[Music] so [Music] so [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] so [Music] [Applause] so [Applause] so [Music] [Music] hmm [Music] so [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] so [Music] [Music] [Laughter] oh hello i didn't see you come in have you been there long it's just me i'm over here reading molly air oh speaking of moliere we have a treat for you welcome to week 19 of our virtual reading series here by plague spring company the virtual reading group of shakespeare and company here in minnesota this week we are bringing you tartuffe by moliere it's translated by richard wilbur it's very funny it's a story of love it's a story of deception redemption so sit back relax and enjoy this silly satire and most beloved comedy tartuffe it's time i left this place no i can't keep up you walk at such a pace don't trouble child no need to show me out it's not your manners i'm concerned about we merely pay you the respect we owe but mother why this hurry must you go i must this house appalls me no one in it will pay attention for a single minute children i take my leave with much vex in spirit i offer good advice but you won't hear it you all break it in chatter on and on it's like a mad house with the keeper gone well if girl you talk too much and i'm afraid you're far too saucy for a ladies maid you push in everywhere and have your say but you boy grow more foolish every day to think my grandson should be such a dance i did a hundred times if i've said it once if you keep the course on which you've started you'll leave your worthy father broken-hearted i think and you his sister seems so pure so shy so innocent so demure but you know what they say about still waters are pity parents with secretive daughters oh now mother and as for you child let me add that your behavior is extremely bad and a poor example for these children too their dear dead mother did it far better than you you're much too free with money and i'm distressed to see you so elaborately dressed when it's one's husband that one aims to please one has no need for costly frickeries oh madam really ah her brother sir and i respect and love you yet if i were my son this lady's good and pious spouse i wouldn't make you welcome in my house now you are full of worldly counsel which i fear aren't suitable for decent folk to hear i've spoken bluntly sir but it behooves us not to mince words when righteous further moves us your man tartuffe is full of holy speech and practices precisely what he preaches he's a fine man and should be listened to i will not hear him mocked by fools like you oh good god do you expect me to submit to the tyranny of that carpet hypocrite must we forego all joys and satisfactions because that bigot censures all our actions to hear him talk and he talks all the time there's nothing one can do that's not a crime he rails it with everything your dear tartuffe whatever he reproves deserves reproof he's out to save your souls and all of you must love him as my son would have you do ah no grandmother i could never take to such a rascal even for my father's sake that's how i feel and i shall not dissemble his every action makes me sieve and tremble with helpless anger and i have no doubt that he and i will shortly have it out surely it is a shame and a disgrace to see this man usurp his master's place to see this bad girl who when first he came had not a shoe or shoestring to his name so far forget himself that he behaves as if the house were his and we his slaves well mark my words your souls would fare far better if you obeyed his precepts to the letter well you see him as a saint i'm far less odd in fact i see right through him he is a fraud nonsense his man laurent's the same or worse i'd not trust either with a penny purse i can't say what his servant's morals may be his own great goodness i can guarantee you all regard him with distaste and fear because he tells you what you're loath to hear it ends your sins points out your moral flaws and humbly strives to further heaven's cause if sin is all that bothers him why is it he's so upset when folk drop in to visit is heaven so outraged by a social call that he must prophesy against it all i'll tell you what i think you ask me he's jealous of my mistress company rubbish he's not a lone child in complaining of all your promiscuous entertaining why the whole neighborhood's upset i know by all these carriages that come and go with crowds of guests parading in and out and noisy servants lloyd to ring about in all of this i'm sure there's nothing vicious but why give people cause to be suspicious well they need no cause they'll talk in any case madam this world would be a joyless place if fearing what malicious tongues might say we locked our doors and turned our friends away and even if one did such a dreary thing do you think those tongues would cease their chattering one can't fight slander it's a losing battle let us instead ignore their tittle tattle let's strive to live by conscience clear decrees and let the gossips gossip as they please if there's talk against us i know the source it's daphne and her little husband of course those who have the greatest cause for guilt and shame are quickest to besmirch a neighbor's name when there's a chance for libel they never miss it i when something can be made to seem illicit they're off at once to spread the joyous news adding to fact what fantasies they choose but talking up their neighbors indiscretions they seek to camouflage their own transgressions hoping that others innocent affairs will lend a hue of innocence to theirs or that their own black guilt will come to seem part of a general shady color scheme all that is quite irrelevant i doubt that anyone's more virtuous and about than dear or wrong and i'm informed that she condemns your mode of life most vehemently oh yes she's strict devout and has no taint of worldliness in short she seems a saint but it was time which taught her that disguise she's thus because she can't be otherwise so long as her attractions could enthrall she flounced and flirted and enjoyed it all but now that they're no longer what they were she quits a world which fast is quitting her and wears a fail of virtue to conceal her bankrupt beauty and her lost appeal that's what becomes of old coquettes today distressed when all their lovers fall away they see no recourse but to play the prude and so confer a style on solitude thereafter they're severe with everyone condemning all our actions pardoning none and claiming to be pure austere and zealous when if the truth were known they're merely jealous and cannot bear to see another know the pleasures time has forced them to forgo that sort of talk is what you like to hear therefore you have us all keep still my dear while madam raffles on the live long day nevertheless i mean to have my say i tell you that you're blessed to have tartuffe dwelling as my son's guest beneath this roof the heaven hath sent him to forestall its wrath by leading you once more to the true path that all he represents is reprehensible and that you had better heed him and be sensible these visits balls and parties in which you revel are nothing but inventions of the devil one never hears a word that's edifying nothing but chief and foolishness and lying as well as vicious gossip in which one's neighbors cut cut two bits with epi foil and saber people of sense are driven half insane at such affairs where noise and folly rain and reputations perish thick and fast as a wise preacher said on sunday last parties are towers of babylon because the guests all battle on with never pause and then he told a story which i think is i heard that laugh sir and i saw that wink go find your silly friends and laugh some more enough i'm going don't show me the door i leave this household much dismayed and fixed i cannot say when i shall see you next wake up don't stand there gaping into space i'll slap some sense into that stupid face whoa move you [ __ ] i think i'll stay behind i want no further pieces of her mind how that old lady oh what wouldn't she say if she could hear you speak of her that way she thank you for the lady but i'm sure she'd find the old a little premature mine what a scene she made what had din and how this man tartuffe has taken her in yes but her son is even worse deceived his folly must be seen to be believed in the late troubles he played an able part and served his king with wise and loyal heart but he's quite lost his senses since he fell beneath tartuffe's infatuating spell he calls him brother and loves him as his life referring him to mother child or wife in him and him alone will he confide he's made him his confessor and his guide and he pets and pampers him with love more tender than any pretty mistress could engender gives him the place of honor when they dine delights to see him gorging like a swine stuffs him with dainties till his guts destend and when he belches cries oh god bless you fred in short he is mad he worships him you don't thinking each act a miracle each word of racula as those that moses heard tartuffe much pleased to find so easy a victim hasn't a hundred ways beguiled and tricked him milked him of money and with his permission established here a sort of inquisition even laurent is lackey dares to give us arrogant advice on how to live he sermonizes us in thundering tones and confiscates our ribbons and our clones last week he tore a kerchief into pieces because he found it pressed in a life of jesus oh he said it was a sin to juxtapose unholy vanities and holy prose you did well not to follow she stood at the door and said verbatim all that she'd said before i saw my husband coming i think at best i go upstairs now and take a little rest i'll wait and greet him here then i must go i really only have time to say hello oh sound him about my sister's wedding please i think tartuffe's against it and that he's been urging father to withdraw his blessing as you well know all i'd