Part 15 (2/2)

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 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.

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 h.e.l.l.

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.)

SCENE VII

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