 | Tartuffe |  |
ACT V.
Same Scene.Enter Orgon, followed by Cléante, L. C.
Cle.
Where are you going?
Org.
I can scarcely tell.
Cle.
It seems to me we should deliberate
As to the course most proper to pursue.
Org.
That chest! that chest! That is the worst of all.
Cle.
Does it contain some weighty secret then?
Org.
Argas, my friend whom often I deplore,
Confided it to me before his flight.
Papers, he told me, are contained in it,
On which depend his fortune and his life
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And you could trust it to another's care?
Org.
It was a case of conscience prompted me.
I gave that traitor all my confidence,
And he convinced me by his arguments
The chest would be far better in his hands,
For then, if any question should be ask'd
I could most truly swear I had it not.
Cle.
Your case, I must confess, seems bad enough.
The deed of gift—this story of the chest,
Show, I must own, small prudence on your part.
And now the man has such a hold on you,
To thrust him forth is more imprudent still.
Some milder plan, methinks, might be essay'd.
Org.
That such an evil soul, so false a heart,
Could be concealed beneath so fair a show!
And I, who took the knave into my house
A beggar!—But I've done with pious folks;
All signs of goodness I so much abhor,
I'll be more wicked than the very devil.
[Crosses to R.
Cle.
Restrain yourself, I pray, restrain yourself.
Why, brother, can you ne'er be moderate?
Your path is never that of common sense,
You always go to opposite extremes.
Now, in this instance, you have just found out
You have been cheated by a show of zeal;
But pray, are you compell'd on this account
To fall into an error greater still
And judge the heart of ev'ry honest man
By that of one who proves to be a knave?
Because a rascal has imposed on you
By putting on a grave and specious mask,
You fancy all are cast in the same mould,
And that the world holds no true piety?
Leave logic such as this to profligates;
Distinguish goodness from the show of good.
If you must err, whichever side you take,
'Tis best to err on that of charity.
Enter Damis, L. C.
Dam.
What, father! Does the rascal threaten you?
Is all your goodness blotted from his mind,
Or rather, made a weapon of assault?
Org.
Yes, yes, my son, such is the wretched fact.
Dam.
Nay, leave the knave to me, I'll crop his ears.
We must not flinch in such a cause as this.
Nothing more easy than to set all right;
I'll brain the villain, and—behold 'tis done.
Cle.
(crosses to C.)
Exactly—yes, a very young man's speech;
You'll just be pleas'd to moderate this tone.
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Where little good is done by violence.
Enter Madam Pernelle, Elmire, Mariane, and Dorine, L. C.
Mad. P.
What is all this? They tell me horrid news.
Org.
Nay, nothing more than what these eyes have seen.
For all my kindness I am well repaid.
I find a man in deepest misery,
I lodge him as a brother in my house,
Each day brings with it some new benefit.
My wealth I give him, and my daughter's hand,
And all this time the graceless, thankless knave
Harbours a black design against my wife!
Not even this contents his villany;
The benefits which I have heap'd on him—
Heap'd on him in my blind and foolish zeal,
He uses now against me for my ruin;
Would bring me to that state of beggary
From which I have reliev'd him.
Dor.
(mimicking.)
The poor soul!
Mad. P.
My son! I can't believe he is so base!
Org.
You can't believe?
Mad. P.
The good are always envied
Org.
Mother, what can you mean by talking thus?
Mad. P.
Here they all lead a sorry sort of life,
And so regard him with an eye of hate.
Org.
But, madam, what has hate to do with facts?
I speak of facts.
Mad. P.
Oft' when you were a child
I taught you how this world detested goodness
The envious—they may die, but envy not.
Org.
This touches not to-day's discoveries.
Mad. P.
They've forged, no doubt, a thousand tales against him.
Org.
I tell you I have seen it all myself.
Mad. P.
There is such malice in the sland'rous tongue
Org.
You'll drive me mad. How often must I sa
I saw this bus'ness with my own—own eyes.
Mad. P.
Such tongues will ever scatter poison, sure;
And none against such foes can guard themselves.
Org.
Mother, with all respect, you're talking stuff;
I've seen him—I—I tell you—I—I—I—
Yes, seen—seen—seen—Must I for ever, madam,
Keep bawling out the truth into your ears?
[Sits in chair at table, R.]
Mad. P.
Appearances too often will deceive;
We must not always judge by what we see.
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I trust—
Mad. P.
Too prone is nature to suspect,
And good is oft interpreted as ill.
Org.
(starts up.)
Then, when a rascal would seduce my wife,
I'm bound to call it Christian charity!
Mad. P.