find that most distressing unless my sister and belair can marry my hopes to when his sister will miscarry and i'm determined he's coming ah brother good day well welcome back i'm sorry i can't stay how was the country blooming i trust in green excuse me brother one moment doreen to put my mind at rest i always learn the household news the moment i return has all been well these two days i've been gone how are the family what's been going on your wife two days ago had a bad fever oh and a fierce headache which refused to leave her ah and her tooth tartuffe why he's round and red bursting with health and excellently fed poor fellow that night the mistress was unable to take a single bite at the dinner table her headache pains she said were simply hellish oh and our tooth he ate his meal with relish and zealously devoured in her presence a leg of mutton and abrasive pheasants or fellow well the pains continued strong and so she tossed and tossed the whole night long now i see cold now burning like a flame we sat beside her bed till morning came ah and our tooth why having eaten he rose and sought his room already in a doze got into his warm bed and snored away in perfect peace until the break of day or fellow after much ado we talked her into dispatching someone for the doctor he bled her and her fever quickly fell and her tooth he bore it very well to keep his cheerfulness at any cost and make up for the blood madame had lost he drank at lunch four beakers full of port poor fellow both are doing well in short i'll go and tell madame that you've expressed keen sympathy and anxious interest that girl was laughing in your face and though i have no wish to offend you even so i'm bound to say that she has some she had some excuse how can you possibly be such a goose and are you so gazed by this man's hocus pocus that all the world saved him is out of focus you've given him clothing shelter food and care why must you also brother stop right there you do not know the man of whom you speak i grant you that but my judgment's not so weak that i can't tell by his effect on others ah when you meet him you two will be like brothers there's been no loftier soul since time began he is a man who a man who an excellent man to keep his precepts is to be reborn and view this dungeon of a world with scorn yes thanks to him i'm a changed man indeed under his tutelage my soul's been freed from earthly loves and every human tie my mother children brother and wife could die and i'd not feel a single moment's pain oh that's a fine sentiment brother most humane oh had you seen tartuffe as i first knew him your heart like mine would have surrendered to him he used to come into our church each day and humbly kneel nearby and start to pray he'd draw the eyes of everybody there by the deep fervor of his heartfelt prayer he sighed weep and sometimes with the sound of rapture he would bend and kiss the ground and when i rose to go he'd run before to offer me holy water at the door his serving man no less devout than he informed me of his master's poverty i gave him gifts but in his humbleness he begged me every time to give him less oh that's too much he cried too much by twice i don't deserve it the half sir would suffice and when i wouldn't take it back he'd share half of it with the poor right then and there at length heaven prompted me to take him in to dwell with us and free our souls from sin he guides our lives and to protect my honor stays by my wife and keeps an eye upon her he tells me whom she sees and all she does and seems more jealous than ever i was oh and how austere he is why he can detect a mortal sin where you would least expect in smallest trifles he's extremely strict last week his conscience was severely pricked because while praying he had caught a flea and killed it so he felt too wrathfully good god man have you lost your common sense or is this all some joke at my expense how can you stand there in all sobriety brother brother you're language savers of impiety too much free thinking's made your faith unsteady and as i've warned you many times already to get you into trouble before you're through so i've been told before by dukes like you being blind you'd have all others blind as well the clear-eyed man you call an infidel and he who sees through humbug and pretense is charged by you with want of reverence oh spare me your warnings brother i have no fear of speaking out for you in heaven to hear against affected zeal and pious knavery there's true and false impiety as in bravery and just as those whose courage shines the most in battle are the least inclined to boast those so those whose hearts are true and purely and lowly don't make a flashy show of being holy there is a vast difference so it seems to me between true piety and hypocrisy how do you fail to see it may i ask is not a face different from a mask cannot sincerity and cunning our reality and semblance be told apart scarecrows just like men and do you hold that a false coin as is is as just as gold ah brother man's a strangely fashioned creature who seldom is content to follow nature but recklessly pursues his inclination beyond the narrow bonds of moderation and often by transgressing reasons laws perverts a lofty aim or noble cause a passing observation but it applies i see dear brother that yet you're profoundly wise you harbor all the insight of the age you are our one clear mind our only sage the air is oracle it's cato too and all mankind are fools compared to you brother i don't pretend to be a sage nor have i all the wisdom of the age there's just one insight i would dare to claim i know that true and false are not the same and just as there is nothing i more revere than a soul whose faith is steadfast and sincere nothing that i more cherish and admire than honest zeal and true religious fire so there is nothing that i find more base than species piety's dishonest face and the bold montebanks these hysterias the whose impetus memories and hollow shows exploit our love of heaven and make a jest of all that men think holiest and best these calculating souls who offer prayers not to their maker but as public wares and seek to buy respect and reputation with lifted eye and sighs of exaltation these charlatans i say whose pilgrim souls proceed by way of heaven toward earthly goals who weep and pray and swindle and extort who preach the monkish life but haunt the court who make their zeal the partner of their vice such men are vengeful sly and cold as ice and when there is an enemy to defame they cloak their spite in fair religion's name their private spleen and malice being made to sema high and virtuous crusade until to mankind's reverent applause they crucify their foe in heaven's cause such names are all too common yet for the wise true piety isn't hard to recognize and happily these present times provide us with bright examples to instruct and guide us consider airstone and perlady look at oronte el simadas elsie damas clitondra their view virtue was acknowledged who could doubt it but you won't hear them beat the drum about it they never us they're they're never ostensious never vain and their religions moderate and humane it's not their way to criticize and chide they think sensoriness a mark of pride and therefore letting others preach and rave they show by deeds how christians should behave they think don't evil of their fellow man but judge of him as kindly as they can they don't intrigue and wangle and conspire they lead a good life oh it is the one desire the sinner wakes no rakerness hate in them it is sin alone which they condemn nor do they try to show a fearsome zeal for heaven's cause then heaven itself could feel these men i honor these men i advocate as models for us all to emulate your man is not that sort at all i fear and while you praise him is quite sincere i think that you've been dreadfully dreadfully dreadfully deluded now then dear brother is your speech concluded well yes your servant sir no no brother wait there's one more matter you agreed of late that young valera might have your daughter's hand i did and set a date i understand quite so you've now postponed it is that true no doubt the match alone no longer pleases you who knows do you mean to go back on your word i won't say that has anything occurred which might entitle you to break your pledge perhaps why must you hem and haul and hedge the boy asked me to send you in this affair it's been a pleasure but what shall i tell the lair whatever you like but what have you decided what are your plans i plan sir to be guided by heaven's will oh god come brother don't talk rat you've given valeria your word will you keep it or not good day this looks like for velaire's undoing i'll go and warn him there's trouble brewing maryam yes father a word with you come here what are you looking for eavesdroppers dear i'm making sure we're we shan't be overheard someone in there could catch our every word ah good we're safe now marianne my child you're a sweet girl who's tractable and mild whom i hold dear and think most highly of i'm deeply grateful father for your love well that's well said daughter and you can repay me if in all things you'll cheerfully obey me please you sir is what delights me best good good now what do you think of tartuffe our guest i sir yes the way your answer think it through oh dear i'll say whatever you wish me too that's wisely said my daughter say of him then that he's the very worthiest of men and that you're fond of him and would rejoice in being his wife if that should be my choice well what what's that i well forgive me pray did you not hear me of whom sir must i say that i'm fond of him and we rejoice in being his wife if that should be your choice why of tartuffe but father that's false you know why would you have me say what is in so because i'm resolved it shall be true that it's my wish should be enough for you you can't mean father yes tartuffe shall be allied by marriage to this family and