Chapter: 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 Hell.

  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

  TARTUFFE, ELMIRE, ORGON


  TARTUFFE (not seeing Orgon)
  All things conspire toward my satisfaction,
  Madam, I've searched the whole apartment through.
  There's no one here; and now my ravished soul ...

  ORGON (stopping him)
  Softly! You are too eager in your amours;
  You needn't be so passionate. Ah ha!
  My holy man! You want to put it on me!
  How is your soul abandoned to temptation!
  Marry my daughter, eh?--and want my wife, too?
  I doubted long enough if this was earnest,
  Expecting all the time the tone would change;
  But now the proof's been carried far enough;
  I'm satisfied, and ask no more, for my part.

  ELMIRE (to Tartuffe)
  'Twas quite against my character to play
  This part; but I was forced to treat you so.

  TARTUFFE
  What? You believe ... ?

  ORGON
  Come, now, no protestations.
  Get out from here, and make no fuss about it.

  TARTUFFE
  But my intent ...

  ORGON
  That talk is out of season.
  You leave my house this instant.

  TARTUFFE
  You're the one
  To leave it, you who play the master here!
  This house belongs to me, I'll have you know,
  And show you plainly it's no use to turn
  To these low tricks, to pick a quarrel with me,
  And that you can't insult me at your pleasure,
  For I have wherewith to confound your lies,
  Avenge offended Heaven, and compel
  Those to repent who talk to me of leaving.




SCENE VIII

  ELMIRE, ORGON


  ELMIRE
  What sort of speech is this? What can it mean?

  ORGON
  My faith, I'm dazed. This is no laughing matter.

  ELMIRE
  What?

  ORGON
  From his words I see my great mistake;
  The deed of gift is one thing troubles me.

  ELMIRE
  The deed of gift ...

  ORGON
  Yes, that is past recall.
  But I've another thing to make me anxious.

  ELMIRE
  What's that?

  ORGON
  You shall know all. Let's see at once
  Whether a certain box is still upstairs.

 Mariane's fiance, Valere, arrives and explains that he has heard in confidence that Orgon is in dire trouble concerning some secret documents which Tartuffe turned over to the king. Tartuffe, he says, has denounced Orgon as a traitor to the king and, since there is a warrant out for Orgon's arrest, Valere has brought money and a carriage and will help Orgon take refuge in the country. As they are about to leave, officers, accompanied by Tartuffe, arrive. Tartuffe announces that Orgon is now under arrest and the only journey he is going to take is to prison. When Orgon reminds Tartuffe of his indebtedness, Tartuffe merely replies that his first duty is to serve the king and to do that he would sacrifice anything. Cleante tries to use logic against Tartuffe, but Tartuffe only tells the officers to carry out their duty. The officers, however, perform their duty by arresting Tartuffe and then explain to the rest of the company that the king, who sees into the hearts of all his subjects, knew that Tartuffe was a hypocrite and a liar. The wise and judicious king could never be deluded by such an imposter. Furthermore, the king has invalidated the deed and has pardoned Orgon for keeping the documents of an exile. The wise king thinks much more of a man's virtues than he does of a man's mistakes; Orgon's past loyalty to the king is rewarded, and his mistakes are now forgiven. As Orgon is about to say something to Tartuffe, Cleante advises him to forget the poor wretch and turn his attention to better things. Orgon then gives his daughter Mariane to Valere to be his wife.

