第1章

TranslatedbyCurtHiddenPage INTRODUCTORYNOTE JeanBapttePoquelin，betterknownbyhstagenameofMoliere，standswithoutarivalattheheadofFrenchcomedy。BornatParinJanuary，1622，wherehfatherheldapositionintheroyalhousehold，hewaseducatedattheJesuitCollegedeClermont，andforsometimestudiedlaw，whichhesoonabandonedforthestage。HlifewasspentinParandintheprovinces，acting，directingperformances，managingtheaters，andwritingplays。Hehadhshareofapplausefromthekingandfromthepublic;butthesatireinhcomediesmadehimmanyenemies，andhewastheobjectofthemostvenomousattacksandthemostimpossibleslanders。Nordidhefindmuchsolaceathome;forhemarriedunfortunately，andtheunhappinessthatfollowedincreasedthebitternessthatpublichostilityhadbroughtintohlife。OnFebruary17，1673，whileactingin\"LaMaladeImaginaire，\"thelastofhmasterpieces，hewasseizedwithillnessanddiedafewhourslater。 ThefirstofthegreaterworksofMolierewas\"LesPrecieusesRidicules，\"producedin1659。InthbrilliantpieceMoliereliftedFrenchcomedytoanewlevelandgaveitanewpurpose——thesatirizingofcontemporarymannersandaffectationsbyfrankportrayalandcriticm。Inthegreatplaysthatfollowed，\"TheSchoolforHusbands\" and\"TheSchoolforWives，\"\"TheManthrope\"and\"TheHypocrite\" （Tartuffe），\"TheMer\"and\"TheHypochondriac，\"\"TheLearnedLadies，\" \"TheDoctorinSpiteofHimself，\"\"TheCitizenTurnedGentleman，\"andmanyothers，heexposedmercilesslyoneafteranotherthevicesandfoiblesoftheday。 Hcharacterticqualitiesarenowherebetterexhibitedthanin\"Tartuffe。\"ComparedwithsuchcharacterizationasShakespeare’s，Moliere’smethodofportrayinglifemayseemtobelackingincomplexity;butitprecelythesimplicitywithwhichcreationslikeTartuffeembodytheweaknessorvicetheyrepresentthathasgiventhemtheirplaceasuniversallyrecognizedtypesofhumannature。 TARTUFFE ACOMEDY CHARACTERS MADAMEPERNELLE，motherofOrgonORGON，husbandofElmireELMIRE，wifeofOrgonDAM，sonofOrgonMARIANE，daughterofOrgon，inlovewithValereCLEANTE，brother—in—lawofOrgonTARTUFFE，ahypocriteDORINE，Mariane’smaidM。LOYAL，abailiffAPoliceOfficerFLIPOTTE，MadamePernelle’sservantTheSceneatParACTI SCENEI MADAMEPERNELLEandFLIPOTTE，herservant;ELMIRE，MARIANE，CLEANTE，DAM，DORINE MADAMEPERNELLE Come，come，Flipotte，andletmegetaway。 ELMIRE Youhurryso，Ihardlycanattendyou。 MADAMEPERNELLE Thendon’t，mydaughter—inlaw。Staywhereyouare。 Icandpensewithyourpoliteattentions。 ELMIRE We’reonlypayingwhatdueyou，mother。 Whymustyougoawayinsuchahurry？ MADAMEPERNELLE BecauseIcan’tendureyourcarryings—on，Andnoonetakestheslightestpainstopleaseme。 Ileaveyourhouse，Itellyou，quitedgusted; Youdotheoppositeofmyinstructions; You’venorespectforanything;eachoneMusthavehsay;it’sperfectpandemonium。 DORINE If MADAMEPERNELLE You’reaservantwench，mygirl，andmuchToofullofgab，andtooimpertinentAndfreewithyouradviceonalloccasions。 DAM But MADAMEPERNELLE You’reafool，myboy——f，o，o，lJustspellsyourname。LetgrandmatellyouthatI’vesaidahundredtimestomypoorson，Yourfather，thatyou’dnevercometogoodOrgivehimanythingbutplagueandtorment。 MARIANE Ithink MADAMEPERNELLE Odearieme，hlittlester！ You’realldemureness，butterwouldn’tmeltInyourmouth，onewouldthinktolookatyou。 Stillwaters，though，theysayyouknowtheproverb; AndIdon’tlikeyourdoingsonthesly。 