Tartuffe Or the Hypocrite Part 15

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 pa.s.sion.

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.

But--now that I've made bold to speak--pray 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 did--remember-- 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 beat.i.tude; 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 a.s.sure 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 a.s.suage 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 s.p.a.ce?

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 wors.h.i.+p 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 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