credit
With them; they even incline to think the best Of others. No caballers, no intriguers,
They mind the business of their own right living. They don’t attack a sinner tooth and nail, For sin’s the only object of their hatred; Nor are they over-zealous to attempt
Far more in heaven’s behalf than heaven would have ’em. That is my kind of man, that is true living, That is the pattern we should set ourselves. Your fellow was not fashioned on this model; You’re quite sincere in boasting of his zeal; But you’re deceived, I think, by false pretences.
ORGON
My dear good brother-in-law, have you quite done?
CLEANTE
Yes.
ORGON
I’m your humble servant.
(Starts to go.)
CLEANTE
Just a word.
We’ll drop that other subject. But you know Valere has had the promise of your daughter.
ORGON
Yes.
CLEANTE
You had named the happy day.
ORGON
‘Tis true.
CLEANTE
Then why put off the celebration of it?
ORGON
I can’t say.
CLEANTE
Can you have some other plan
In mind?
ORGON
Perhaps.
CLEANTE
You mean to break your word?
ORGON
I don’t say that.
CLEANTE
I hope no obstacle
Can keep you from performing what you’ve promised.
ORGON
Well, that depends.
CLEANTE
Why must you beat about?
Valere has sent me here to settle matters.
ORGON
Heaven be praised!
CLEANTE
What answer shall I take him?
ORGON
Why, anything you please.
CLEANTE
But we must know
Your plans. What are they?
ORGON
I shall do the will
Of Heaven.
CLEANTE
Come, be serious. You’ve given
Your promise to Valere. Now will you keep it?
ORGON
Good-bye.
CLEANTE (alone)
His love, methinks, has much to fear; I must go let him know what’s happening here.
ACT II
SCENE I
ORGON, MARIANE
ORGON
Now, Mariane.
MARIANE
Yes, father?
ORGON
Come; I’ll tell you
A secret.
MARIANE
Yes . . . What are you looking for?
ORGON (looking into a small closet-room) To see there’s no one there to spy upon us; That little closet’s mighty fit to hide in. There! We’re all right now. Mariane, in you I’ve always found a daughter dutiful
And gentle. So I’ve always love you dearly.
MARIANE
I’m grateful for your fatherly affection.
ORGON
Well spoken, daughter. Now, prove you deserve it By doing as I wish in all respects.
MARIANE
To do so is the height of my ambition.
ORGON
Excellent well. What say you of–Tartuffe?
MARIANE
Who? I?
ORGON
Yes, you. Look to it how you answer.
MARIANE
Why! I’ll say of him–anything you please.
SCENE II
ORGON, MARIANE, DORINE (coming in quietly and standing behind Orgon, so that he does not see her)
ORGON
Well spoken. A good girl. Say then, my daughter, That all his person shines with noble merit, That he has won your heart, and you would like To have him, by my choice, become your husband. Eh?
MARIANE
Eh?
ORGON
What say you?
MARIANE
Please, what did you say?
ORGON
What?
MARIANE
Surely I mistook you, sir?
ORGON
How now?
MARIANE
Who is it, father, you would have me say Has won my heart, and I would like to have Become my husband, by your choice?
ORGON
Tartuffe.
MARIANE
But, father, I protest it isn’t true! Why should you make me tell this dreadful lie?
ORGON
Because I mean to have it be the truth. Let this suffice for you: I’ve settled it.
MARIANE
What, father, you would . . . ?
ORGON
Yes, child, I’m resolved
To graft Tartuffe into my family.
So he must be your husband. That I’ve settled. And since your duty . .
(Seeing Dorine)
What are you doing there?
Your curiosity is keen, my girl,
To make you come eavesdropping on us so.
DORINE
Upon my word, I don’t know how the rumour Got started–if ’twas guess-work or mere chance But I had heard already of this match,
And treated it as utter stuff and nonsense.
ORGON
What! Is the thing incredible?
DORINE
So much so
I don’t believe it even from yourself, sir.
ORGON
I know a way to make you credit it.
DORINE
No, no, you’re telling us a fairly tale!
ORGON
I’m telling you just what will happen shortly.
DORINE
Stuff!
ORGON
Daughter, what I say is in good earnest.
DORINE
There, there, don’t take your father seriously; He’s fooling.
ORGON
But I tell you . . .
DORINE
No. No use.
They won’t believe you.
ORGON
If I let my anger . . .
