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第12章

tartuffe-第12章

小说: tartuffe 字数: 每页4000字

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False suspicions may delude;
And good to evil oft is misconstrued。

ORGON
Must I construe as Christian charity
The wish to kiss my wife!

MADAME PERNELLE
You must; at least;
Have just foundation for accusing people;
And wait until you see a thing for sure。

ORGON
The devil! How could I see any surer?
Should I have waited till; before my eyes;
He 。 。 。 No; you'll make me say things quite improper。

MADAME PERNELLE
In short; 'tis known too pure a zeal inflames him;
And so; I cannot possibly conceive
That he should try to do what's charged against him。

ORGON
If you were not my mother; I should say
Such things! 。 。 。 I know not what; I'm so enraged!

DORINE (to Orgon)
Fortune has paid you fair; to be so doubted;
You flouted our report; now yours is flouted。

CLEANTE
We're wasting time here in the merest trifling;
Which we should rather use in taking measures
To guard ourselves against the scoundrel's threats。

DAMIS
You think his impudence could go far?

ELMIRE
For one; I can't believe it possible;
Why; his ingratitude would be too patent。

CLEANTE
Don't trust to that; he'll find abundant warrant
To give good colour to his acts against you;
And for less cause than this; a strong cabal
Can make one's life a labyrinth of troubles。
I tell you once again: armed as he is
You never should have pushed him quite so far。

ORGON
True; yet what could I do? The rascal's pride
Made me lose all control of my resentment。

CLEANTE
I wish with all my heart that some pretence
Of peace could be patched up between you two

ELMIRE
If I had known what weapons he was armed with;
I never should have raised such an alarm;
And my 。 。 。

ORGON (to Dorine; seeing Mr。 Loyal come in)
Who's coming now? Go quick; find out。
I'm in a fine state to receive a visit!



SCENE IV
ORGON; MADAME PERNELLE; ELMIRE; MARIANE; CLEANTE; DAMIS; DORINE; MR。
LOYAL


MR。 LOYAL (to Dorine; at the back of the stage)
Good day; good sister。 Pray you; let me see
The master of the house。

DORINE
He's occupied;
I think he can see nobody at present。

MR。 LOYAL
I'm not by way of being unwelcome here。
My coming can; I think; nowise displease him;
My errand will be found to his advantage。

DORINE
Your name; then?

MR。 LOYAL
Tell him simply that his friend
Mr。 Tartuffe has sent me; for his goods 。 。 。

DORINE (to Orgon)
It is a man who comes; with civil manners;
Sent by Tartuffe; he says; upon an errand
That you'll be pleased with。

CLEANTE (to Orgon)
Surely you must see him;
And find out who he is; and what he wants。

ORGON (to Cleante)
Perhaps he's come to make it up between us:
How shall I treat him?

CLEANTE
You must not get angry;
And if he talks of reconciliation
Accept it。

MR。 LOYAL (to Orgon)
Sir; good…day。 And Heaven send
Harm to your enemies; favour to you。

ORGON (aside to Cleante)
This mild beginning suits with my conjectures
And promises some compromise already。

MR。 LOYAL
All of your house has long been dear to me;
I had the honour; sir; to serve your father。

ORGON
Sir; I am much ashamed; and ask your pardon
For not recalling now your face or name。

MR。 LOYAL
My name is Loyal。 I'm from Normandy。
My office is court…bailiff; in despite
Of envy; and for forty years; thank Heaven;
It's been my fortune to perform that office
With honour。 So I've come; sir; by your leave
To render service of a certain writ 。 。 。

ORGON
What; you are here to 。 。 。

MR。 LOYAL
Pray; sir; don't be angry。
'Tis nothing; sir; but just a little summons:
Order to vacate; you and yours; this house;
Move out your furniture; make room for others;
And that without delay or putting off;
As needs must be 。 。 。

ORGON
I? Leave this house?

MR。 LOYAL
Yes; please; sir
The house is now; as you well know; of course;
Mr。 Tartuffe's。 And he; beyond dispute;
Of all your goods is henceforth lord and master
By virtue of a contract here attached;
Drawn in due form; and unassailable。

DAMIS (to Mr。 Loyal)
Your insolence is monstrous; and astounding!