he's to be your husband is that clear it's a father's privilege what are you doing in here is curiosity so fierce of passion with you that you must eavesdrop in this fashion there's lately been a rumor going about based on some hunch or chance remark no doubt that you mean mary ann to wed tartuffe i've laughed it off of course it's just a spoof oh you find it so incredible well yes i do i won't accept that story even from you you'll believe it when the thing is done yes yes of course go on and have your fun i've never been more serious in my life daughter i mean it you're to be his wife oh don't believe your father it's all a hoax see here young woman oh come sir no more jokes you can't fool us how dare you talk that way all right then we believe you sad to say but how a man like you who looks so wise and wears a mustache of such splendid size can be so foolish as to silence please my girl you take too many liberties i'm master here as you must not forget let's do let's discuss this calmly don't be upset you can't be serious sir about this plan what should that bigot want with marianne praying and fasting ought to keep him busy and then in terms of wealth and rank what is he why should a man of property like you pick out a beggar son-in-law that will do speak of his poverty with reverence he is his is a pure and saintly indigence which far transcends all worldly pride and health he lost his fortune as he says himself because he cared for heaven alone and so was careless of his interests here below i mean to get him out of his present straights and help him to recover his estates which in his part of the world have no small faith poor though he is he's a gentleman just the same yes so he tells us and sir it seems to me such pride goes very ill with piety a man whose spirit spurns this dungy earth ought not to brag of lands and noble birth such worldly arrogance will hardly square with meek devotion and the life of prayer but this approach i see has drawn a blank let's speak then not of his person but not his rank doesn't it seem to you a trifle grim to give a girl like her to a man like him when two are so ill-suited can't you see what the sad consequence is bound to be a young girl's virtue is imperiled sir when such a marriage is imposed on her for if one's bridegroom isn't to one's taste it's hardly an inducement to be chased and many a man with horns upon his brow has made his wife the thing that she is now it's hard to be a faithful wife in short to certain husbands of a certain sort and he who gives his daughter to a man she hates must answer for her sins at heaven's gates think sir before you play so risky a role this servant girl presumes to save my soul oh you would do well to ponder what i've said daughter we'll disregard this dunderhead just trust your father's judgment oh i'm aware that i once promised you to young belair but now i hear he gambles which greatly shocks me what's more i've doubts about his orthodoxy his visits to church i note are very few would you have him go at the same hours as you and kneel nearby to be sure to be seen i could dispense with such remarks doreen tartuffe however is sure of heaven's blessing and that's the only treasure worth possessing this match will bring you joys beyond all measure your cup will overflow with every pleasure you two will interchange your faithful loves like two sweet cherubs or two eternal doves no harsh word shall be heard no frown be seen and he shall make you happy as a queen and she'll make him a cuckold just wait and see what language oh he's a man of destiny he's made for horns and what the stars demand your daughter's virtue surely can't withstand don't interrupt me further why can't you learn that certain things are none of your concern it's for your own sake that i interfere most kind of you now hold your tongue do you i didn't love you don't spare me yours i love you sir in spite of your objection last i can't bear sir for your honors sake to let you make this ludicrous mistake do you mean to go on talking if i didn't protest this sinful marriage my conscience couldn't rest if you don't hold your tongue you little shrew what lost your temper a pious man like you yes yes you talk and talk i'm maddened by it once and for all i tell you to be quiet well i'll be quiet but i'll be thinking hard think all you like but you would better guard that saucy tongue of yours around now child i've weighed this matter fully it drives me wild that i can't speak tartuffe is no young dandy but still his person he's as sweet as candy is such that even if you shouldn't care for his other merits they'll make a lovely pair if i were she no man would marry me against my inclination and go scott free he'd learn before the wedding day was over how readily a wife can take a lover seems you treat my orders as a joke why what's the matter it was not to you i spoke what were you doing i'm talking to myself that's all ah one more bit of impudence and gall and i shall give her a good slap in the face daughter you shall accept and with good grace the husband i've selected your wedding day why don't you talk to yourself i have nothing to say come just one word no thank you sir i pass come speak i'm waiting i'd not be such an ass in short dear daughter i mean to be obeyed and you must bow to the sound choice i've made i'd not wed such a monster even in jest daughter that maid of yours is a thorough pest she makes me sinfully annoyed and nettle i can't speak further my nerves are too unsettled she's so upset me by her insulin talk i'll calm myself by going for a walk well have you lost your tongue girl must i play your part and say the lines that you want to say faced with a fate so hideous and absurd can you not utter one dissenting word what good would it do a father's power is great resist him now it will be too late tell him one cannot love at a father's whim that you shall marry for yourself not him that since it's you who are to be the bride it's you not he who must be satisfied and that if his tartuffe is so sublime he's free to marry him at any time i've bowed so long to father strict control i couldn't oppose him now to save my soul oh come come mary anne do listen to reason won't you the lair has asked your hand do you love him or don't you oh how unjust of you oh what can you mean by asking such a question dear doreen you know the depth of my affection for him i've told you a hundred times how i adore him i don't believe in everything i hear who knows if your professions were sincere they were doreen and you do me wrong to doubt it heaven knows that i've been all too frank about it you love him then more than i can express and he i take it cares for you no less i think so and you both with equal fire burn to be married that is our one desire what of tartuffe then what of your father's plan i'll kill myself if i'm forced to wed that man oh i hadn't thought of that recourse how splendid just die and all your troubles will be ended a fine solution oh it maddens me to hear you talk in that self-pitying key maureen how harsh you are it's most unfair you have no sympathy for my despair well i've done it all for people who talk drivel and faced with difficulties whine and snivel no doubt i'm timid but it would be wrong true love requires a heart that's firm and strong i'm strong in my affection for valere but coping with my father is his affair but if your father's brain has grown so cracked over his dear tar tooth that he can retract his blessing though your wedding day was named it's surely not valere who's who's to be blamed if i defied my father as you suggest would it not seem unmatedly at best shall i defend my love at the expense of brazenness and disobedience shall i parade my heart's desires and flaunts no no i ask nothing of you clearly you want to be madame tartuffe and i feel bound not to oppose a wish so very sound but right have i to criticize the match indeed my dear the man's a brilliant catch miss your tartuffe now there's a man of weight yes yes monsieur [Music] i'm bound to state is quite a person that's not to be denied it will be no little thing to be his bride the world already rings with his renown he's a great noble in his native town his ears are red he has a pink complexion and all in all he'll suit you to perfection your god oh how triumphant you will feel at having caught a husband so ideal oh dude stop teasing and use your cleverness to get me out of this appalling mess advise me and i'll do whatever you say ah no a dutiful daughter must obey her father even if he weds her to an ape you have a bright future i struggle to escape tartuffe will take you back where his family lives to a small town a swarm with relatives uncles and cousins whom you'll be charmed to meet you'll be received at once by the elite calling upon the bailiff's wife no less even perhaps upon the mayor's who'll sit you down in the best kitchen chair then once a year you'll dance at the village fair to the drone of bagpipes two of them in fact and see a puppet show or an animal act your husband you turn my blood to ice stop torturing me and give me your advice your servant madam maureen i beg of you no you deserve this marriage it must go through doreen no not tartuffe you know i think him partoof's your cup of tea and you shall drink him i've always told you everything and we're lied no you deserved to be tartuffified well since you mock me and refuse to care i'll henceforth seek my solace in despair despair shall be my counselor and friend and help me bring my sorrows to an end up there now come back my anger has subsided you do deserve some pity i've decided serene father makes me undergo this dreadful martyrdom i'll die i know don't fret it won't be difficult to discover some plan of action but here's valere your lover madam i've just received some wondrous news regarding to which i would like to hear your views what news you're marrying tartuffe i find that father does have such a match in mind your has just