Scene + 

VI + 

Orgon, Damis, Tartuffe. + 

Orgon + 

Just Heaven! Can what I hear be credited? + 

Tartuffe + 

Yes, brother, I am wicked, I am guilty, + 

A miserable sinner, steeped in evil, + 

The greatest criminal that ever lived. + 

Each moment of my life is stained with soilures; + 

And all is but a mass of crime and filth; + 

Heaven, for my punishment, I see it plainly, + 

Would mortify me now. Whatever wrong + 

They find to charge me with, I’ll not deny it + 

But guard against the pride of self-defence. + 

Believe their stories, arm your wrath against me, + 

And drive me like a villain from your house; + 

I cannot have so great a share of shame + 

But what I have deserved a greater still. + 

Orgon + 

To his son. You miscreant, can you dare, with such a falsehood, + 

To try to stain the whiteness of his virtue? + 

Damis + 

What! The feigned meekness of this hypocrite + 

Makes you discredit⁠ ⁠… + 

Orgon + 

Silence, cursed plague! + 

Tartuffe + 

Ah! Let him speak; you chide him wrongfully; + 

You’d do far better to believe his tales. + 

Why favour me so much in such a matter? + 

How can you know of what I’m capable? + 

And should you trust my outward semblance, brother, + 

Or judge therefrom that I’m the better man? + 

No, no; you let appearances deceive you; + 

I’m anything but what I’m thought to be, + 

Alas! and though all men believe me godly, + 

The simple truth is, I’m a worthless creature. + 

To Damis. Yes, my dear son, say on, and call me traitor, + 

Abandoned scoundrel, thief, and murderer; + 

Heap on me names yet more detestable, + 

And I shall not gainsay you; I’ve deserved them; + 

I’ll bear this ignominy on my knees, + 

To expiate in shame the crimes I’ve done. + 

Orgon + 

To Tartuffe. Ah, brother, ’tis too much! + 

To his son. You’ll not relent, + 

You blackguard? + 

Damis + 

What! His talk can so deceive you⁠ ⁠… + 

Orgon + 

Silence, you scoundrel! + 

To Tartuffe. Brother, rise, I beg you. + 

To his son. Infamous villain! + 

Damis + 

Can he⁠ ⁠… + 

Orgon + 

Silence! + 

Damis + 

What⁠ ⁠… + 

Orgon + 

Another word, I’ll break your every bone. + 

Tartuffe + 

Brother, in God’s name, don’t be angry with him! + 

I’d rather bear myself the bitterest torture + 

Than have him get a scratch on my account. + 

Orgon + 

To his son. Ungrateful monster! + 

Tartuffe + 

Stop. Upon my knees + 

I beg you pardon him⁠ ⁠… + 

Orgon + 

Throwing himself on his knees too, and embracing Tartuffe. + 

Alas! How can you? + 

To his son. Villain! Behold his goodness! + 

Damis + 

So⁠ ⁠… + 

Orgon + 

Be still. + 

Damis + 

What! I⁠ ⁠… + 

Orgon + 

Be still, I say. I know your motives + 

For this attack. You hate him, all of you; + 

Wife, children, servants, all let loose upon him, + 

You have recourse to every shameful trick + 

To drive this godly man out of my house; + 

The more you strive to rid yourselves of him, + 

The more I’ll strive to make him stay with me; + 

I’ll have him straightway married to my daughter, + 

Just to confound the pride of all of you. + 

Damis + 

What! Will you force her to accept his hand? + 

Orgon + 

Yes, and this very evening, to enrage you, + 

Young rascal! Ah! I’ll brave you all, and show you + 

That I’m the master, and must be obeyed. + 

Now, down upon your knees this instant, rogue, + 

And take back what you said, and ask his pardon. + 

Damis + 

Who? I? Ask pardon of that cheating scoundrel⁠ ⁠… ? + 

Orgon + 

Do you resist, you beggar, and insult him? + 

A cudgel, here! a cudgel! + 

To Tartuffe. Don’t restrain me. + 

To his son. Off with you! Leave my house this instant, sirrah, + 

And never dare set foot in it again. + 

Damis + 

Yes, I will leave your house, but⁠ ⁠… + 

Orgon + 

Leave it quickly. + 

You reprobate, I disinherit you, + 

And give you, too, my curse into the bargain. + 