DORINE
Well, then, we do believe you; and the worse For you it is. What! Can a grown-up man
With that expanse of beard across his face Be mad enough to want . . .?
ORGON
You hark me:
You’ve taken on yourself here in this house A sort of free familiarity
That I don’t like, I tell you frankly, girl.
DORINE
There, there, let’s not get angry, sir, I beg you. But are you making game of everybody?
Your daughter’s not cut out for bigot’s meat; And he has more important things to think of. Besides, what can you gain by such a match? How can a man of wealth, like you, go choose A wretched vagabond for son-in-law?
ORGON
You hold your tongue. And know, the less he has, The better cause have we to honour him.
His poverty is honest poverty;
It should exalt him more than worldly grandeur, For he has let himself be robbed of all, Through careless disregard of temporal things And fixed attachment to the things eternal. My help may set him on his feet again,
Win back his property–a fair estate He has at home, so I’m informed–and prove him For what he is, a true-born gentleman.
DORINE
Yes, so he says himself. Such vanity But ill accords with pious living, sir.
The man who cares for holiness alone Should not so loudly boast his name and birth; The humble ways of genuine devoutness
Brook not so much display of earthly pride. Why should he be so vain? . . . But I offend you: Let’s leave his rank, then,–take the man himself: Can you without compunction give a man
Like him possession of a girl like her? Think what a scandal’s sure to come of it! Virtue is at the mercy of the fates,
When a girl’s married to a man she hates; The best intent to live an honest woman
Depends upon the husband’s being human, And men whose brows are pointed at afar
May thank themselves their wives are what they are. For to be true is more than woman can,
With husbands built upon a certain plan; And he who weds his child against her will Owes heaven account for it, if she do ill. Think then what perils wait on your design.
ORGON (to Mariane)
So! I must learn what’s what from her, you see!
DORINE
You might do worse than follow my advice.
ORGON
Daughter, we can’t waste time upon this nonsense; I know what’s good for you, and I’m your father. True, I had promised you to young Valere; But, first, they tell me he’s inclined to gamble, And then, I fear his faith is not quite sound. I haven’t noticed that he’s regular
At church.
DORINE
You’d have him run there just when you do. Like those who go on purpose to be seen?
ORGON
I don’t ask your opinion on the matter. In short, the other is in Heaven’s best graces, And that is riches quite beyond compare. This match will bring you every joy you long for; ‘Twill be all steeped in sweetness and delight. You’ll live together, in your faithful loves, Like two sweet children, like two turtle-doves; You’ll never fail to quarrel, scold, or tease, And you may do with him whate’er you please.
DORINE
With him? Do naught but give him horns, I’ll warrant.
ORGON
Out on thee, wench!
DORINE
I tell you he’s cut out for’t;
However great your daughter’s virtue, sir, His destiny is sure to prove the stronger.
ORGON
Have done with interrupting. Hold your tongue. Don’t poke your nose in other people’s business.
DORINE (She keeps interrupting him, just as he turns and starts to speak to his daughter).
If I make bold, sir, ’tis for your own good.
ORGON
You’re too officious; pray you, hold your tongue.
DORINE
‘Tis love of you . . .
ORGON
I want none of your love.
DORINE
Then I will love you in your own despite.
ORGON
You will, eh?
DORINE
Yes, your honour’s dear to me;
I can’t endure to see you made the butt Of all men’s ridicule.
ORGON
Won’t you be still?
DORINE
‘Twould be a sin to let you make this match.
ORGON
Won’t you be still, I say, you impudent viper!
DORINE
What! you are pious, and you lose your temper?
ORGON
I’m all wrought up, with your confounded nonsense; Now, once for all, I tell you hold your tongue.
DORINE
Then mum’s the word; I’ll take it out in thinking.
ORGON
Think all you please; but not a syllable To me about it, or . . . you understand!
(Turning to his daughter.)
As a wise father, I’ve considered all With due deliberation.
DORINE
I’ll go mad
If I can’t speak.
(She stops the instant he turns his head.)
ORGON
Though he’s no lady’s man,
Tartuffe is well enough . . .
DORINE
A pretty phiz!
ORGON
So that, although you may not care at all For his best qualities . . .
DORINE
A handsome dowry!
(Orgon turns and stands in front of her, with arms folded, eyeing her.)
Were I in her place, any man should rue it Who married me by force, that’s mighty certain; I’d let him know, and that within a week, A woman’s vengeance isn’t far to seek.
ORGON (to Dorine)
So–nothing that I say has any weight?