this minute said that it's tartuffe he wishes me to what can he be serious oh indeed he can he's clearly set his heart upon the plan and what position do you propose to take madam why i don't know for seven's sake you don't know no well advise me do marry the man that's my advice to you that's your advice yes truly oh absolutely you couldn't choose more wisely more astutely thanks for this council i'll i'll follow it of course i'm sure it will not cause you no remorse ah to give it didn't cause your heart to break i gave it madam only for your sake let's see which fool will be the stubborner so i am nothing to you it was flat deception when you i'm sorry one second i'm out of words well it was not by me that you were swayed no your decision was already made though now to save appearances you protested you're betraying me at my behest alas you're free to think so if you choose i choose to think so and that's you i choose to think so and here's a bit of news you've spurned my hand but i know where to turn for a kind of treatment as you shall quickly learn i'm sure you do your noble qualities inspire affection forget my qualities please they don't inspire you over much i find but there's another lady i have in mind whose sweet and generous nature will not scorn to compensate me for the loss i have borne i'm no great loss and i'm sure that you'll transfer your heart quite painlessly from me to her i'll do my best to take it in my stride the pain i feel at being cast aside time and forgetfulness may put an end to or if i can forget i shall pretend to no self-respecting person is expected to go on loving once he's been rejected now that's a fine high-minded sentiment wonders one to which any sane man would assent would you refer it if i pined away in hopeless passion till my dying day am i to yield you to my rival's arms and not console myself with another's charms go then console yourself don't hesitate i wish you two indeed i cannot wait you wish me to yes that's the final straw madam farewell your wish shall be my law splendid uh this breach remember is of your making is you who've turned me to the step i am taking of course remember too that i am merely following your example i see that clearly will you go then i've got a thought here that i'd like to say it's coming to me yes i i might have forgotten something one second just a moment a couple more seconds maybe like five ah you shall never see my face again excellent yes what i what's that what did you say nothing you're dreaming ah oh well i'm on my way farewell madam farewell if you ask me both of you are as mad as mad can be do stop this nonsense now i've only let you squabble so long to see where it would get you whoa there mr vallaire what is this doreen come here no no my heart's still full of spleen don't hold me back her wish must be obeyed stop it's too late now my decision's made oh pooh he hates the side of me that's plain i'll go and so deliver him from pain oh now you run away come back no no nothing you say will keep me here let go she cannot bear my presence i perceive to spare her for the torment i shall leave again you'll not escape sir don't you try it i'll come here you two stop fussing and be quiet what do you want of me what is the point of this we're going to make a little armistice now weren't you silly to get so overheated didn't you see how badly i was treated and aren't you a simpleton to have lost your head didn't you hear the hateful things he said you're both great fools her soul desire valaire is to be yours in marriage to that i'll swear he loves you only and he wants no wife but you marianne on that i'll stake my life and why you advised me so i cannot see on such a question why ask advice of me oh you're impossible give me your hands you two you first why and now a hand from you what are you doing there a perfect fit you suit each other better than you'll admit come don't look so hardy give a man a look of kindness won't you mary anne i tell you lovers are completely mad now come confess that you were very bad to have hurt my feelings that you did just now i have a complaint you must allow you must allow that you are most unpleasant let's table that discussion for the present your father has a plan which must be stopped advise us then what means must we adopt we'll use all manner of means and all at once your father's adult he's acting like a dunce therefore you'd better humor the old fossil pretend to yield to him be sweet and docile and then postpone as often as necessary the day on which you have agreed to marry you'll this gain time and time will turn the trick sometimes for instance you'll be taken sick and that will seem good reason for delay or some bad omen will make you change the day you'll dream of muddy water or you'll pass a dead man's hearse or break a looking glass if all else fails no man can marry you unless you take his ring and say i do but now let's separate if they should find us talking here our plot might be divined go to your friends and tell them what's occurred and have them urge her father to keep his word meanwhile we'll we'll stir her brother into action and get elmira as well to join our faction goodbye though each of us will do his best it's your true heart on which my hope shall rest regardless of what my father may decide none but belair shall claim me as his bride oh all those words contempt me come what will oh lovers lovers their tongues are never still be off now one last word no time to chat you leave by this door and you leave by that may lightening strike me even as i speak may all men call me cowardly and weak if any fear or scruple holds me back from settling things at once with that great quack now don't give way to violent emotion your father's merely talked about this notion and words and deeds are far from being one much that is talked about is left undone no i must stop that scoundrel's machinations i'll go and tell him off i'm out of patience do calm down and be practical i'd rather my mistress dealt with him and with your father she has some influence with tartuffe i've noted he hangs upon her word seems most devoted and may indeed be smitten by her charm pray heaven it's true to do our cause no harm she sent for him just now to sound him out on this affair you're so incensed about she'll find out where he stands and tell him too what dreadful strife and trouble will ensue if he lends continence to your father's plan i couldn't get in to see him but his man says that he's almost finished with his prayers go now i'll catch him when he comes downstairs i want to hear this conference and i will no they must be alone oh i'll keep still not you i know your temper you'd start a brow brawl and shout and stamp your foot and spoil it all now go on i won't i have a perfect right lord you're a nuisance he's coming get out of sight hang up my hair shirt put my scourge in place and pray laurent for heaven's perpetual grace i'm going to the prison now to share my last few coins with the poor wretches there god what affectation what you think you wished to see me yes for mercy sake of please take this handkerchief before you speak what cover that bazoom girl the flesh is weak and unclean thoughts are difficult to control such sites as that can undermine the soul well your soul it seems has very poor defenses and flesh makes quite an impact on your senses it's strange that you're so easily excited my own desires are not so soon ignited and if i saw you as naked as a beast not all your hide would tempt me in the girl girl speak more modestly unless you do i shall be forced to take my leave of you oh no no it's it's i who must be on my way i've just one little message to convey madame is coming down and begs you sir to wait and have a word or two with her gladly that had a softening effect i think my guess about him was correct will she be long no uh that's her step i hear ah here she is and i shall disappear may heaven whose infinite goodness we adore preserve your body and soul forevermore and bless your days and answer thus the plea of those one who is its humblest votery i thank you for your pious wish but please oh do take a share and let's be more at ease i i trust you are once more well and strong oh yes the fever didn't last for long my prayers are too unworthy i am sure to have gained from heaven this most gracious cure but lately madam my every supplication has had for object your recuperation oh you shouldn't have troubled so i don't deserve it your health is priceless madam and to preserve it i'd gladly give my own in all sincerity oh sir you outdo us all in christian charity you've been most kind i count myself your debtor it was nothing madam i long to serve you better uh there's a private matter i'm anxious to discuss i'm glad there's no one here to hinder us i too am glad it floods my heart with bliss to find myself alone with you like this for just this chance i've prayed with all my power but prayed in vain until this happy hour oh this won't take long sir and i hope you'll be entirely frank and unconstrained with me indeed there's nothing i had rather do than bear my inmost heart and soul to you first let me say that what remarks i've made about the constant visits you are paid were prompted not by any mean emotion but rather by a pure and deep devotion of fervent zeal no need to explain your sole concern i'm sure was my salvation quite so and such great fervor do i feel oh please oh you're pinching plus twas from excess zeal i never meant to cause you pain i swear i'd rather oh what can your hand be doing there you feeling your gown what soft fine woven stuff oh please i'm extremely ticklish that's enough my my what lovely lace work on your dress the worksmanships miraculous no less i've not seen anything to equal it oh yes quite but let's talk business for a bit oh they say my husband means to break his word and give his daughter to you sir have you heard he did once mention it but i confess i dream of quite a different