ELMIRE （to her husband）
I can't find words to cope with such a case；
Your blindness makes me quite astounded at you。
You are bewitched with him； to disbelieve
The things we tell you happened here to…day。
ORGON
I am your humble servant； and can see
Things； when they're plain as noses on folks' faces；
I know you're partial to my rascal son；
And didn't dare to disavow the trick
He tried to play on this poor man； besides；
You were too calm； to be believed； if that
Had happened； you'd have been far more disturbed。
ELMIRE
And must our honour always rush to arms
At the mere mention of illicit love？
Or can we answer no attack upon it
Except with blazing eyes and lips of scorn？
For my part； I just laugh away such nonsense；
I've no desire to make a loud to…do。
Our virtue should； I think； be gentle…natured；
Nor can I quite approve those savage prudes
Whose honour arms itself with teeth and claws
To tear men's eyes out at the slightest word。
Heaven preserve me from that kind of honour！
I like my virtue not to be a vixen；
And I believe a quiet cold rebuff
No less effective to repulse a lover。
ORGON
I know 。 。 。 and you can't throw me off the scent。
ELMIRE
Once more； I am astounded at your weakness；
I wonder what your unbelief would answer；
If I should let you see we've told the truth？
ORGON
See it？
ELMIRE
Yes。
ORGON
Nonsense。
ELMIRE
Come！ If I should find
A way to make you see it clear as day？
ORGON
All rubbish。
ELMIRE
What a man！ But answer me。
I'm not proposing now that you believe us；
But let's suppose that here； from proper hiding；
You should be made to see and hear all plainly；
What would you say then； to your man of virtue？
ORGON
Why； then； I'd say 。 。 。 say nothing。 It can't be。
ELMIRE
Your error has endured too long already；
And quite too long you've branded me a liar。
I must at once； for my own satisfaction；
Make you a witness of the things we've told you。
ORGON
Amen！ I take you at your word。 We'll see
What tricks you have； and how you'll keep your promise。
ELMIRE （to Dorine）
Send him to me。
DORINE （to Elmire）
The man's a crafty codger；
Perhaps you'll find it difficult to catch him。
ELMIRE （to Dorine）
Oh no！ A lover's never hard to cheat；
And self…conceit leads straight to self…deceit。
Bid him come down to me。
（To Cleante and Mariane）
And you； withdraw。
SCENE IV
ELMIRE； ORGON
ELMIRE
Bring up this table； and get under it。
ORGON
What？
ELMIRE
One essential is to hide you well。
ORGON
Why under there？
ELMIRE
Oh； dear！ Do as I say；
I know what I'm about； as you shall see。
Get under； now； I tell you； and once there
Be careful no one either sees or hears you。
ORGON
I'm going a long way to humour you；
I must say； but I'll see you through your scheme。
ELMIRE
And then you'll have； I think； no more to say。
（To her husband； who is now under the table。）
But mind； I'm going to meddle with strange matters；
Prepare yourself to be in no wise shocked。
Whatever I may say must pass； because
'Tis only to convince you； as I promised。
By wheedling speeches； since I'm forced to do it；
I'll make this hypocrite put off his mask；
Flatter the longings of his shameless passion；
And give free play to all his impudence。
But； since 'tis for your sake； to prove to you
His guilt； that I shall feign to share his love；
I can leave off as soon as you're convinced；
And things shall go no farther than you choose。
So； when you think they've gone quite far enough；
It is for you to stop his mad pursuit；
To spare your wife； and not expose me farther
Than you shall need； yourself； to undeceive you。
It is your own affair； and you must end it
When 。 。 。 Here he comes。 Keep still； don't show yourself。
SCENE V
TARTUFFE； ELMIRE； ORGON （under the table）
TARTUFFE
They told me that you wished to see me here。
ELMIRE
Yes。 I have secrets for your ear alone。
But shut the door first； and look everywhere
For fear of spies。
（Tartuffe goes and closes the door； and comes back。）
We surely can't afford
Another scene like that we had just now；
Was ever anyone so caught before！
Damis did frighten me most terribly
On your account； you saw I did my best
To baffle his design； and calm his anger。
