Tartuffe | Page 8

actions, They'd think such judgment savoured of presumption; And, leaving pride of words to other men, 'Tis by their deeds alone they censure ours. Evil appearances find little credit With them; they even incline to think the best Of others. No caballers, no intriguers, They mind the business of their own right living. They don't attack a sinner tooth and nail, For sin's the only object of their hatred; Nor are they over-zealous to attempt Far more in heaven's behalf than heaven would have 'em. That is my kind of man, that is true living, That is the pattern we should set ourselves. Your fellow was not fashioned on this model; You're quite sincere in boasting of his zeal; But you're deceived, I think, by false pretences.
ORGON My dear good brother-in-law, have you quite done?
CLEANTE Yes.
ORGON I'm your humble servant.
(Starts to go.)
CLEANTE Just a word. We'll drop that other subject. But you know Valere has had the promise of your daughter.
ORGON Yes.
CLEANTE You had named the happy day.
ORGON 'Tis true.
CLEANTE Then why put off the celebration of it?
ORGON I can't say.
CLEANTE Can you have some other plan In mind?
ORGON Perhaps.
CLEANTE You mean to break your word?
ORGON I don't say that.
CLEANTE I hope no obstacle Can keep you from performing what you've promised.
ORGON Well, that depends.
CLEANTE Why must you beat about? Valere has sent me here to settle matters.
ORGON Heaven be praised!
CLEANTE What answer shall I take him?
ORGON Why, anything you please.
CLEANTE But we must know Your plans. What are they?
ORGON I shall do the will Of Heaven.
CLEANTE Come, be serious. You've given Your promise to Valere. Now will you keep it?
ORGON Good-bye.
CLEANTE (alone) His love, methinks, has much to fear; I must go let him know what's happening here.

ACT II

SCENE I ORGON, MARIANE
ORGON Now, Mariane.
MARIANE Yes, father?
ORGON Come; I'll tell you A secret.
MARIANE Yes . . . What are you looking for?
ORGON (looking into a small closet-room) To see there's no one there to spy upon us; That little closet's mighty fit to hide in. There! We're all right now. Mariane, in you I've always found a daughter dutiful And gentle. So I've always love you dearly.
MARIANE I'm grateful for your fatherly affection.
ORGON Well spoken, daughter. Now, prove you deserve it By doing as I wish in all respects.
MARIANE To do so is the height of my ambition.
ORGON Excellent well. What say you of--Tartuffe?
MARIANE Who? I?
ORGON Yes, you. Look to it how you answer.
MARIANE Why! I'll say of him--anything you please.

SCENE II ORGON, MARIANE, DORINE (coming in quietly and standing behind Orgon, so that he does not see her)
ORGON Well spoken. A good girl. Say then, my daughter, That all his person shines with noble merit, That he has won your heart, and you would like To have him, by my choice, become your husband. Eh?
MARIANE Eh?
ORGON What say you?
MARIANE Please, what did you say?
ORGON What?
MARIANE Surely I mistook you, sir?
ORGON How now?
MARIANE Who is it, father, you would have me say Has won my heart, and I would like to have Become my husband, by your choice?
ORGON Tartuffe.
MARIANE But, father, I protest it isn't true! Why should you make me tell this dreadful lie?
ORGON Because I mean to have it be the truth. Let this suffice for you: I've settled it.
MARIANE What, father, you would . . . ?
ORGON Yes, child, I'm resolved To graft Tartuffe into my family. So he must be your husband. That I've settled. And since your duty . .
(Seeing Dorine) What are you doing there? Your curiosity is keen, my girl, To make you come eavesdropping on us so.
DORINE Upon my word, I don't know how the rumour Got started--if 'twas guess-work or mere chance But I had heard already of this match, And treated it as utter stuff and nonsense.
ORGON What! Is the thing incredible?
DORINE So much so I don't believe it even from yourself, sir.
ORGON I know a way to make you credit it.
DORINE No, no, you're telling us a fairly tale!
ORGON I'm telling you just what will happen shortly.
DORINE Stuff!
ORGON Daughter, what I say is in good earnest.
DORINE There, there, don't take your father seriously; He's fooling.
ORGON But I tell you . . .
DORINE No. No use. They won't believe you.
ORGON If I let my anger . . .
DORINE Well, then, we do believe you; and the worse For you it is. What! Can a grown-up man With that expanse of beard across his face Be mad enough to want . . .?
ORGON You hark me: You've taken on yourself here in this house A sort of free familiarity That I don't like, I tell you frankly, girl.
DORINE There, there, let's not get angry, sir, I beg you. But are you making game of everybody? Your daughter's not cut out for bigot's meat; And he has more important things to think