ELMIRE But，mother MADAMEPERNELLE Daughter，byyourleave，yourconductIneverythingaltogetherwrong; Yououghttosetagoodexamplefor’em; Theirdeardepartedmotherdidmuchbetter。 Youareextravagant;anditoffendsme，Toseeyoualwaysdeckedoutlikeaprincess。 Awomanwhowouldpleaseherhusband’seyesAlone，wantsnosuchwealthoffineries。 CLEANTE But，madam，afterall MADAMEPERNELLE Sir，asforyou，Thelady’sbrother，Iesteemyouhighly，Loveandrespectyou。But，sir，allthesame，IfIwereinmyson’s，herhusband’s，place，I’durgentlyentreatyounottocomeWithinourdoors。YoupreachawayoflivingThatdecentpeoplecannottolerate。 I’mratherfrankwithyou;butthat’smyway—— Idon’tmincematters，whenImeanathing。 DAM Mr。Tartuffe，yourfriend，mightylucky MADAMEPERNELLE Heaholyman，andmustbeheeded; Ican’tendure，withanyshowofpatience，Tohearascatterbrainslikeyouattackhim。 DAM What！ShallIletabigotcriticasterComeandusurpatyrant’spowerhere？ AndshallweneverdareamuseourselvesTillthfinegentlemandeignstoconsent？ DORINE Ifwemustharktohim，andheedhmaxims，There’snotathingwedobutwhat’sacrime; Hecensureseverything，thzealouscarper。 MADAMEPERNELLE Andallhecensureswellcensured，too。 Hewantstoguideyouonthewaytoheaven; Mysonshouldtrainyoualltolovehimwell。 DAM No，madam，lookyou，nothing——notmyfatherNoranything——canmakemetoleratehim。 Ishouldbeliemyfeelingsnottosayso。 Hactionsrousemywrathateveryturn; AndIforeseethattheremustcomeofitAnopenrupturewiththsneakingscoundrel。 DORINE Besides，’tdownrightscandaloustoseeThunknownupstartmasterofthehouse—— Thvagabond，whohadn’t，whenhecame，Shoestohfeet，orclothingworthsixfarthings，Andwhosofarforgetshplace，asnowTocensureeverything，andruletheroost！ MADAMEPERNELLE Eh！Mercysakesalive！ThingswouldgobetterIfallweregovernedbyhpiousorders。 DORINE Hepassesforasaintinyouropinion。 Infact，he’snothingbutahypocrite。 MADAMEPERNELLE Justltentohertongue！ DORINE Iwouldn’ttrusthim，NoryethLawrence，withoutbondsandsurety。 MADAMEPERNELLE Idon’tknowwhattheservant’scharacterMaybe;butIcanguaranteethemasterAholyman。YouhatehimandrejecthimBecausehetellshometruthstoallofyou。 ’Tsinalonethatmoveshhearttoanger，Andheaven’sinteresthonlymotive。 DORINE Ofcourse。Butwhy，especiallyoflate，Canheletnobodycomenearthehouse？ heavenoffendedatacivilcallThatheshouldmakesogreatafussaboutit？ I’lltellyou，ifyoulike，justwhatIthink; （PointingtoElmire） Uponmyword，he’sjealousofourmtress。 MADAMEPERNELLE Youholdyourtongue，andthinkwhatyouaresaying。 He’snotaloneincensuringthesevits; Theturmoilthatattendsyoursortofpeople，Theircarriagesforeveratthedoor，Andalltheirnoyfootmen，flockedtogether，Annoytheneighbourhood，andraeascandal。 I’dgladlythinkthere’snothingreallywrong; Butitmakestalk;andthat’snotasitshouldbe。 CLEANTE Eh！madam，canyouhopetokeepfolk’stonguesFromwagging？ItwouldbeagrievousthingIf，forthefearofidletalkaboutus，Wehadtosacrificeourfriends。No，no; Evenifwecouldbringourselvestodoit，Thinkyouthateveryonewouldthenbesilenced？ AgainstbackbitingtherenodefenceSoletustrytoliveininnocence，Tosillytattlepaynoheedatall，Andleavethegossipsfreetoventtheirgall。 DORINE OurneighbourDaphne，andherlittlehusband，Mustbetheoneswhoslanderus，I’mthinking。 