DORINE
Eh? What’s wrong now? I didn’t speak to you.
ORGON
What were you doing?
DORINE
Talking to myself.
ORGON
Oh! Very well. (Aside.) Her monstrous impudence Must be chastised with one good slap in the face.
(He stands ready to strike her, and, each time he speaks to his daughter, he glances toward her; but she stands still and says not a word.) [3]
[Footnote 3: As given at the Comedie francaise, the action is as follows: While Orgon says, “You must approve of my design,” Dorine is making signs to Mariane to resist his orders; Orgon turns around suddenly; but Dorine quickly changes her gesture and with the hand which she had lifted calmly arranges her hair and her cap. Orgon goes on, “Think of the husband . . .” and stops before the middle of his sentence to turn and catch the beginning of Dorine’s gesture; but he is too quick this time, and Dorine stands looking at his furious countenance with a sweet and gentle expression. He turns and goes on, and the obstinate Dorine again lifts her hand behind his shoulder to urge Mariane to resistance: this time he catches her; but just as he swings his shoulder to give her the promised blow, she stops him by changing the intent of her gesture, and carefully picking from the top of his sleeve a bit of fluff which she holds carefully between her fingers, then blows into the air, and watches intently as it floats away. Orgon is paralysed by her innocence of expression, and compelled to hide his rage.–Regnier, /Le Tartuffe des Comediens/.]
ORGON
Daughter, you must approve of my design. . . . Think of this husband . . . I have chosen for you. . .
(To Dorine)
Why don’t you talk to yourself?
DORINE
Nothing to say.
ORGON
One little word more.
DORINE
Oh, no, thanks. Not now.
ORGON
Sure, I’d have caught you.
DORINE
Faith, I’m no such fool.
ORGON
So, daughter, now obedience is the word; You must accept my choice with reverence.
DORINE (running away)
You’d never catch me marrying such a creature.
ORGON (swinging his hand at her and missing her) Daughter, you’ve such a pestilent hussy there I can’t live with her longer, without sin. I can’t discuss things in the state I’m in. My mind’s so flustered by her insolent talk, To calm myself, I must go take a walk.
SCENE III
MARIANE, DORINE
DORINE
Say, have you lost the tongue from out your head? And must I speak your role from A to Zed? You let them broach a project that’s absurd, And don’t oppose it with a single word!
MARIANE
What can I do? My father is the master.
DORINE
Do? Everything, to ward off such disaster.
MARIANE
But what?
DORINE
Tell him one doesn’t love by proxy; Tell him you’ll marry for yourself, not him; Since you’re the one for whom the thing is done, You are the one, not he, the man must please; If his Tartuffe has charmed him so, why let him Just marry him himself–no one will hinder.
MARIANE
A father’s rights are such, it seems to me, That I could never dare to say a word.
DORINE
Came, talk it out. Valere has asked your hand: Now do you love him, pray, or do you not?
MARIANE
Dorine! How can you wrong my love so much, And ask me such a question? Have I not
A hundred times laid bare my heart to you? Do you know how ardently I love him?
DORINE
How do I know if heart and words agree, And if in honest truth you really love him?
MARIANE
Dorine, you wrong me greatly if you doubt it; I’ve shown my inmost feelings, all too plainly.
DORINE
So then, you love him?
MARIANE
Yes, devotedly.
DORINE
And he returns your love, apparently?
MARIANE
I think so.
DORINE
And you both alike are eager
To be well married to each other?
MARIANE
Surely.
DORINE
Then what’s your plan about this other match?
MARIANE
To kill myself, if it is forced upon me.
DORINE
Good! That’s a remedy I hadn’t thought of. Just die, and everything will be all right. This medicine is marvellous, indeed!
It drives me mad to hear folk talk such nonsense.
MARIANE
Oh dear, Dorine you get in such a temper! You have no sympathy for people’s troubles.
DORINE
I have no sympathy when folk talk nonsense, And flatten out as you do, at a pinch.
MARIANE
But what can you expect?–if one is timid?–
DORINE
But what is love worth, if it has no courage?
MARIANE
Am I not constant in my love for him? Is’t not his place to win me from my father?
DORINE
But if your father is a crazy fool, And quite bewitched with his Tartuffe? And breaks His bounden word? Is that your lover’s fault?
MARIANE
But shall I publicly refuse and scorn This match, and make it plain that I’m in love? Shall I cast off for him, whate’er he be, Womanly modesty and filial duty?