happiness it's elsewhere madam that my eyes discern the promise of that bliss for which i yearn i see you care for nothing here below well my heart's not made of stone you know all your desires mount heavenward i'm sure in sworn of all that's earthly and pure a lovely a love of heavenly beauty does not preclude a proper love for earthly pulpitude our senses are quite rightly captivated by perfect works our maker has created some glory clings to all that heaven has made in you all heaven's marvels are displayed on that fair face such beauties have been lavished the eyes are dazzled and the heart is ravished how could i look on you oh flawless creature and not adore the author of all nature feeling a love both passionate and pure for you his triumph of self-portraiture at first i trembled lest that love should be a subtle snare that hell had laid for me i vow to flee the sight of you eschewing a rapture that might prove my soul's undoing but soon fair being i became aware that my deep passion could be made to square with rectitude and with my bound and duty i thereupon surrendered to your beauty it is i know presumptuous on my part to bring you this poor offering of my heart and it is not my merit heaven knows but your compassion on which my hopes were posed you are my peace my solace my salvation on you depends my bliss or desolation i abide your judgment and as you think best i shall be either miserable or blessed oh your declaration is most gallant sir but don't you think it's out of character you had done better to restrain your passion and think before you spoke in such a such a fashion it ill becomes a pious man like you i may be pious but i am human too with your celestial charms before my eyes a man has not the power to be wise i know such words sound strangely coming from me but i'm no angel nor was meant to be and if you blame my passion you must needs reproach as well the charms on which it feeds your loveliness i had no sooner seen than you became my soul's unrivaled queen before your seraph glance divinely sweet my heart's defenses crumbled in defeat and nothing fasting prayer or tears might do could stay my spirit from adoring you my eyes my sighs have told you in the past what now my lips make bold to say at last and if in your great goodness you will deign to look upon your slave and ease his pain if in compassion for my soul's distress you'll stoop to comfort my unworthiness i'll raise to you in thanks for that sweet manna an endless him an infinite hosanna with me of course there need be no anxiety no fear of scandal or of notoriety these young chord gallants whom all the ladies fancy are vain in speech in action rash and chancy when they succeed in love the world soon knows it no favors granted them but they disclose it and by the looseness of their tongue's profane the very altar where their hearts have lain men of my sort however love discreetly and one may trust our reticence completely my keen concern for my good name ensures the absolute security of yours in short i offer you my dear elmir love without scandal pleasure without fear i've heard your well-turned speeches to the end and what you urge i clearly apprehend aren't you afraid that i may take a notion to tell my husband of your warm devotion and that supposing he would he were duly told his feelings for you would rather grow rather cold i know dear lady that your exceeding charity will lead your heart to pardon my temerity that you'll excuse my violent affection as human weakness human imperfection and that oh fairest you will bear in mind that i'm but flesh and blood and am not blind some women might do otherwise perhaps but i shall be discreet about your lapse and i'll tell my husband nothing of what's occurred if in return you'll give your solemn word to advocate as forcefully as you can the marriage of the ariane renouncing all desire to dispossess another of his rightful happiness and just i i i oh no no i will not hush up this vile affair i've heard it all inside the closet there or where heaven in order to confound the pride of this great rascal prompted me to hide aha now i have my long-awaited chance to punish his deceit and arrogance and give my father clear and shocking proof of the black character of his dear tartu i'll be content if he will study to deserve my leniency i promised my silence don't make me break my word to make a scandal would be too absurd good wives laugh off such trifles and forget them why should they tell their husbands and upset them right right you have your reasons for taking such a course and i have reasons to of equal force to spare him now would be insanely wrong i've just swallowed my just wrath for far too long and watch this insolent bigot bringing strife and bitterness into our family life too long he's meddled in my father's affairs thwarting my marriage hopes and horrible heirs it's high time that my father was undeceived and now i have proof that can't be disbelieved uh proof that was furnished me by heaven above it's too good not to take advantage of this is my chance and i deserve to lose it if for one moment i hesitate to use it not me no i must do what i think is right madam my heart is bursting with delight and say whatever you will i'll not consent to lose the sweet revenge on which i'm bent i'll settle matters with more without more adieu and here most importunely is my cue oh father i'm glad you joined us and let us advise you of some fresh news which doubtless will surprise you i've just now been repaid with interest for all your loving kindness to our guest he's proved his warm and grateful feelings towards you it's with a pair of horns he would reward you yes i surprised him with your wife and heard his whole adulterous offer every word she with her all too gentle disposition would not have told you of his proposition but i shall not make terms with brazen luxury and feel that not to tell you would be treachery and i hold that one's husband's peace of mind should not be spoiled by tattle of this kind one's honor doesn't require it to be proficient in keeping men at bay is quite sufficient these are my sentiments and i wish dummy that you had heeded me and held your peace ah can it be true this dreadful thing i hear yes brother i am a wicked man i fear a wretched sinner all depraved and twisted the greatest villain that has ever existed my life's one heap of crimes which grows each minute there's not but foulness and corruption in it and i perceive that heaven outraged by me has chosen this occasion to mortify me charge me with any deed you wish to name and i'll not defend myself but take the blame believe what you are told and drive tartuffed like some base criminal from beneath your roof yes drive me hence and with a parting curse i shan't protest for i deserve far worse oh you deceitful boy how dare you try to stain his purity was so foul a lie what are you taken with by in by such a bluff did you not hear enough ah brother let him speak you're being unjust believe his story the boy deserves your trust why after all should you have faith in me how can you know what i might do or be is it on my good actions that you base your favor do you trust my pious face ah no don't be deceived by hollow shows i'm far alas from being what men suppose though the world takes me for a man of worth i'm truly the most worthless man on earth oh yes my dear son speak out now call me the chief of sinners a wretch a murderer a thief load me with all the names men most abhor i'll not complain i've earned them all and more i'll kneel here while you pour them on my head as a just punishment for the life i've led this is too much dear brother have you no heart are you so hoodwinked by this rascal's art be still you monster brother i pray you rise villain but silence oh can you realize just one word more and i'll tear you limb from limb oh in god's name brother don't be harsh with him i'd rather far be tortured at the stake than see him bear one scratch for my poor sake in great if i must beg you on bended knee to pardon him oh such goodness cannot be now there's true charity what you do villain be still i know your motives i know you wish him ill yes all of you wife children servants all conspire against him and desire his fall employing every shameful trick you can to alienate me from this saintly man ah but the more you seek to drive him away the more i'll do to keep him without delay i'll spite i'll spike this household and confound its pride by giving him my daughter as his bride you're going to force her to accept his hand yes and this very night you understand i shall defy you all and make it clear that i'm the one who gives the orders here come wretch kneel down and clasp his blessed feet and ask his pardon for your black deceit i asked bat swindler's pardon why i'd rather you insult him and defy your father a stick a stick no no no release me dude out of my house this minute be off with you never dare set foot in it again well i shall go i'll go quickly then i disinherit you an empty purse is all you'll get from me except my curse how he blasphemed your goodness what a son forgive him lord as i've already done you can't know how it hurts when someone tries to blacken me in my dear brother's eyes the mere thought of such ingratitude plunges my soul into so dark a mood such horror grips my heart i gasp for breath and can not speak and feel myself near death no blackheart why did i spare you why did i not break you into little pieces of the spot compose yourself and don't be hurting your friends that would be these scenes these dreadful quarrels have got to end i've much upset your household and i perceive that the best thing will be for me to leave what are you saying they're all against me here they'd have you think me false and insincere oh what of that have i ceased believing in you their adverse talk will certainly continue and charges which you now repudiate you may find credible at a later date no brother never brother a wife can