Chapter: ACT IV   SCENE I

  CLEANTE, TARTUFFE


  CLEANTE
  Yes, it's become the talk of all the town,
  And make a stir that's scarcely to your credit;
  And I have met you, sir, most opportunely,
  To tell you in a word my frank opinion.
  Not to sift out this scandal to the bottom,
  Suppose the worst for us--suppose Damis
  Acted the traitor, and accused you falsely;
  Should not a Christian pardon this offence,
  And stifle in his heart all wish for vengeance?
  Should you permit that, for your petty quarrel,
  A son be driven from his father's house?
  I tell you yet again, and tell you frankly,
  Everyone, high or low, is scandalised;
  If you'll take my advice, you'll make it up,
  And not push matters to extremities.
  Make sacrifice to God of your resentment;
  Restore the son to favour with his father.

  TARTUFFE
  Alas! So far as I'm concerned, how gladly
  Would I do so! I bear him no ill will;
  I pardon all, lay nothing to his charge,
  And wish with all my heart that I might serve him;
  But Heaven's interests cannot allow it;
  If he returns, then I must leave the house.
  After his conduct, quite unparalleled,
  All intercourse between us would bring scandal;
  God knows what everyone's first thought would be!
  They would attribute it to merest scheming
  On my part--say that conscious of my guilt
  I feigned a Christian love for my accuser,
  But feared him in my heart, and hoped to win him
  And underhandedly secure his silence.

  CLEANTE
  You try to put us off with specious phrases;
  But all your arguments are too far-fetched.
  Why take upon yourself the cause of Heaven?
  Does Heaven need our help to punish sinners?
  Leave to itself the care of its own vengeance,
  And keep in mind the pardon it commands us;
  Besides, think somewhat less of men's opinions,
  When you are following the will of Heaven.
  Shall petty fear of what the world may think
  Prevent the doing of a noble deed?
  No!--let us always do as Heaven commands,
  And not perplex our brains with further questions.

  TARTUFFE
  Already I have told you I forgive him;
  And that is doing, sir, as Heaven commands.
  But after this day's scandal and affront
  Heaven does not order me to live with him.

  CLEANTE
  And does it order you to lend your ear
  To what mere whim suggested to his father,
  And to accept gift of his estates,
  On which, in justice, you can make no claim?

  TARTUFFE
  No one who knows me, sir, can have the thought
  That I am acting from a selfish motive.
  The goods of this world have no charms for me;
  I am not dazzled by their treacherous glamour;
  And if I bring myself to take the gift
  Which he insists on giving me, I do so,
  To tell the truth, only because I fear
  This whole estate may fall into bad hands,
  And those to whom it comes may use it ill
  And not employ it, as is my design,
  For Heaven's glory and my neighbours' good.

  CLEANTE
  Eh, sir, give up these conscientious scruples
  That well may cause a rightful heir's complaints.
  Don't take so much upon yourself, but let him
  Possess what's his, at his own risk and peril;
  Consider, it were better he misused it,
  Than you should be accused of robbing him.
  I am astounded that unblushingly
  You could allow such offers to be made!
  Tell me--has true religion any maxim
  That teaches us to rob the lawful heir?
  If Heaven has made it quite impossible
  Damis and you should live together here,
  Were it not better you should quietly
  And honourably withdraw, than let the son
  Be driven out for your sake, dead against
  All reason? 'Twould be giving, sir, believe me,
  Such an example of your probity ...

  TARTUFFE
  Sir, it is half-past three; certain devotions
  Recall me to my closet; you'll forgive me
  For leaving you so soon.

  CLEANTE (alone)
  Ah!




SCENE II

  ELMIRE, MARIANE, CLEANTE, DORINE


  DORINE (to Cleante)
  Sir, we beg you
  To help us all you can in her behalf;
  She's suffering almost more than heart can bear;
  This match her father means to make to-night
  Drives her each moment to despair. He's coming.
  Let us unite our efforts now, we beg you,
  And try by strength or skill to change his purpose.

 Orgon explains that the strongbox contains some papers which were left in his keeping by a friend. If the papers were made public, both Orgon and his friend would be in serious trouble. Earlier, Tartuffe had persuaded Orgon to allow him to keep the entire strongbox and now Tartuffe has taken the secret papers and left. Orgon cannot understand how anyone could be so base and wicked as Tartuffe; he vows to hate the entire race of men. Cleante advises him to learn to practice restraint. At this point, Orgon's son, Damis, rushes in and tells his father that he will be only too glad to put an end to Tartuffe's life. Again, Cleante has to recommend restraint and moderation.

