Act III. Scene IV. Molière, Jean Baptiste Poquelin. 1909-14. Tartuffe. The Harvard Classics

Jean Baptiste Poquelin Molière (1622–1673). Tartuffe.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14.

Act III

Scene IV


ELMIRE, DAMIS, TARTUFFE Damis (coming out of the closet-room where he had been hiding) No, I say! This thing must be made public.
I was just there, and overheard it all;
And Heaven’s goodness must have brought me there
On purpose to confound this scoundrel’s pride
And grant me means to take a signal vengeance	5
On his hypocrisy and arrogance,
And undeceive my father, showing up
The rascal caught at making love to you.

Elmire No, no; it is enough if he reforms,
Endeavouring to deserve the favour shown him.	10
And since I’ve promised, do not you belie me.
’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;	15
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.	20
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,	25
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	30
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.