Thosewhoseownconduct’smostridiculous，Arealwaysquickesttospeakillofothers; TheyneverfailtoseizeatonceuponTheslightesthintofanyloveaffair，Andspreadthenewsofitwithglee，andgiveitThecharacterthey’dhavetheworldbelievein。 Byothers’actions，paintedintheircolours，Theyhopetojustifytheirown;theythink，Inthefalsehopeofsomeresemblance，eitherTomaketheirownintriguesseeminnocent，OrelsetomaketheirneighbourssharetheblameWhichtheyareloadedwithbyeverybody。 MADAMEPERNELLE Theseargumentsarenothingtothepurpose。 Orante，weallknow，livesaperfectlife; Herthoughtsareallofheaven;andIhaveheardThatshecondemnsthecompanyyoukeep。 DORINE Oadmirablepattern！Virtuousdame！ Shelivesthemodelofausterity; Butagehasbroughtthpietyuponher，Andshe’saprude，nowshecan’thelpherself。 Aslongasshecouldcapturemen’sattentionsShemadethemostofheradvantages; But，nowsheseesherbeautyvanhing，Shewantstoleavetheworld，that’sleavingher，AndinthespeciousveilofhaughtyvirtueShe’dhidetheweaknessofherworn—outcharms。 Thatthewaywithallyouroldcoquettes; Theyfindithardtoseetheirloversleave’em; Andthusabandoned，theirforlornestateCanfindnooccupationbutaprude’s。 Thesepiousdames，intheirausterity，Mustcarpateverything，andpardonnothing。 Theyloudlyblametheirneighbours’wayofliving，Notforreligion’ssake，butoutofenvy，Becausetheycan’tenduretoseeanotherEnjoythepleasuresagehasweanedthemfrom。 MADAMEPERNELLE（toElmire） There！That’sthekindofrigmaroletopleaseyou，Daughter—in—law。OneneverhasachanceTogetawordinedgewe，atyourhouse，Becausethladyholdsthefloorallday; Butnonetheless，Imeantohavemysay，too。 ItellyouthatmysondidnothingwerInallhlife，thantakethgodlymanIntohhousehold;heavensenthimhere，Inyourgreatneed，tomakeyouallrepent; Foryoursalvation，youmusthearkentohim; Hecensuresnothingbutdeserveshcensure。 Thesevits，theseassemblies，andtheseballs，Areallinventionsoftheevilspirit。 YouneverhearawordofgodlinessAtthem——butidlecackle，nonsense，flimflam。 Ourneighbouroftencomesinforashare，Thetalkfliesfast，andscandalfillstheair; Itmakesasoberperson’sheadgoround，Attheseassemblies，justtohearthesoundOfsomuchgab，withnotawordtosay; AndasalearnedmanremarkedonedayMostaptly，’ttheTowerofBabylon，Whereall，beyondalllimit，babbleon。 Andjusttotellyouhowthpointcamein （ToCleante） So！Nowthegentlemenmustsnicker，musthe？ GofindfoolslikeyourselftomakeyoulaughAnddon’t （ToElmire） Daughter，good—bye;notonewordmore。 Asforthhouse，Ileavethehalfunsaid; ButIshan’tsoonsetfootinitagain，（CuffingFlipotte） Come，you！Whatmakesyoudreamandstandagape，Hussy！I’llwarmyourearsinpropershape！ March，trollop，march！ SCENEII CLEANTE，DORINE CLEANTE Iwon’tescortherdown，Forfearshemightfallfoulofmeagain; Thegoodoldlady DORINE Blessus！WhatapitySheshouldn’thearthewayyouspeakofher！ She’dsurelytellyouyou’retoo\"good\"byhalf，Andthatshe’snotso\"old\"asallthat，neither！ CLEANTE Howshegotangrywithusallfornothing！ AndhowsheseemspossessedwithherTartuffe！ DORINE Hercasenothing，though，besideherson’s！ Toseehim，youwouldsayhe’stentimesworse！ Hconductinourlateunpleasantness[1] Hadwonhimmuchesteem，andprovedhcourageInserviceofhking;butnowhe’slikeAmanbesotted，sincehe’sbeensotakenWiththTartuffe。Hecallshimbrother，loveshimAhundredtimesasmuchasmother，son，Daughter，andwife。HetellshimallhsecretsAndletshimguidehacts，andrulehconscience。 