sway her husband's mind in many a subtle way no no to leave at once is the solution thus only i can end their persecution no no i'll not allow it you shall remain ah well it will mean much martyrdom and pain but if you wish it enough so be it but one thing must be settled as i see it for your dear honor and for our friendship's sake there's one precaution i feel bound to take i shall avoid your wife and keep away from any no you shall not whatever they may say it pleases me to vex them and for spite i'd have them see you with her day and night what's more i'm going to drive them to despair by making you my only son and heir this very day i'll give to you alone clear deed and title to everything i own a dear good friend and son-in-law to be is more than wife or child or kin to me will you accept my offer dearest son in all things let the will of heaven be done poor fellow come we'll go draw up the deed and let them burst with disappointed greed yes all the towns discussing it and truly their comments do not flatter you unduly i'm glad we met sir and i'll give you my view of this sad matter in a word or two as for who's guilty let's not uh discuss i shan't discuss let's say it was the me who caused the fuss assuming then that you have been ill-used by young to me and groundlessly accused aren't not a christian to forgive and ought he not to stifle every vengeful thought should you stand by and watch the father make his son only son in exile for your sake again i i tell you frankly and be advised the whole town high and low is scandalized this quarrel must be mended and my advice is not to push matters to a further crisis no sacrifice your wrath to god above and help to me regain his father's love alas for my part i should take great joy in doing so i'm nothing against the boy i pardon all i harbor no resentment to serve him would afford me much contentment but heaven's interest will not have it so if he comes back then i shall have to go after his conduct so extreme so vicious our further intercourse would look suspicious god knows what people would think why they described my goodness to him as a sort of bribe they'd say that out of guilt i made pretense of loving kindness and benevolence that fearing my accusers tongue i strove to buy his silence with a show of love your reasoning is badly warped and stretched and these excuses are are most far-fetched why put yourself in charge of heaven's cause does heaven need our help to enforce its laws leave vengeance to the lord sir while we live and duty not our duties not to punish but forgive and what the lord commands we should obey without regard to what the world may say what shall the fear of being misunderstood prevent our doing what is right and good no no let's simply do what heaven ordains and let no other thoughts perplex our brains again sir let me say that i've forgiven dummy and thus obeyed the laws of heaven but i am not commanded by the bible to live with one who smears my name with libel were you commanded sir to indulge to win a poor or gone and to encourage encourage him and suddenly transferring to your name a larger state to which you have no claim it would never occur to those who know me best to think i acted from self-interest the treasures of this world i quite despise their specious glitter does not charm my eyes and if i have resigned myself to taking the gift which my dear brother insists on making i do so only as he well understands lest so much wealth fall into wicked hands lest those to whom it might descend in time turn it to purposes of sin and crime and not as i shall do make use of it for heaven's glory and mankind's benefit forget these trumped up fears your argument is one that right the rightful heir might well resent it is a moral burden to inherit such wealth but give to me a chance to bear it and would it not be worse to be accused of swindling than to see the wealth misused i am shocked that you allowed organ to breach this matter and that you feel no self-reproach does truly religion teach that lawful heirs may freely be deprived of what is theirs and if the lord has told you in your heart that you and young to me must dwell apart would it not be the decent thing to beat a generous and honorable retreat rather than let the son of the house be sent for your convenience into banishment sir if you wish to prove the honesty of your intentions sir it is half past three i have certain pious duties to attend to and hope my prompt departure won't offend you damn oh stay sir and help marianne for heaven's sake she's suffering so i fear her heart will break her father's plan to marry her off tonight has put the poor child in a desperate plight i hear him coming let's stand together now and see if we can't change his mind somehow about this match we all deplore and fear [Music] ah glad to find you all assembled here this contract child contains your happiness and what it says i think your heart can guess sir by that heaven which sees me here distressed and by whatever else can move your breast do not employ a father's power i pray you to crush my heart and force it to obey you nor by your harsh commands oppress me so that i'll begrudge the duty which i owe and do not sow in bitter and enslave me that i shall hate the very life you gave me if my sweet hopes must perish if you refuse to give me to the one i've dared to choose spare me at least i beg you i implore the pain of wedding one whom i abhor and do not by a heartless use of force drive me to contemplate some desperate course confirm my soul no human weakness now i don't resent your love for him allow your heart free reign sir give him your property and if that's not enough take mine from me he's welcome to my money take it do but don't i pray include my person too spare me i beg you and let me end the tale of my sad days behind a convent veil unvent when crossed in their remorse all lovesick girls have the same thought as yours get up the more you loathe the man and dread him the more ennobling it will be to wed him mary tartuffe and mortar flop mortify your flesh enough don't start whimpering afresh but why be still there speak when you're spoken to not one more bit of impudence out of you if i may offer a word of counsel here brother in counseling you have no peer all your advice is forceful sound and clever i don't propose to follow it however i'm amazed and don't know what to say your blindness simply takes my breath away you are indeed bewitched to have no warning to take no warning from our account of what occurred this morning madam i know a few plain facts and one is that you're partial to my rascal son hence when he sought to make tartuffe the victim of a base lie you dared not contradict him ah but you underplayed your part my pet you should have looked more angry more upset when men make overtures must we reply with righteous anger and a battle cry must we turn back their amorous advances with sharp approaches and with fiery glances myself i find such offers merely amusing and make no scenes and fusses in refusing my taste is for good-natured rectitude and i dislike the savage sort of prude who guards her virtue with her teeth and claws and tears men's eyes out for the slightest cause lord preserve me from such honor as that which bites and scratches like an alley cat i found that a polite and cool rebuff discourages a lover quite enough i know the facts and i shall not be shaken i marvel at your power to be mistaken what it i wonder carry wait with you if we could show you that our tale was true show me yes rot come what if i found a way to make you see the faxes plain nonsense do answer me don't be absurd i'm not now asking you to trust our word suppose that from some hiding place in here you learned the whole sad truth by eye and ear what would you say of your good friend after that why i'd say nothing by jehoshaphat it can't be true you've been too long deceived and i'm quite tired of being disbelieved come now let's put my statements to the test and you shall see the truth made manifest i'll take that challenge now do your uttermost we'll see how good how you make good your empty boast send him to me he's crafty it may be hard to catch the cunning scoundrel off his guard oh no amorous men are gullible their conceit so blinds them that they're never too hard to cheat have him come down uh please leave us for a bit pull up this table and get under it what hmm it's essential that you be well hidden why there oh it's just do as you are bidding i have my plans we'll soon see how they fare under the table now and once you're there take care that you're neither seen nor heard well i'll indulge you since i gave my word to see you through this infantile charade once it's over you'll be glad we played now i am going to act quite strangely and you must not be shocked at anything i do whatever i may say you must excuse as part of that deceit i'm forced to use i shall employ sweet speeches and tasks are in the task of making the impostor drop his mask i'll give encouragement to his bold desires and furnish fuel to his amorous fires since it's for your sake and for his destruction that i shall seem to yield to his seduction i will gladly stop whenever you decide that all your doubts are fully satisfied i'll count on you as soon as you have seen what sort of man he is to intervene and not expose me to his odious lust one moment longer than you feel you must remember you're to save me from my plight whenever oh he's coming keep out of sight you wish to have a word with me i'm told oh yes i've a little secret to unfold before i speak however it would be wise to close that door and look about for spies the very last thing that must happen now is a repetition of this morning's row i've never been so badly caught off guard [Music] how i feared for you you saw how hard i tried to make that troublesome to me control his dreadful temper and hold his peace oh in my confusion i didn't have the sense to simply contradict his evidence