Chapter: 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
  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.
  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;
  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.
  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,
  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
  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.

 Alone with her husband, Elmire instructs Orgon to hide under a table and not to be surprised by some strange behavior on her part. She informs him that she will be only too glad to drop the entire act whenever he is fully satisfied that Tartuffe is a hypocrite who is determined to seduce her. She also reminds Orgon to save her in case Tartuffe advances too far too rapidly. When Tartuffe arrives, Elmire has him close the door so that they will not be caught as they were earlier by Damis. She then confesses how glad she is to see him. Tartuffe is at first confused by her change until Elmire explains that women are by nature reluctant to confess their love and that her objection to the marriage with Mariane was caused by jealousy. Tartuffe says that he will not be fully convinced until he has more concrete proof and advances toward Elmire. She restrains him by asking time to catch her breath. In order to delay his advances, she inquires if her love might not be offensive to Heaven, toward which Tartuffe professes such reverence. Tartuffe assures her that his purity of intent will be accepted in Heaven's eyes and that there is not sin when that sin is committed in secret. Only the scandal of having the sin known can make the act a sin. Elmire says loudly that she will have to yield to his desires, and if it is a sin for her to yield, then the person who drove her to the sin must be held responsible. She delays him by asking him to open the door and look out to see if anyone is around, especially her husband. Tartuffe says disparagingly that Orgon is so stupid that even if he saw them he would doubt his sight. Nevertheless, Elmire insists that he go out to look. After he is gone, Orgon emerges from his hiding place, completely astounded. Elmire tells him to return to hiding until he is completely satisfied, but Orgon is now convinced of Tartuffe's hypocrisy. As Tartuffe is returning, Orgon hides behind Elmire and then immediately accosts Tartuffe and orders him from the house. Tartuffe then reminds Orgon that the house now belongs to him and that Orgon -- not Tartuffe -- is the one who must leave. When Orgon is alone with his wife, he confesses that he is frightened about the deed he signed and also about a certain strongbox that should be in Tartuffe's room upstairs. They leave to ascertain its whereabouts.