Without just grounds you never should accuse,
But always wait till you are certain, quite.
Org.
Why how can I have greater certainty;
Am I to wait till, here—before my eyes—
He—goodness, Madam! what shall I say next?
Mad. P.
His soul was too replete with piety,
And nothing ever shall convince my mind
He was so bent on evil as they say.
Org.
You are my mother, else I do not know
What I might say, so much am I enrag'd.
Dor.
Aye, you are rightly paid in your own coin—
You would trust none, and now, Sir, none trust you.
Cle.
Psha! we are wasting in mere idleness
The time that we might usefully employ;
The rascal threatens, and we must not sleep;
With a most potent weapon is he arm'd,
And so we must not anger him too much.
Org.
True, very true; but what is to be done?
I was so gall'd I could not check my rage
Cle.
I wish from all my heart 'twere possible
To bring about some show of peace between you.
Elm.
If I had known he was so strongly arm'd
I would have shunn'd this danger.
Org.
(looking off.)
Who is that?
Truly, I'm well prepared for visitors;
See what he wants. (to Dorini.)
Enter M. Loyel, L. C.
M. Loy.
Good day, my pretty one.
With yonder gentleman I wish to speak.
Dor.
I fear he is too busily engaged.
M. Loy.
Nay, I'm the very last man to intrude;
About my business there is nought unpleasant—
'Tis more agreeable than otherwise.
Dor.
What is your name?
M. Loy.
No matter; only say
Monsieur Tartuffe sends me to take possession.
Dor.
(to Orgon.)
A gentleman, a pink of courtesy,
Whom Monsieur Tartuffe sends upon a matter
That's more agreeable than otherwise.
Cle.
(to Orgon.)
See who the man can be, and what he wants.
Org.
Perhaps he comes to make a compromise;
42
Cle.
All bursts of anger carefully avoid,
And listen if he hints at any terms.
M. Loy.
Good day, Sir, may you e'er be prosperous,
And ill to them who harbour ill for you!
Org.
(to Cléante.)
This mild beginning but confirms my view;
Most surely it foreshows a compromise.
M. Loy.
I always have esteemed your family.
Org.
Sir, with the deepest shame I must confess
I do not even know your honor'd name.
M. Loy.
My name is Loyel—I'm by birth a Norman;
By calling, I'm an Usher of the Rod,
And have—may Heaven be prais'd—for forty years
Practis'd my office, with fair credit too.
And now I come, with your good leave, dear sir,
To execute a certain trifling order.
Org.
What! you are here—
M. Loy.
Pray, sir, content yourself;
It is an order merely to eject
You and your family, your goods and chattels,
And just make room for others to come in.
Org.
What!—leave my house?
M. Loy.
Yes, if you please, good sir;
To Monsieur Tartuffe now belongs this house—
Indisputably, with your whole estate,
By virtue of a contract which I hold,—
A contract rightly drawn and binding fast.
Dam.
This impudence is most unbearable!
M. Loy.
Excuse me, sir, I've nought to do with you,
But only with this gentleman; and he—
I'm certain—knows his duty far too well
To stop the course of justice.
Org.
Aye, but—
M. Loy.
True;
Not for the world, I'm sure, would you resist;
But you'll permit me,—as indeed you're bound,—
To execute the duties of my calling.
Dam.
I tell you what, my Usher of the Rod,
A stick may chance to dust that gown of yours.
Loy.
Pray, bid your son be silent or retire,
I should not like to see him in a scrape.
Good honest folks I hold in great esteem,
And only took this charge upon myself
For fear some other not so delicate
Might manage things in a much ruder fashion.
Or.
Who, in the name of patience, can do worse
Than turn one out of doors?
Lo.
We give you time;
I will suspend proceedings till to-morrow.
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With—say ten followers—quite quietly;
And just for form's sake, ere you go to bed,
You'll give me up the keys, sir, of the house;
Nought shall disturb your rest, believe me, sir,
But when to-morrow comes, to-morrow morning,
You'll kindly clear the place of ev'ry stick.
My men will aid you, they are passing strong—
Chosen, I beg to add, on that account—
I treat you tenderly, as you perceive,
And so I hope to find no obstacle.
Org.
(aside.)
The half of what is left me, I would give
To send my fist into that villain's face
With all my weight of anger.
Cle.
Calm yourself.
Dam.
I feel a wondrous itching in my hand.
Dor.
Good Master Usher, you've a fine broad back,
Just made, methinks, to lay a stick across.
Loy.
My pretty one, such words are dangerous:
Not only men, but women may be punish'd
When they resist the law.
Cle.