Hefondlesandembraceshim;asweetheartCouldnot，Ithink，belovedmoretenderly; Attablehemusthavetheseatofhonour，WhilewithdelightourmasterseeshimeatAsmuchassixmencould;wemustgiveupThechoicesttidbitstohim;ifhebelches，（’taservantspeaking）[2] Masterexclaims:\"Godblessyou！\"——Oh，hedotesUponhim！he’shuniverse，hhero; He’slostinconstantadmiration，quoteshimOnalloccasions，takeshtriflingactsForwonders，andhwordsfororacles。 Thefellowknowshdupe，andmakesthemoston’t，Hefoolshimwithahundredmasksofvirtue，Getsmoneyfromhimallthetimebycanting，Andtakesuponhimselftocarpatus。 EvenhsillycoxcombofalackeyMakesithbusinesstoinstructustoo; Hecomeswithrollingeyestopreachatus，Andthrowsawayourribbons，rouge，andpatches。 Thewretch，theotherday，toreupakerchiefThathehadfound，pressedinthe/GoldenLegend/，CallingitahorridcrimeforustomingleThedevil’sfinerywithholythings。 [Footnote1:ReferringtotherebellioncalledLaFronde，duringtheminorityofLouXIV。] [Footnote2:Moliere’snote，insertedinthetextofalltheoldeditions。Itacuriousillustrationofthedesireforuniformityanddignityofstyleindramaticverseoftheseventeenthcentury，thatMolierefeelscalledontoapologizeforatouchofrealmliketh。Indeed，theselineswereevenomittedwhentheplaywasgiven。] SCENEIII ELMIRE，MARIANE，DAM，CLEANTE，DORINE ELMIRE（toCleante） You’reveryluckytohavemsedthespeechShegaveusatthedoor。Iseemyhusbandhomeagain。Hehasn’tseenmeyet，SoI’llgoupandwaittillhecomesin。 CLEANTE AndI，tosavetime，willawaithimhere; I’llmerelysaygood—morning，andbegone。 SCENEIV CLEANTE，DAM，DORINE DAM Iwhyou’dsayawordtohimaboutMyster’smarriage;IsuspectTartuffeOpposesit，andputsmyfatherupToallthesewretchedshifts。Youknow，besides，HownearlyI’mconcernedinitmyself; IfloveunitesmysterandValere，Ilovehstertoo;andifthmarriageWereto DORINE He’scoming。 SCENEV ORGON，CLEANTE，DORINE ORGON Ah！Goodmorning，brother。 CLEANTE Iwasjustgoing，butamgladtogreetyou。 Thingsarenotfaradvancedyet，inthecountry？ ORGON Dorine （ToCleante） Justwaitabit，please，brother—in—law。 LetmeallaymyfirstanxietyByaskingnewsaboutthefamily。 （ToDorine） Haseverythinggonewelltheselasttwodays？ What’shappening？Andhoweverybody？ DORINE Madamhadfever，andasplittingheadacheDaybeforeyesterday，alldayandevening。 ORGON AndhowaboutTartuffe？ DORINE Tartuffe？He’swell; He’smightywell;stout，fat，fair，rosy—lipped。 ORGON Poorman！ DORINE AteveningshehadnauseaAndcould’ttouchasinglethingforsupper，Herheadachestillwassosevere。 ORGON AndhowAboutTartuffe？ DORINE Hesuppedalone，beforeher，Andunctuouslyateuptwopartridges，Aswellashalfalego’mutton，deviled。 ORGON Poorman！ DORINE Allnightshecouldn’tgetawinkOfsleep，thefeverrackedherso;andweHadtositupwithhertilldaylight。 ORGON HowAboutTartuffe？ DORINE Gentlyinclinedtoslumber，Heleftthetable，wentintohroom，Gothimselfstraightintoagoodwarmbed，Andsleptquiteundturbeduntilnextmorning。 ORGON Poorman！ DORINE Atlastsheletusallpersuadeher，Andgotupcouragetobebled;andthenShewasrelievedatonce。 ORGON AndhowaboutTartuffe？ DORINE Hepluckedupcourageproperly，Bravelyentrenchedhsoulagainstallevils，Andtoreplacethebloodthatshehadlost，Hedrankatbreakfastfourhugedraughtsofwine。 ORGON Poorman！ DORINE Sonowtheybotharedoingwell; AndI’llgostraightwayandinformmymtressHowpleasedyouareatherrecovery。 