You ask me to display my love in public . . . ?
DORINE
No, no, I ask you nothing. You shall be Mister Tartuffe’s; why, now I think of it, I should be wrong to turn you from this marriage. What cause can I have to oppose your wishes? So fine a match! An excellent good match! Mister Tartuffe! Oh ho! No mean proposal! Mister Tartuffe, sure, take it all in all, Is not a man to sneeze at–oh, by no means! ‘Tis no small luck to be his happy spouse. The whole world joins to sing his praise already; He’s noble–in his parish; handsome too; Red ears and high complexion–oh, my lud! You’ll be too happy, sure, with him for husband.
MARIANE
Oh dear! . . .
DORINE
What joy and pride will fill your heart To be the bride of such a handsome fellow!
MARIANE
Oh, stop, I beg you; try to find some way To help break off the match. I quite give in, I’m ready to do anything you say.
DORINE
No, no, a daughter must obey her father, Though he should want to make her wed a monkey. Besides, your fate is fine. What could be better! You’ll take the stage-coach to his little village, And find it full of uncles and of cousins, Whose conversation will delight you. Then You’ll be presented in their best society. You’ll even go to call, by way of welcome, On Mrs. Bailiff, Mrs. Tax-Collector,
Who’ll patronise you with a folding-stool. There, once a year, at carnival, you’ll have Perhaps–a ball; with orchestra–two bag-pipes; And sometimes a trained ape, and Punch and Judy; Though if your husband . . .
MARIANE
Oh, you’ll kill me. Please
Contrive to help me out with your advice.
DORINE
I thank you kindly.
MARIANE
Oh! Dorine, I beg you . . .
DORINE
To serve you right, this marriage must go through.
MARIANE
Dear girl!
DORINE
No.
MARIANE
If I say I love Valere . . .
DORINE
No, no. Tartuffe’s your man, and you shall taste him.
MARIANE
You know I’ve always trusted you; now help me . . .
DORINE
No, you shall be, my faith! Tartuffified.
MARIANE
Well, then, since you’ve no pity for my fate Let me take counsel only of despair;
It will advise and help and give me courage; There’s one sure cure, I know, for all my troubles.
(She starts to go.)
DORINE
There, there! Come back. I can’t be angry long. I must take pity on you, after all.
MARIANE
Oh, don’t you see, Dorine, if I must bear This martyrdom, I certainly shall die.
DORINE
Now don’t you fret. We’ll surely find some way. To hinder this . . . But here’s Valere, your lover.
SCENE IV
VALERE, MARIANE, DORINE
VALERE
Madam, a piece of news–quite new to me– Has just come out, and very fine it is.
MARIANE
What piece of news?
VALERE
Your marriage with Tartuffe.
MARIANE
‘Tis true my father has this plan in mind.
VALERE
Your father, madam . . .
MARIANE
Yes, he’s changed his plans,
And did but now propose it to me.
VALERE
What!
Seriously?
MARIANE
Yes, he was serious,
And openly insisted on the match.
VALERE
And what’s your resolution in the matter, Madam?
MARIANE
I don’t know.
VALERE
That’s a pretty answer.
You don’t know?
MARIANE
No.
VALERE
No?
MARIANE
What do you advise?
VALERE
I? My advice is, marry him, by all means.
MARIANE
That’s your advice?
VALERE
Yes.
MARIANE
Do you mean it?
VALERE
Surely.
A splendid choice, and worthy of your acceptance.
MARIANE
Oh, very well, sir! I shall take your counsel.
VALERE
You’ll find no trouble taking it, I warrant.
MARIANE
No more than you did giving it, be sure.
VALERE
I gave it, truly, to oblige you, madam.
MARIANE
And I shall take it to oblige you, sir.
Dorine (withdrawing to the back of the stage) Let’s see what this affair will come to.
VALERE
So,
That is your love? And it was all deceit When you . . .
MARIANE
I beg you, say no more of that.
You told me, squarely, sir, I should accept The husband that is offered me; and I
Will tell you squarely that I mean to do so, Since you have given me this good advice.
VALERE
Don’t shield yourself with talk of my advice. You had your mind made up, that’s evident; And now you’re snatching at a trifling pretext To justify the breaking of your word.
MARIANE
Exactly so.
VALERE
Of course it is; your heart
Has never known true love for me.
MARIANE
Alas!
You’re free to think so, if you please.