A truce to this,
Give us at once the paper and retire.
[Gives money to Loyel.
Loy.
Farewell, may heav'n shed blessings on you all.
[Exit, L. C.
Org.
May you, and he who sent you both be—
Cle.
Hush!
Org.
Well, mother, am I right. This fine exploit
Will serve you as a sample for the rest.
Mad. P.
I'm petrified, I've fallen from the clouds.
Dor.
(mimicking)
Indeed, you're wrong to blame him, very wrong,
This conduct only proves his piety;
He knows that worldly wealth corrupts the soul,
And therefore, out of charity, resolves
To rid you of a foe so dangerous.
Org.
You always will be talking, hold your tongue.
[Crosses to R. C.
Enter Valère, L. C.
Val.
'Tis with regret, sir, that I trouble you,
But pressing danger prompts me to this step.
A friend, who knows the interest I take
In you and yours, has dared to violate
The secrecy which state-affairs demand.
He tells me nought but flight, immediate flight,
Can save you from the peril that awaits you.
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Has even now denounc'd you to the throne;
And, to confirm his charge, brings forth a chest
Belonging to a culprit 'gainst the State,
Which you, he says, have guarded secretly,
Neglecting thus your duty as a subject.
A warrant now is out against your person,
And he himself attends the officer.
Cle.
These are the weapons which the villain wields
To dispossess you.
Org.
Scoundrel! base! most base!
Val.
Delay, however short, is dangerous;
My carriage stands already at your door,
And here's my purse fill'd for your present wants.
Nay, more, I'll travel as your convoy, sir,
And see you to your journey's end.
Org.
Alas!
How much am I indebted to this kindness!
Some day, I hope, I shall repay you, sir,
For this great service, and I pray meanwhile
That heav'n may make you prosper. Farewell, all!
Enter Tartuffe with an Officer, C.
Tar.
Stop, stop, good sir, you need not run so fast,
'Tis no great distance to your journey's end;
You are arrested in the prince's name.
Or.
This for the final blow you have reserved.
[Rushing to Tartuffe, but is stopped.
With this you would destroy me utterly,
Worthily ending your perfidious work—
Tar.
Insult me as you will, you wound me not—
I can bear anything for conscience sake.
Cle.
A mighty case of patience, I must own.
Dam.
Mark how the knave abuses honest words.
Tar.
Nor am I mov'd by any bursts of rage—
I seek to do my duty, nothing more.
Org.
Have you forgotten, villain, how this hand
Reliev'd you from most abject misery?
Tar.
No—well I know what aid I have receiv'd,
But duty to my prince I place so high,
That gratitude is nought when weigh'd against it.
My prince! for him I'd freely sacrifice
Friend—wife—relation—and my worthless self
Elm.
Impostor!
Dor.
With what cunning he contrives
To throw a specious cloak o'er all he does!
Cle.
But if your zeal is such an honest zeal,
And urges you to such extremities,
How is it that it did not show itself.
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Against his wife, and drove you from his house?
Tar.
(to Officer.)
Free me, I beg, sir, from this empty talk,
And execute your charge without delay.
Off.
I stand corrected—I have been too slow,
And willingly I act upon your hint;
So follow me to prison, sir, at once.
(To Tartuffe.
Tar.
I? I, sir?
Off.
You.
Tar.
But why imprison me?
Off.
'Tis not to you I shall explain myself;
(to Orgon.)
But you, I beg, sir, to dispel all fear.
Happily, we are govern'd by a prince
Whose eyes can penetrate all knavish acts;
At once he saw the baseness of this man,
Who, powerless, before his searching gaze
Betray'd himself whilst plotting against you.
He stands discovered as a well-known cheat,
Who long has practised in another name,
And perpetrated villanies enough
To fill thick volumes. The result is this:
The deed of gift by which he claims your wealth
Our monarch cancels— (all exclaim “Ah!”)
—pardoning as well
Your fault against the state; for he remembers
How oft you have been zealous in his cause.
Dor.
May Heaven be prais'd!
Mad. P.
At last, at last, I breathe.
Elm.
Most happy issue—
Mar.
And beyond all hope.
[As Tartuffe is led off by Officers, Orgon is rushing after him.
Org.
Now, rascal, now!
Cle.
(detaining him.)
Nay—stop, good brother, stop.
Do not insult the fallen—leave the wretch
To his own fate, and hope that e'en to-day
His heart may be reform'd.
Org.
Right—always right;
Another is more worthy our regard.
Uniting thus my daughter and Valère
[Joins hands.
Let me reward a pure and honest love.
CURTAIN FALLS.
| Tartuffe | |