{"id":74,"date":"2020-05-12T20:10:18","date_gmt":"2020-05-13T00:10:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.ryerson.ca\/tartuffe\/?post_type=chapter&p=74"},"modified":"2020-05-12T20:10:18","modified_gmt":"2020-05-13T00:10:18","slug":"scene-iii-4","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tartuffe\/chapter\/scene-iii-4\/","title":{"raw":"Scene III","rendered":"Scene III"},"content":{"raw":"
\r\n

ORGON, ELMIRE, MARIANE, CLEANTE, DORINE<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n

\r\n\r\nORGON\r\nSo ho! I'm glad to find you all together.\r\n\r\n(To Mariane)\r\nHere is the contract that shall make you happy,\r\nMy dear. You know already what it means.\r\n\r\nMARIANE (on her knees before Orgon)\r\nFather, I beg you, in the name of Heaven\r\nThat knows my grief, and by whate'er can move you,\r\nRelax a little your paternal rights,\r\nAnd free my love from this obedience!\r\nOh, do not make me, by your harsh command,\r\nComplain to Heaven you ever were my father;\r\nDo not make wretched this poor life you gave me.\r\nIf, crossing that fond hope which I had formed,\r\nYou'll not permit me to belong to one\r\nWhom I have dared to love, at least, I beg you\r\nUpon my knees, oh, save me from the torment\r\nOf being possessed by one whom I abhor!\r\nAnd do not drive me to some desperate act\r\nBy exercising all your rights upon me.\r\n\r\nORGON (a little touched)\r\nCome, come, my heart, be firm! no human weakness!\r\n\r\nMARIANE\r\nI am not jealous of your love for him;\r\nDisplay it freely; give him your estate,\r\nAnd if that's not enough, add all of mine;\r\nI willingly agree, and give it up,\r\nIf only you'll not give him me, your daughter;\r\nOh, rather let a convent's rigid rule\r\nWear out the wretched days that Heaven allots me.\r\n\r\nORGON\r\nThese girls are ninnies!\u2014always turning nuns\r\nWhen fathers thwart their silly love-affairs.\r\nGet on your feet! The more you hate to have him,\r\nThe more 'twill help you earn your soul's salvation.\r\nSo, mortify your senses by this marriage,\r\nAnd don't vex me about it any more.\r\n\r\nDORINE\r\nBut what . . .\u00a0?\r\n\r\nORGON\r\nYou hold your tongue, before your betters.\r\nDon't dare to say a single word, I tell you.\r\n\r\nCLEANTE\r\nIf you will let me answer, and advise . . .\r\n\r\nORGON\r\nBrother, I value your advice most highly;\r\n'Tis well thought out; no better can be had;\r\nBut you'll allow me\u2014not to follow it.\r\n\r\nELMIRE (to her husband)\r\nI can't find words to cope with such a case;\r\nYour blindness makes me quite astounded at you.\r\nYou are bewitched with him, to disbelieve\r\nThe things we tell you happened here to-day.\r\n\r\nORGON\r\nI am your humble servant, and can see\r\nThings, when they're plain as noses on folks' faces,\r\nI know you're partial to my rascal son,\r\nAnd didn't dare to disavow the trick\r\nHe tried to play on this poor man; besides,\r\nYou were too calm, to be believed; if that\r\nHad happened, you'd have been far more disturbed.\r\n\r\nELMIRE\r\nAnd must our honour always rush to arms\r\nAt the mere mention of illicit love?\r\nOr can we answer no attack upon it\r\nExcept with blazing eyes and lips of scorn?\r\nFor my part, I just laugh away such nonsense;\r\nI've no desire to make a loud to-do.\r\nOur virtue should, I think, be gentle-natured;\r\nNor can I quite approve those savage prudes\r\nWhose honour arms itself with teeth and claws\r\nTo tear men's eyes out at the slightest word.\r\nHeaven preserve me from that kind of honour!\r\nI like my virtue not to be a vixen,\r\nAnd I believe a quiet cold rebuff\r\nNo less effective to repulse a lover.\r\n\r\nORGON\r\nI know . . . and you can't throw me off the scent.\r\n\r\nELMIRE\r\nOnce more, I am astounded at your weakness;\r\nI wonder what your unbelief would answer,\r\nIf I should let you see we've told the truth?\r\n\r\nORGON\r\nSee it?\r\n\r\nELMIRE\r\nYes.\r\n\r\nORGON\r\nNonsense.\r\n\r\nELMIRE\r\nCome! If I should find\r\nA way to make you see it clear as day?\r\n\r\nORGON\r\nAll rubbish.\r\n\r\nELMIRE\r\nWhat a man! But answer me.\r\nI'm not proposing now that you believe us;\r\nBut let's suppose that here, from proper hiding,\r\nYou should be made to see and hear all plainly;\r\nWhat would you say then, to your man of virtue?\r\n\r\nORGON\r\nWhy, then, I'd say . . . say nothing. It can't be.\r\n\r\nELMIRE\r\nYour error has endured too long already,\r\nAnd quite too long you've branded me a liar.\r\nI must at once, for my own satisfaction,\r\nMake you a witness of the things we've told you.\r\n\r\nORGON\r\nAmen! I take you at your word. We'll see\r\nWhat tricks you have, and how you'll keep your promise.\r\n\r\nELMIRE (to Dorine)\r\nSend him to me.\r\n\r\nDORINE (to Elmire)\r\nThe man's a crafty codger,\r\nPerhaps you'll find it difficult to catch him.\r\n\r\nELMIRE (to Dorine)\r\nOh no! A lover's never hard to cheat,\r\nAnd self-conceit leads straight to self-deceit.\r\nBid him come down to me.\r\n\r\n(To Cleante and Mariane)\r\nAnd you, withdraw.\r\n\r\n<\/div>","rendered":"
\n

