Act IV: Scene V

TARTUFFE.They told me that you wished to see me here.

ELMIRE.Yes. I have secrets for your ear alone.But shut the door first, and look everywhereFor fear of spies.

(Tartuffe goes and closes the door, and comes back.)We surely can't affordAnother scene like that we had just now;Was ever anyone so caught before!Damis did frighten me most terriblyOn your account; you saw I did my bestTo baffle his design, and calm his anger.But I was so confused, I never thoughtTo contradict his story; still, thank Heaven,Things turned out all the better, as it happened,And now we're on an even safer footing.The high esteem you're held in, laid the storm;My husband can have no suspicion of you,And even insists, to spite the scandal-mongers,That we shall be together constantly;So that is how, without the risk of blame,I can be here locked up with you alone,And can reveal to you my heart, perhapsOnly too ready to allow your passion.

TARTUFFE.Your words are somewhat hard to understand,Madam; just now you used a different style.

ELMIRE.If that refusal has offended you,How little do you know a woman's heart!How ill you guess what it would have you know,When it presents so feeble a defence!Always, at first, our modesty resistsThe tender feelings you inspire us with.Whatever cause we find to justifyThe love that masters us, we still must feelSome little shame in owning it; and striveTo make as though we would not, when we would.But from the very way we go about itWe let a lover know our heart surrenders,The while our lips, for honour's sake, opposeOur heart's desire, and in refusing promise.I'm telling you my secret all too freelyAnd with too little heed to modesty.But--now that I've made bold to speak--pray tell me.Should I have tried to keep Damis from speaking,Should I have heard the offer of your heartSo quietly, and suffered all your pleading,And taken it just as I did--remember--If such a declaration had not pleased me,And, when I tried my utmost to persuade youNot to accept the marriage that was talked of,What should my earnestness have hinted to youIf not the interest that you've inspired,And my chagrin, should such a match compel meTo share a heart I want all to myself?

TARTUFFE.'Tis, past a doubt, the height of happiness,To hear such words from lips we dote upon;Their honeyed sweetness pours through all my sensesLong draughts of suavity ineffable.My heart employs its utmost zeal to please you,And counts your love its one beatitude;And yet that heart must beg that you allow itTo doubt a little its felicity.I well might think these words an honest trickTo make me break off this approaching marriage;And if I may express myself quite plainly,I cannot trust these too enchanting wordsUntil the granting of some little favourI sigh for, shall assure me of their truthAnd build within my soul, on firm foundations,A lasting faith in your sweet charity.

ELMIRE (coughing to draw her husband's attention)What! Must you go so fast?--and all at onceExhaust the whole love of a woman's heart?She does herself the violence to makeThis dear confession of her love, and youAre not yet satisfied, and will not beWithout the granting of her utmost favours?

TARTUFFE.The less a blessing is deserved, the lessWe dare to hope for it; and words aloneCan ill assuage our love's desires. A fateToo full of happiness, seems doubtful still;We must enjoy it ere we can believe it.And I, who know how little I deserveYour goodness, doubt the fortunes of my daring;So I shall trust to nothing, madam, tillYou have convinced my love by something real.

ELMIRE.Ah! How your love enacts the tyrant's role,And throws my mind into a strange confusion!With what fierce sway it rules a conquered heart,And violently will have its wishes granted!What! Is there no escape from your pursuit?No respite even?--not a breathing space?Nay, is it decent to be so exacting,And so abuse by urgency the weaknessYou may discover in a woman's heart?

TARTUFFE.But if my worship wins your gracious favour,Then why refuse me some sure proof thereof?

ELMIRE.But how can I consent to what you wish,Without offending Heaven you talk so much of?

TARTUFFE.If Heaven is all that stands now in my way,I'll easily remove that little hindrance;Your heart need not hold back for such a trifle.

ELMIRE.But they affright us so with Heaven's commands!

TARTUFFE.I can dispel these foolish fears, dear madam;I know the art of pacifying scruplesHeaven forbids, 'tis true, some satisfactions;But we find means to make things right with Heaven.

There is a science, madam, that instructs usHow to enlarge the limits of our conscienceAccording to our various occasions,And rectify the evil of the deedAccording to our purity of motive.I'll duly teach you all these secrets, madam;You only need to let yourself be guided.Content my wishes, have no fear at all;I answer for't, and take the sin upon me.

(Elmire coughs still louder.)Your cough is very bad.

ELMIRE.Yes, I'm in torture.

TARTUFFE.Would you accept this bit of licorice?

ELMIRE.The case is obstinate, I find; and allThe licorice in the world will do no good.

TARTUFFE.'Tis very trying.

ELMIRE.More than words can say.

TARTUFFE.In any case, your scruple's easilyRemoved. With me you're sure of secrecy,And there's no harm unless a thing is known.The public scandal is what brings offence,And secret sinning is not sin at all.

ELMIRE (after coughing again)So then, I see I must resolve to yield;I must consent to grant you everything,And cannot hope to give full satisfactionOr win full confidence, at lesser cost.No doubt 'tis very hard to come to this;'Tis quite against my will I go so far;But since I must be forced to it, since nothingThat can be said suffices for belief,Since more convincing proof is still demanded,I must make up my mind to humour people.If my consent give reason for offence,So much the worse for him who forced me to it;The fault can surely not be counted mine.

TARTUFFE.It need not, madam; and the thing itself ...

ELMIRE.Open the door, I pray you, and just seeWhether my husband's not there, in the hall.

TARTUFFE.Why take such care for him? Between ourselves,He is a man to lead round by the nose.He's capable of glorying in our meetings;I've fooled him so, he'd see all, and deny it.

ELMIRE.No matter; go, I beg you, look about,And carefully examine every corner.