Part 17 (1/2)

DAMIS, ORGON, CLEANTE

DAMIS What! father, can the scoundrel threaten you, Forget the many benefits received, And in his base abominable pride Make of your very favours arms against you?

ORGON Too true, my son. It tortures me to think on't.

DAMIS Let me alone, I'll chop his ears off for him.

We must deal roundly with his insolence; 'Tis I must free you from him at a blow; 'Tis I, to set things right, must strike him down.

CLEANTE Spoke like a true young man. Now just calm down, And moderate your towering tantrums, will you?

We live in such an age, with such a king, That violence can not advance our cause.

SCENE III

MADAME PERNELLE, ORGON, ELMIRE, CLEANTE, MARIANE, DAMIS, DORINE

MADAME PERNELLE What's this? I hear of fearful mysteries!

ORGON Strange things indeed, for my own eyes to witness; You see how I'm requited for my kindness, I zealously receive a wretched beggar, I lodge him, entertain him like my brother, Load him with benefactions every day, Give him my daughter, give him all my fortune: And he meanwhile, the villain, rascal, wretch, Tries with black treason to suborn my wife, And not content with such a foul design, He dares to menace me with my own favours, And would make use of those advantages Which my too foolish kindness armed him with, To ruin me, to take my fortune from me, And leave me in the state I saved him from.

DORINE Poor man!

MADAME PERNELLE My son, I cannot possibly Believe he could intend so black a deed.

ORGON What?

MADAME PERNELLE Worthy men are still the sport of envy.

ORGON Mother, what do you mean by such a speech?

MADAME PERNELLE There are strange goings-on about your house, And everybody knows your people hate him.

ORGON What's that to do with what I tell you now?

MADAME PERNELLE I always said, my son, when you were little: That virtue here below is hated ever; The envious may die, but envy never.

ORGON What's that fine speech to do with present facts?

MADAME PERNELLE Be sure, they've forged a hundred silly lies ...

ORGON I've told you once, I saw it all myself.

MADAME PERNELLE For slanderers abound in calumnies ...

ORGON Mother, you'd make me d.a.m.n my soul. I tell you I saw with my own eyes his shamelessness.

MADAME PERNELLE Their tongues for spitting venom never lack, There's nothing here below they'll not attack.