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TARTUFFE I can dispel these foolish fears； dear madam； I know the
art of pacifying scruples Heaven forbids； 'tis true； some satisfactions； But
we find means to make things right with Heaven。
（'Tis a scoundrel speaking。） ＇5＇
＇Footnote 5： Moliere's note； in the original edition。＇
There is a science； madam； that instructs us How to enlarge the limits
of our conscience According to our various occasions； And rectify the evil
of the deed According to our purity of motive。 I'll duly teach you all these
secrets； madam； You only need to let yourself be guided。 Content my
wishes； have no fear at all； I answer for't； and take the sin upon me。
（Elmire coughs still louder。） Your cough is very bad。
ELMIRE Yes； I'm in torture。
TARTUFFE Would you accept this bit of licorice？
ELMIRE The case is obstinate； I find； and all The licorice in the world
will do no good。
TARTUFFE 'Tis very trying。
ELMIRE More than words can say。
TARTUFFE In any case； your scruple's easily Removed。 With me
you're sure of secrecy； And there's no harm unless a thing is known。 The
public scandal is what brings offence； And secret sinning is not sin at all。
ELMIRE （after coughing again） So then； I see I must resolve to yield；
I must consent to grant you everything； And cannot hope to give full
satisfaction Or win full confidence； at lesser cost。 No doubt 'tis very hard
to come to this； 'Tis quite against my will I go so far； But since I must be
forced to it； since nothing That can be said suffices for belief； Since more
convincing proof is still demanded； I must make up my mind to humour
people。 If my consent give reason for offence； So much the worse for him
who forced me to it； The fault can surely not be counted mine。
TARTUFFE It need not； madam； and the thing itself 。 。 。
ELMIRE Open the door； I pray you； and just see Whether my
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TARTUFFE OR THE HYPOCRITE
husband's not there； in the hall。
TARTUFFE Why take such care for him？ Between ourselves； He is a
man to lead round by the nose。 He's capable of glorying in our meetings；
I've fooled him so； he'd see all； and deny it。
ELMIRE No matter； go； I beg you； look about； And carefully examine
every corner。
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TARTUFFE OR THE HYPOCRITE
SCENE VI ORGON； ELMIRE
ORGON （crawling out from under the table） That is； I own； a man 。 。 。
abominable！ I can't get over it； the whole thing floors me。
ELMIRE What？ You come out so soon？ You cannot mean it！ Get back
under the table； 'tis not time yet； Wait till the end； to see； and make quite
certain； And don't believe a thing on mere conjecture。
ORGON Nothing more wicked e'er came out of Hell。
ELMIRE Dear me！ Don't go and credit things too lightly。 No； let
yourself be thoroughly convinced； Don't yield too soon； for fear you'll be
mistaken。
（As Tartuffe enters； she makes her husband stand behind her。）
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TARTUFFE OR THE HYPOCRITE
SCENE VII TARTUFFE； ELMIRE； ORGON
TARTUFFE （not seeing Orgon） All things conspire toward my
satisfaction； Madam； I've searched the whole apartment through。 There's
no one here； and now my ravished soul 。 。 。
ORGON （stopping him） Softly！ You are too eager in your amours； You
needn't be so passionate。 Ah ha！ My holy man！ You want to put it on me！
How is your soul abandoned to temptation！ Marry my daughter； eh？and
want my wife； too？ I doubted long enough if this was earnest； Expecting
all the time the tone would change； But now the proof's been carried far
enough； I'm satisfied； and ask no more； for my part。
ELMIRE （to Tartuffe） 'Twas quite against my character to play This
part； but I was forced to treat you so。
TARTUFFE What？ You believe 。 。 。 ？
ORGON Come； now； no protestations。 Get out from here； and make no
fuss about it。
TARTUFFE But my intent 。 。 。
ORGON That talk is out of season。 You leave my house this instant。
TARTUFFE You're the one To leave it； you who play the master here！
This house belongs to me； I'll have you know； And show you plainly it's
no use to turn To these low tricks； to pick a quarrel with me； And that you
can't insult me at your pleasure； For I have wherewith to confound your
lies； Avenge offended Heaven； and compel Those to repent who talk to me
of leaving。
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SCENE VIII ELMIRE； ORGON
ELMIRE What sort of speech is this？ What can it mean？
ORGON My faith； I'm dazed。 This is no laughing matter。
ELMIRE What？
ORGON From his words I see my great mistake； The deed of gift is
one thing troubles me。
ELMIRE The deed of gift 。 。 。
ORGON Yes； that is past recall。 But I've another thing to make me
anxious。
ELMIRE What's that？
ORGON You shall know all。 Let's see at once Whether a certain box is
still upstairs。
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TARTUFFE OR THE HYPOCRITE
ACT V
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TARTUFFE OR THE HYPOCRITE
SCENE I ORGON； CLEANTE
CLEANTE Whither away so fast？
ORGON How should I know？
CLEANTE Methinks we should begin by taking counsel To see what
can be done to meet the case。
ORGON I'm all worked up about that wretched box。 More than all else
it drives me to despair。
CLEANTE That box must hide some mighty mystery？
ORGON Argas； my friend who is in trouble； brought it Himself； most
secretly； and left it with me。 He chose me； in his exile； for this trust； And
on these documents； from what he said； I judge his life and property
depend。
CLEANTE How could you trust them to another's hands？
ORGON By reason of a conscientious scruple。 I went straight to my
traitor； to confide In him； his sophistry made me believe That I must give
the box to him to keep； So that； in case of search； I might deny My having
it at all； and still； by favour Of this evasion； keep my conscience clear
Even in taking oath against the truth。
CLEANTE Your case is bad； so far as I can see； This deed of gift； this
trusting of the secret To him； were bothto state my frank opinion Steps
that you took too lightly； he can lead you To any length； with these for
hostages； And since he holds you at such disadvantage； You'd be still more
imprudent； to provoke him； So you must go some gentler way about。
ORGON What！ Can a soul so base； a heart so false； Hide neath the
semblance of such touching fervour？ I took him in； a vagabond； a
beggar！ 。 。 。 'Tis too much！ No more pious folk for me！ I shall abhor them
utterly forever； And henceforth treat them worse than any devil。
CLEANTE So！ There you go again； quite off the handle！ In nothing do
you keep an even temper。 You never know what reason is； but always
Jump first to one extreme； and then the other。 You see your error； and you
recognise That you've been cozened by a feigned zeal； But to make up
for't； in the name of reason； Why should you plunge into a worse mistake；
And find n