But I was so confused； I never thought
To contradict his story； still； thank Heaven；
Things turned out all the better； as it happened；
And now we're on an even safer footing。
The high esteem you're held in； laid the storm；
My husband can have no suspicion of you；
And even insists； to spite the scandal…mongers；
That we shall be together constantly；
So that is how； without the risk of blame；
I can be here locked up with you alone；
And can reveal to you my heart； perhaps
Only too ready to allow your passion。
TARTUFFE
Your words are somewhat hard to understand；
Madam； just now you used a different style。
ELMIRE
If that refusal has offended you；
How little do you know a woman's heart！
How ill you guess what it would have you know；
When it presents so feeble a defence！
Always； at first； our modesty resists
The tender feelings you inspire us with。
Whatever cause we find to justify
The love that masters us； we still must feel
Some little shame in owning it； and strive
To make as though we would not； when we would。
But from the very way we go about it
We let a lover know our heart surrenders；
The while our lips； for honour's sake； oppose
Our heart's desire； and in refusing promise。
I'm telling you my secret all too freely
And with too little heed to modesty。
Butnow that I've made bold to speakpray tell me。
Should I have tried to keep Damis from speaking；
Should I have heard the offer of your heart
So quietly； and suffered all your pleading；
And taken it just as I didremember
If such a declaration had not pleased me；
And； when I tried my utmost to persuade you
Not to accept the marriage that was talked of；
What should my earnestness have hinted to you
If not the interest that you've inspired；
And my chagrin； should such a match compel me
To share a heart I want all to myself？
TARTUFFE
'Tis； past a doubt； the height of happiness；
To hear such words from lips we dote upon；
Their honeyed sweetness pours through all my senses
Long draughts of suavity ineffable。
My heart employs its utmost zeal to please you；
And counts your love its one beatitude；
And yet that heart must beg that you allow it
To doubt a little its felicity。
I well might think these words an honest trick
To make me break off this approaching marriage；
And if I may express myself quite plainly；
I cannot trust these too enchanting words
Until the granting of some little favour
I sigh for； shall assure me of their truth
And build within my soul； on firm foundations；
A lasting faith in your sweet charity。
ELMIRE （coughing to draw her husband's attention）
What！ Must you go so fast？and all at once
Exhaust the whole love of a woman's heart？
She does herself the violence to make
This dear confession of her love； and you
Are not yet satisfied； and will not be
Without the granting of her utmost favours？
TARTUFFE
The less a blessing is deserved； the less
We dare to hope for it； and words alone
Can ill assuage our love's desires。 A fate
Too full of happiness； seems doubtful still；
We must enjoy it ere we can believe it。
And I； who know how little I deserve
Your goodness； doubt the fortunes of my daring；
So I shall trust to nothing； madam； till
You have convinced my love by something real。
ELMIRE
Ah！ How your love enacts the tyrant's role；
And throws my mind into a strange confusion！
With what fierce sway it rules a conquered heart；
And violently will have its wishes granted！
What！ Is there no escape from your pursuit？
No respite even？not a breathing space？
Nay； is it decent to be so exacting；
And so abuse by urgency the weakness
You may discover in a woman's heart？
TARTUFFE
But if my worship wins your gracious favour；
Then why refuse me some sure proof thereof？
ELMIRE
But how can I consent to what you wish；
Without offending Heaven you talk so much of？
TARTUFFE
If Heaven is all that stands now in my way；
I'll easily remove that little hindrance；
Your heart need not hold back for such a trifle。
ELMIRE
But they affright us so with Heaven's commands！
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 husband's not there； in the hall。
TARTUFFE
Why take such