VALERE
Yes, yes,
I’m free to think so; and my outraged love May yet forestall you in your perfidy,
And offer elsewhere both my heart and hand.
MARIANE
No doubt of it; the love your high deserts May win . . .
VALERE
Good Lord, have done with my deserts! I know I have but few, and you have proved it. But I may find more kindness in another; I know of someone, who’ll not be ashamed To take your leavings, and make up my loss.
MARIANE
The loss is not so great; you’ll easily Console yourself completely for this change.
VALERE
I’ll try my best, that you may well believe. When we’re forgotten by a woman’s heart, Our pride is challenged; we, too, must forget; Or if we cannot, must at least pretend to. No other way can man such baseness prove, As be a lover scorned, and still in love.
MARIANE
In faith, a high and noble sentiment.
VALERE
Yes; and it’s one that all men must approve. What! Would you have me keep my love alive, And see you fly into another’s arms
Before my very eyes; and never offer To someone else the heart that you had scorned?
MARIANE
Oh, no, indeed! For my part, I could wish That it were done already.
VALERE
What! You wish it?
MARIANE
Yes.
VALERE
This is insult heaped on injury;
I’ll go at once and do as you desire.
(He takes a step or two as if to go away.)
MARIANE
Oh, very well then.
VALERE (turning back)
But remember this.
‘Twas you that drove me to this desperate pass.
MARIANE
Of course.
VALERE (turning back again)
And in the plan that I have formed
I only follow your example.
MARIANE
Yes.
VALERE (at the door)
Enough; you shall be punctually obeyed.
MARIANE
So much the better.
VALERE (coming back again)
This is once for all.
MARIANE
So be it, then.
VALERE (He goes toward the door, but just as he reaches it, turns around)
Eh?
MARIANE
What?
VALERE
You didn’t call me?
MARIANE
I? You are dreaming.
VALERE
Very well, I’m gone. Madam, farewell.
(He walks slowly away.)
MARIANE
Farewell, sir.
DORINE
I must say
You’ve lost your senses and both gone clean daft! I’ve let you fight it out to the end o’ the chapter To see how far the thing could go. Oho, there, Mister Valere!
(She goes and seizes him by the arm, to stop him. He makes a great show of resistance.)
VALERE
What do you want, Dorine?
DORINE
Come here.
VALERE
No, no, I’m quite beside myself.
Don’t hinder me from doing as she wishes.
DORINE
Stop!
VALERE
No. You see, I’m fixed, resolved, determined.
DORINE
So!
MARIANE (aside)
Since my presence pains him, makes him go, I’d better go myself, and leave him free.
DORINE (leaving Valere, and running after Mariane) Now t’other! Where are you going?
MARIANE
Let me be.
DORINE.
Come back.
MARIANE
No, no, it isn’t any use.
VALERE (aside)
‘Tis clear the sight of me is torture to her; No doubt, t’were better I should free her from it.
DORINE (leaving Mariane and running after Valere) Same thing again! Deuce take you both, I say. Now stop your fooling; come here, you; and you.
(She pulls first one, then the other, toward the middle of the stage.)
VALERE (to Dorine)
What’s your idea?
MARIANE (to Dorine)
What can you mean to do?
DORINE
Set you to rights, and pull you out o’ the scrape.
(To Valere)
Are you quite mad, to quarrel with her now?
VALERE
Didn’t you hear the things she said to me?
DORINE (to Mariane)
Are you quite mad, to get in such a passion?
MARIANE
Didn’t you see the way he treated me?
DORINE
Fools, both of you.
(To Valere)
She thinks of nothing else
But to keep faith with you, I vouch for it.
(To Mariane)
And he loves none but you, and longs for nothing But just to marry you, I stake my life on’t.
MARIANE (to Valere)
Why did you give me such advice then, pray?
VALERE (to Mariane)
Why ask for my advice on such a matter?
DORINE
You both are daft, I tell you. Here, your hands.
(To Valere)
Come, yours.
VALERE (giving Dorine his hand)
What for?
DORINE (to Mariane)
Now, yours.
MARIANE (giving Dorine her hand)
But what’s the use?
DORINE
Oh, quick now, come along. There, both of you– You love each other better than you think.
(Valere and Mariane hold each other’s hands some time without looking at each other.)
VALERE (at last turning toward Mariane) Come, don’t be so ungracious now about it; Look at a man as if you didn’t hate him.
(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? 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.)
ACT III
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 too–in 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 see–I’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.)
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.
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)