SCENEVI ORGON，CLEANTE CLEANTE Brother，sheridiculesyoutoyourface; AndI，thoughIdon’twanttomakeyouangry，Musttellyoucandidlythatshe’squiteright。 Wassuchinfatuationeverheardof？ Andcanamanto—dayhavecharmstomakeyouForgetallelse，relievehpoverty，Givehimahome，andthen？ ORGON Stopthere，goodbrother，Youdonotknowthemanyou’respeakingof。 CLEANTE Sinceyouwillhaveitso，Idonotknowhim; Butafterall，totellwhatsortofmanHe ORGON Dearbrother，you’dbecharmedtoknowhim; Yourrapturesoverhimwouldhavenoend。 Heamanwhoah！infactamanWhoeverdoeshwill，knowsperfectpeace，Andcountsthewholeworldelse，assomuchdung。 Hconversehastransformedmequite;heweansMyheartfromeveryfriendship，teachesmeTohavenoloveforanythingonearth; AndIcouldseemybrother，children，mother，Andwife，alldie，andnevercare——asnap。 CLEANTE Yourfeelingsarehumane，Imustsay，brother！ ORGON Ah！Ifyou’dseenhim，asIsawhimfirst，YouwouldhavelovedhimjustasmuchasI。 Hecametochurcheachday，withcontritemien，Kneeled，onbothknees，rightoppositemyplace，Anddrewtheeyesofallthecongregation，Towatchthefervourofhprayerstoheaven; Withdeep—drawnsighsandgreatejaculations，Hehumblyksedtheearthateverymoment; AndwhenIleftthechurch，heranbeforemeTogivemeholywateratthedoor。 Ilearnedhpoverty，andwhohewas，Byquestioninghservant，wholikehim，Andgavehimgifts;butinhmodestyHealwayswantedtoreturnapart。 \"Ittoomuch，\"he’dsay，\"toomuchbyhalf; Iamnotworthyofyourpity。\"Then，WhenIrefusedtotakeitback，he’dgo，Beforemyeyes，andgiveittothepoor。 Atlengthheavenbademetakehimtomyhome，Andsincethatday，allseemstoprosperhere。 Hecensureseverything，andformysakeHeeventakesgreatinterestinmywife; Heletsmeknowwhooglesher，andseemsSixtimesasjealousasIammyself。 You’dnotbelievehowfarhzealcango: Hecallshimselfasinnerjustfortrifles; Themerestnothingenoughtoshockhim; Somuchso，thattheotherdayIheardhimAccusehimselfforhaving，whileatprayer，Intoomuchangercaughtandkilledaflea。 CLEANTE Zounds，brother，youaremad，Ithink！OrelseYou’remakingsportofme，withsuchaspeech。 Whatareyoudrivingatwithallthnonsense？ ORGON Brother，yourlanguagesmacksofathem; AndIsuspectyoursoul’salittletaintedTherewith。I’vepreachedtoyouascoreoftimesThatyou’lldrawdownsomejudgmentonyourhead。 CLEANTE Thattheusualstrainofallyourkind; Theymusthaveeveryoneasblindasthey。 Theycallyouathetifyouhavegoodeyes; Andifyoudon’tadoretheirvaingrimaces，You’veneitherfaithnorcareforsacredthings。 No，no;suchtalkcan’tfrightenme;IknowWhatIamsaying;heavenseesmyheart。 We’renotthedupesofallyourcantingmummers; Therearefalseheroes——andfalsedevotees; AndastrueheroesneveraretheonesWhomakemuchnoeabouttheirdeedsofhonour，Justsotruedevotees，whomweshouldfollow，Arenottheoneswhomakesomuchvainshow。 What！WillyoufindnodifferencebetweenHypocryandgenuinedevoutness？ Andwillyoutreatthembothalike，andpayTheself—samehonourbothtomasksandfacesSetartificebesidesincerity，Confusethesemblancewithreality，Esteemaphantomlikealivingperson，Andcounterfeitasgoodashonestcoin？ Men，forthemostpart，arestrangecreatures，truly！ Youneverfindthemkeepthegoldenmean; Thelimitsofgoodsense，toonarrowforthem，Mustalwaysbepassedby，ineachdirection; Theyoftenspoilthenoblestthings，becauseTheygotoofar，andpushthemtoextremes。 Imerelysaythbytheway，goodbrother。