ORGON, ELMIRE, MARIANE, CLEANTE, DORINE<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

ORGON
\nSo ho! I’m glad to find you all together.<\/p>\n

(To Mariane)
\nHere is the contract that shall make you happy,
\nMy dear. You know already what it means.<\/p>\n

MARIANE (on her knees before Orgon)
\nFather, I beg you, in the name of Heaven
\nThat knows my grief, and by whate’er can move you,
\nRelax a little your paternal rights,
\nAnd free my love from this obedience!
\nOh, do not make me, by your harsh command,
\nComplain to Heaven you ever were my father;
\nDo not make wretched this poor life you gave me.
\nIf, crossing that fond hope which I had formed,
\nYou’ll not permit me to belong to one
\nWhom I have dared to love, at least, I beg you
\nUpon my knees, oh, save me from the torment
\nOf being possessed by one whom I abhor!
\nAnd do not drive me to some desperate act
\nBy exercising all your rights upon me.<\/p>\n

ORGON (a little touched)
\nCome, come, my heart, be firm! no human weakness!<\/p>\n

MARIANE
\nI am not jealous of your love for him;
\nDisplay it freely; give him your estate,
\nAnd if that’s not enough, add all of mine;
\nI willingly agree, and give it up,
\nIf only you’ll not give him me, your daughter;
\nOh, rather let a convent’s rigid rule
\nWear out the wretched days that Heaven allots me.<\/p>\n

ORGON
\nThese girls are ninnies!\u2014always turning nuns
\nWhen fathers thwart their silly love-affairs.
\nGet on your feet! The more you hate to have him,
\nThe more ’twill help you earn your soul’s salvation.
\nSo, mortify your senses by this marriage,
\nAnd don’t vex me about it any more.<\/p>\n

DORINE
\nBut what . . .\u00a0?<\/p>\n

ORGON
\nYou hold your tongue, before your betters.
\nDon’t dare to say a single word, I tell you.<\/p>\n

CLEANTE
\nIf you will let me answer, and advise . . .<\/p>\n

ORGON
\nBrother, I value your advice most highly;
\n‘Tis well thought out; no better can be had;
\nBut you’ll allow me\u2014not to follow it.<\/p>\n

ELMIRE (to her husband)
\nI can’t find words to cope with such a case;
\nYour blindness makes me quite astounded at you.
\nYou are bewitched with him, to disbelieve
\nThe things we tell you happened here to-day.<\/p>\n

ORGON
\nI am your humble servant, and can see
\nThings, when they’re plain as noses on folks’ faces,
\nI know you’re partial to my rascal son,
\nAnd didn’t dare to disavow the trick
\nHe tried to play on this poor man; besides,
\nYou were too calm, to be believed; if that
\nHad happened, you’d have been far more disturbed.<\/p>\n

ELMIRE
\nAnd must our honour always rush to arms
\nAt the mere mention of illicit love?
\nOr can we answer no attack upon it
\nExcept with blazing eyes and lips of scorn?
\nFor my part, I just laugh away such nonsense;
\nI’ve no desire to make a loud to-do.
\nOur virtue should, I think, be gentle-natured;
\nNor can I quite approve those savage prudes
\nWhose honour arms itself with teeth and claws
\nTo tear men’s eyes out at the slightest word.
\nHeaven preserve me from that kind of honour!
\nI like my virtue not to be a vixen,
\nAnd I believe a quiet cold rebuff
\nNo less effective to repulse a lover.<\/p>\n

ORGON
\nI know . . . and you can’t throw me off the scent.<\/p>\n

ELMIRE
\nOnce more, I am astounded at your weakness;
\nI wonder what your unbelief would answer,
\nIf I should let you see we’ve told the truth?<\/p>\n

ORGON
\nSee it?<\/p>\n

ELMIRE
\nYes.<\/p>\n

ORGON
\nNonsense.<\/p>\n

ELMIRE
\nCome! If I should find
\nA way to make you see it clear as day?<\/p>\n

ORGON
\nAll rubbish.<\/p>\n

ELMIRE
\nWhat a man! But answer me.
\nI’m not proposing now that you believe us;
\nBut let’s suppose that here, from proper hiding,
\nYou should be made to see and hear all plainly;
\nWhat would you say then, to your man of virtue?<\/p>\n

ORGON
\nWhy, then, I’d say . . . say nothing. It can’t be.<\/p>\n

ELMIRE
\nYour error has endured too long already,
\nAnd quite too long you’ve branded me a liar.
\nI must at once, for my own satisfaction,
\nMake you a witness of the things we’ve told you.<\/p>\n

ORGON
\nAmen! I take you at your word. We’ll see
\nWhat tricks you have, and how you’ll keep your promise.<\/p>\n

ELMIRE (to Dorine)
\nSend him to me.<\/p>\n

DORINE (to Elmire)
\nThe man’s a crafty codger,
\nPerhaps you’ll find it difficult to catch him.<\/p>\n

ELMIRE (to Dorine)
\nOh no! A lover’s never hard to cheat,
\nAnd self-conceit leads straight to self-deceit.
\nBid him come down to me.<\/p>\n

(To Cleante and Mariane)
\nAnd you, withdraw.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"menu_order":3,"template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-74","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"part":68,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tartuffe\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/74","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tartuffe\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tartuffe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tartuffe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tartuffe\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/74\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":75,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tartuffe\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/74\/revisions\/75"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tartuffe\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/68"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tartuffe\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/74\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tartuffe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=74"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tartuffe\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=74"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tartuffe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=74"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.library.torontomu.ca\/tartuffe\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=74"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}