MR。 LOYAL (to Damis)
I have no business; sir; that touches you;

(Pointing to Orgon)
This is the gentleman。 He's fair and courteous;
And knows too well a gentleman's behaviour
To wish in any wise to question justice。

ORGON
But 。 。 。

MR。 LOYAL
Sir; I know you would not for a million
Wish to rebel; like a good citizen
You'll let me put in force the court's decree。

DAMIS
Your long black gown may well; before you know it;
Mister Court…bailiff; get a thorough beating。

MR。 LOYAL (to Orgon)
Sir; make your son be silent or withdraw。
I should be loath to have to set things down;
And see your names inscribed in my report。

DORINE (aside)
This Mr。 Loyal's looks are most disloyal。

MR。 LOYAL
I have much feeling for respectable
And honest folk like you; sir; and consented
To serve these papers; only to oblige you;
And thus prevent the choice of any other
Who; less possessed of zeal for you than I am
Might order matters in less gentle fashion。

ORGON
And how could one do worse than order people
Out of their house?

MR。 LOYAL
Why; we allow you time;
And even will suspend until to…morrow
The execution of the order; sir。
I'll merely; without scandal; quietly;
Come here and spend the night; with half a score
Of officers; and just for form's sake; please;
You'll bring your keys to me; before retiring。
I will take care not to disturb your rest;
And see there's no unseemly conduct here。
But by to…morrow; and at early morning;
You must make haste to move your least belongings;
My men will help youI have chosen strong ones
To serve you; sir; in clearing out the house。
No one could act more generously; I fancy;
And; since I'm treating you with great indulgence;
I beg you'll do as well by me; and see
I'm not disturbed in my discharge of duty。

ORGON
I'd give this very minute; and not grudge it;
The hundred best gold louis I have left;
If I could just indulge myself; and land
My fist; for one good square one; on his snout。

CLEANTE (aside to Orgon)
Careful!don't make things worse。

DAMIS
Such insolence!
I hardly can restrain myself。 My hands
Are itching to be at him。

DORINE
By my faith;
With such a fine broad back; good Mr。 Loyal;
A little beating would become you well。

MR。 LOYAL
My girl; such infamous words are actionable。
And warrants can be issued against women。

CLEANTE (to Mr。 Loyal)
Enough of this discussion; sir; have done。
Give us the paper; and then leave us; pray。

MR。 LOYAL
Then /au revoir/。 Heaven keep you from disaster!

ORGON
May Heaven confound you both; you and your master!



SCENE V
ORGON; MADAME PERNELLE; ELMIRE; CLEANTE; MARIANE; DAMIS; DORINE


ORGON
Well; mother; am I right or am I not?
This writ may help you now to judge the matter。
Or don't you see his treason even yet?

MADAME PERNELLE
I'm all amazed; befuddled; and beflustered!

DORINE (to Orgon)
You are quite wrong; you have no right to blame him;
This action only proves his good intentions。
Love for his neighbour makes his virtue perfect;
And knowing money is a root of evil;
In Christian charity; he'd take away
Whatever things may hinder your salvation。

ORGON
Be still。 You always need to have that told you。

CLEANTE (to Orgon)
Come; let us see what course you are to follow。

ELMIRE
Go and expose his bold ingratitude。
Such action must invalidate the contract;
His perfidy must now appear too black
To bring him the success that he expects。



SCENE VI
VALERE; ORGON; MADAME PERNELLE; ELMIRE; CLEANTE; MARIANE; DAMIS;
DORINE


VALERE
'Tis with regret; sir; that I bring bad news;
But urgent danger forces me to do so。
A close and intimate friend of mine; who knows
The interest I take in what concerns you;
Has gone so far; for my sake; as to break
The secrecy that's due to state affairs;
And sent me word but now; that leaves you only
The one expedient of sudden flight。
The villain who so long imposed upon you;
Found means; an hour ago; to see the prince;
And to accuse you (among other things)
By putting in his hands the private strong…box
Of a state…criminal; whose guilty secret;
You; failing in your duty as a subject;
(He says) hav

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