Part 11 (2/2)

'Tis not my way to make a public scandal; An honest wife will scorn to heed such follies, And never fret her husband's ears with them.

DAMIS You've reasons of your own for acting thus; And I have mine for doing otherwise.

To spare him now would be a mockery; His bigot's pride has triumphed all too long Over my righteous anger, and has caused Far too much trouble in our family.

The rascal all too long has ruled my father, And crossed my sister's love, and mine as well.

The traitor now must be unmasked before him: And Providence has given me means to do it.

To Heaven I owe the opportunity, And if I did not use it now I have it, I should deserve to lose it once for all.

ELMIRE Damis ...

DAMIS No, by your leave; I'll not be counselled.

I'm overjoyed. You needn't try to tell me I must give up the pleasure of revenge.

I'll make an end of this affair at once; And, to content me, here's my father now.

SCENE V

ORGON, ELMIRE, DAMIS, TARTUFFE

DAMIS Father, we've news to welcome your arrival, That's altogether novel, and surprising.

You are well paid for your caressing care, And this fine gentleman rewards your love Most handsomely, with zeal that seeks no less Than your dishonour, as has now been proven.

I've just surprised him making to your wife The shameful offer of a guilty love.

She, somewhat over gentle and discreet, Insisted that the thing should be concealed; But I will not condone such shamelessness, Nor so far wrong you as to keep it secret.

ELMIRE Yes, I believe a wife should never trouble Her husband's peace of mind with such vain gossip; A woman's honour does not hang on telling; It is enough if she defend herself; Or so I think; Damis, you'd not have spoken, If you would but have heeded my advice.

SCENE VI

ORGON, DAMIS, TARTUFFE

ORGON Just Heaven! Can what I hear be credited?

TARTUFFE Yes, brother, I am wicked, I am guilty, A miserable sinner, steeped in evil, The greatest criminal that ever lived.

Each moment of my life is stained with soilures; And all is but a ma.s.s of crime and filth; Heaven, for my punishment, I see it plainly, Would mortify me now. Whatever wrong They find to charge me with, I'll not deny it But guard against the pride of self-defence.

Believe their stories, arm your wrath against me, And drive me like a villain from your house; I cannot have so great a share of shame But what I have deserved a greater still.

ORGON (to his son) You miscreant, can you dare, with such a falsehood, To try to stain the whiteness of his virtue?

DAMIS What! The feigned meekness of this hypocrite Makes you discredit ...

ORGON Silence, cursed plague!

TARTUFFE Ah! Let him speak; you chide him wrongfully; You'd do far better to believe his tales.

Why favour me so much in such a matter?

How can you know of what I'm capable?

And should you trust my outward semblance, brother, Or judge therefrom that I'm the better man?

No, no; you let appearances deceive you; I'm anything but what I'm thought to be, Alas! and though all men believe me G.o.dly, The simple truth is, I'm a worthless creature.

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