but as it happens that was for the best and all his all has worked out in our interests this storm has only bettered your position my husband doesn't have the least suspicion and now in mockery of those who do he bids me be continually with you and that is why quite fearless of her proof i now can be alone with my daughter oh my my heart perhaps too quick to yield feels free to let its passion be revealed madam your words confuse me not long ago you spoke in quite a different style you know ah sir if that refusal made you smart it's little you know of a woman's heart or what that heart is trying to convey when it re resists in such a feeble way always at first our modesty prevents the frank of owl of tender sentiments however high the passion we feel and flames us still to confess it somehow shames us thus we reluct at first yet in a tone which tells you that our heart is overthrown that what our lips deny our pulse confesses and that in time all knows will turn to yeses but since i i fear my words are all too frank and free and a poor proof of woman's modesty but since i'm started tell me if you will would i have tried to make to me be still would i have listened calm and unoffended until your lengthy offer of love was ended and been so mild in my reaction had your sweet words not given me satisfaction and when i tried to force you to undo the marriage plans my husband has in view what did my urgent pleading signify if not that i admire you and that i deplore the thought of someone else uh my own a part of a heart i wished for mine alone madam no happiness is so complete as when from come word so sweet the nectar floods my every sense and drains in honey rivulets through all my veins please you is my joy my only goal your love is the restorer of my soul and yet i must beg leave now to confess some lingering doubts as to my happiness oh might this not be a trick might not the catch be that you wish me to break off the match with marianne so you have feigned to love me i shan't quite trust your fond opinion of me until the feelings you've expressed so sweetly are demonstrated somewhat more concretely shown by certain concessions that i may put my faith in your professions oh excuse me why be in such a hurry must my heart exhaust its bounty at the very start to make that sweet admission cost me dear but you'll not be content it would appear unless my store of favors is dispersed at the last farthing at the very first the less we merit the less we dare to hope and with our doubts mere words can never cope we crossed no promised bliss till we receive it not till a joy is ours can we believe it i who so little merit your esteem can't credit this fulfillment of my dream and shall believe it madam until i savor some palpable assurance of your favor your love can be and how it flusters and perplexes me how furiously you can take one's heart in hand and make your every wish a fierce command come you must hound and must you hound and harry me to death will you not give me some time to catch my breath can it be right to press me i'll be such force give me no quarter show me no more remorse and take advantage by your stern insistence of the fond feelings which weaken my resistance well if you look with favor upon my love why then begrudge me some clear proof thereof oh but how can i consent without offense uh to heaven towards which ah you feel such reverence oh heaven is all that holds you back don't worry i can remove that hindrance in a hurry oh nothing of that sort need obstruct our path be afraid of of heaven's wrath oh madam forget such fears and be my pupil and i shall teach you how to conquer scruple some joys it's true or wrong in heaven's eyes yet heaven is not a verse to compromise there is a science lately formulated whereby one's conscience may be liberated and any wrongful act you care to mention may be redeemed by purity of intention i'll teach you madame the secrets of that science meanwhile just place on me your full reliance assuage my keen desires and feel no dread the sin if any shall be on my head oh you've a bad cough yes it's bad indeed a bit of licorice may be what you need um no i have a stubborn cold it seems i'm sure it will take much more than licorice out security how aggravating oh more than one can say if you're still troubled think of things this way no one shall know our joys save us alone and there's no evil till the act is known it's scandal madam which makes it an offense and it's no sin to sin in confidence oh health clearly i must do as you require and yield to your important desire it is apparent now that nothing less will satisfy you and so i acquiesce to go so far is much against my will i am vexed that it should come to this but still since you are so determined on it since you will not allow mere language to convince you and since you ask for such concrete evidence i see nothing for it now but to comply if this is sinful if i'm wrong to do it so much the worst for him that drove me to it this fault can surely be not charged to me adam the fault is mine if fault there be and i think you would understand madam oh open the door a little and peek out i wouldn't want my husband poking about why worry about the man each day he grows more gullible one can lead him by the nose to find us here would fill him with delight and if he saw the worst he doubt his sight oh nevertheless do step out for a minute into the hall and see that no one is in it [Music] that that man's a perfect monster i must admit i'm simply stunned i can't get over it what coming out so soon how premature get back in hiding wait until you're sure stay till the end and be convinced completely we mustn't stop till things are proven concretely hell never harbored anything so vicious touch don't be hasty try to be judicious wait to be certain that there's no mistake no jumping to conclusions for heaven's sake madam all things have worked out to perfection i've given the neighboring rooms a full inspection no one's about and now i may at last hold on my passionate fellow not so fast i should advise a little more restraint well so you thought you'd fool me my dear saint how soon you wearied of the saintly life wedding my daughter and coveting my wife i've long suspected you and had a feeling that soon i'd catch you at your double dealing just now you've given me evidence galore it's quite enough i've no wish for more i'm sorry to have treated you so slyly but circumstances forced me to be wily brother you can't think no more talk from you just leave this household without morado well what i intended that seems fairly clear spare me your falsehoods and get out of here no i'm the master and you're the one to go this house belongs to me i'll have you know and i shall show you that you can't hurt me by this contemptible conspiracy that those who cross me know not what they do and i've means to expose and punish you avenge offended heaven and make you grieve that ever you dared order to me to leave what was the point of all that angry chatter dear god i'm worried this is no laughing matter how so i fear i understood his drift i'm much disturbed about that deed of gift you gave him yes yes it's all been drawn and signed but one thing more is weighing on my mind oh what's that i'll tell you but first let's see if there's a certain strong box in his room upstairs where are you going so fast god knows then wait let's have a conference and deliberate on how the situation's to be met that strong box has me utterly upset this is the worst of many many shots is there some fearful mystery in that strong box my poor friend argos brought that box to me with his own hands in utmost secrecy it was on the very morning of his flight it's full of papers which if they came to light would ruin him or such as my impression then why did you let it out of your possession those papers vexed my conscience and it seemed best to ask the council of my pious guest the cunning scoundrel got me to agree to leave the strong box in his custody so that in case of an investigation i could employ a slight equivocation and swear i didn't have it and thereby at no expense to conscience tell a lie it looks to me as if you're out on a limb trusting him with that box and offering him that deed of gift were actions of a kind that would scarcely indicate a prudent mind with two such weapons he has the upper hand and since you're vulnerable as matter stand you've aired once more and bringing him to bay you should have acted in some subtler way just think of it behind that fervent face a heart so wicked and a soul so base i took him in a hungry beggar and then enough by god i'm through with pious men henceforth i'll hate the whole false brotherhood and persecute them worse than satan could ah there you go again extravagant as ever why can you not be rational you never managed to take the middle course it seems but jump instead between absurd extremes you've recognized your recent grave mistake and falling victim to a pious fake now to correct that error you must must you embrace an even greater error in this place and judge our worthy neighbors as a whole by what you've learned of one corrupted soul come just because one rascal made you swallow a show of zeal which turned out to be hollow shall you conclude that all men are deceivers and that today there are no true believers let atheists make that foolish inference learn to distinguish virtue from pretense be cautious in bestowing admiration and cultivate a sober moderation don't humor fraud but don't asperse true piety the latter fault is worse and it is best to air if air one must as you have done upon the side of trust father i hear that scoundrels uttered threats against you that he pridefully forgets how in his need he was befriended by you and means to use your gifts to crucify you it's true my boy i'm too distressed for tears leave it to me sir let him let me trim his ears faced with such insolence we must not waver i shall rejoice in doing you the favor of cutting his life short and your distress like what a display of young hot-headedness do you learn to moderate your fits of rage in this just kingdom this enlightened age one does not settle things by violence that's what i would have said i hear strange tales of very strange events yes strange events which these two eyes beheld the man's ingratitude is unparalleled i save a wretched popper from starvation house him and treat him like a blood relation shower him every day with my large s give him my daughter and all that i possess and meanwhile the unconscionable knave tries to induce my wife to misbehave i'm not content with such extreme rascality now threatens me with my own liberality and aims by taking base advantage of the gifts i gave him out of christian love to drive me from my house a ruined man and make me end a pauper as he began or fellow no my son i'll never bring myself to think him guilty of such a thing how's that the righteous always worm aligned speak clearly mother say what's on your mind i mean that i can smell a rat my dear you know how everybody hates him here but that has no bearing on the case at all i told you a hundred times when you were small that virtue in this world is hated ever malicious men may die but malice never no doubt that's true but how does this apply they've turned you against him by a clever i've i've told you i was there and saw it done oh slanderers will stop at nothing son mother i'll lose my temper for the last time i'll i tell you i was witness to the crime the tongues of spite are busy night and noon and to their venom no man is immune [ __ ] nonsense can't you realize that i saw it saw it saw it with my eyes do you understand me must i shout it into your ears before you cease to doubt it appearances could deceive my son you're me we cannot always judge by what we see one often interprets things awry good can seem evil to a suspicious eye was i to see his pie at elmira as an act of charity till his guilt is clear a man deserves the benefit of the doubt you should have waited to see how things turned out great god in heaven what more proof did i need was either sit there watching until he you drive me to the brink of impropriety no no a man of such surpassing piety could not do such a thing you cannot shake me i don't believe it and you shall not make me you vexed me so that if you weren't my mother i'd say to you some dreadful thing or other it's your turn now sir not to be listened to you'd not trust us now she won't trust you my friends we're wasting time which should be spent in facing up to our predicament i fear that scoundrels threats weren't made in sport you think you'd have the nerve to go to court sure he won't they'd find it all too crude a case of swindling and ungratitude don't be too sure he won't be at a loss to give his claims a high and righteous gloss and clever rogues with far less valid cause have trapped their victims in a web of laws i say again that to agonize a man so strongly armed was most unwise i know it but the man's appalling cheek outraged me so i couldn't control my peak i wish to heaven that we could devise some truce between you or some compromise if i had known what cards he held i'd not have roused his anger by my little plot what is that fellow looking for who is he go talk to him and tell him that i'm busy ah good day dear sister kindly let me see your master he's involved with company and cannot be disturbed just now i fear i hate to intrude but what has brought me here will not disturb your master in any event uh indeed my news will make him most content your name just say that i bring greetings from monsieur tartuffe on whose behalf i've come sir he's a very gracious man and bears a message from tartuffe which he declares will make you most content uh upon my word i think this man must be seen and heard perhaps he has some settlement to suggest uh how shall i treat him uh what manner would be best control your anger and if he should mention some fair adjustment give him your full attention it would help you good sir may heaven confound your enemies and may your joys abound gentle salutation it confirms my guest that he is here to offer terms i've always told your family most dear i've served your father sir for many a year uh sir i must ask your pardon to my shame i i cannot now recall your face or name ah loyal is my name i come from normandy and i'm a bailiff in all modesty for 40 years praise god it's been my boss to serve with honor that vital post and i am here sir if you will permit the liberty uh to serve you with this uh rich to what no please sir let us have no friction it's nothing but an order of eviction uh you were to move your goods and your family out to make way for new occupants without deferment or delay and give the keys to uh i leave this house why yeah yes sir if you please this house sir from the cellar to the roof belongs now to the good monsieur tartuffe and he is lord and master of your estate um by virtue of a deed um let's see yeah present date uh drawn in form oh with clearest legal phrasing our insolence is utterly amazing young man my business is here not with you but with your wise and tempered father who like every worthy citizen stands in awe of justice and would never obstruct the law but not for a million sir what did you rebel against authority i know that well you'll not be trouble sir or interfere with the execution of my duties here someone may execute a smart tattoo on that black jacket of yours but sir bid your son be silent be a jerusalem to be silent i'll much regret having to mention such a nasty threat of violence in writing my report this man loyal is a most disloyal sort ah i love all men of upright character and i agree to serve these papers sir it was uh the feelings i had in mind i couldn't bear to see the case assigned to someone else who might esteem you less and so subject to unpleasantness what's more unpleasant than telling a man to leave his house at home oh you'd like a short reprieve if you desire sir i shall not press you but wait until tomorrow to dispossess you splendid i'll come and spend the night here then most quietly with half a score of men for form sake you must bring me just before you go to bed the keys to the front door my men i promise will be on their best behavior and will not disturb your rest but brian early sir it must be quick and move all your furniture every stick the men i've chosen are both young and strong and with their help it shouldn't take you long in short i'll make things pleasant and convenient and since i'm being so extremely lenient please show me sir a like consideration and give me your entire cooperation i may be all but bankrupt but i vow i give a hundred louise here and now just for the pleasure of landing one good clout right on the end of that complacent snout careful don't make things worse my boot soul inches to give that beggar a good lick in the breaches monsieur loyale i'd love to hear the whack of a stout stick across your fine broad back take care a woman too may go to jail if she uses threatening language to obey us enough enough so this must not go on give me the paper please and then be gone well god give you all good cheer hey god confound you and him who sent you here mother was i right or not this rit should change your notion of darth vader do you perceive his villainy at last i'm thunderstruck i'm utterly aghast oh come be fair you mustn't take offense at this new proof of his benevolence he's acting out of selfless love i know material things enslaved the soul and so he kindly has arranged your liberation from all that might endanger your salvation will you not ever hold your tongue you dance come you must take some action in at once go tell the world of the low trickiest tribe the deed of gift is surely nullified by such behavior and public range will not permit the wretch to carry out his plot sir though i hate to bring you more bad news such is the danger that i cannot choose a friend who is extremely close to me and knows my interest in your family has for my sake presumed to violate the secrecy that's due to things of state and sends me word that you are in a plight from which your own salvation lies in flight that scoundrel who's imposed upon you so denounces you to the king an hour ago and as supporting evidence displayed the strong bonds of a certain renegade whose paper secret papers so he testified you had this disloyalty agreed to hide i don't know just what charges may be pressed but there's a warrant out for your arrest tartov has been instructed furthermore to guide the arresting officers to your door he's clearly done this to facilitate his seizure of your host and your estate that man i must say is a vicious beast quick sir you mustn't terry in the least my carriage is outside to take you hence this thousand louis should cover all expense let's lose no time or you shall be undone the sole defense in this case is to run i shall go with you all the way and place you in a safe refuge to which they'll never trace you last dear boy i wish that i could show you my gratitude for everything i owe you but now is not the time i pray the lord that i may live to give you your reward farewell my tears and be careful brother hurry we shall take care of things you needn't worry gently sir gently stay right where you are no need for haste your lodging isn't far you're off to prison by order of the prince this is the crowning blow you wretch and since it means my total ruin and defeat your villainy is now at last complete you needn't try to provoke me it's no use those who serve heaven must expect abuse no you are indeed most patient sweet and blameless how he exploits the name of heaven it's shameless your taunts and mockeries are all for naught to do my duty is my only thought your love of duty is most meritorious and what you've done is little short of glorious all deeds are glorious madam which obey the sovereign prince who sent me here today i rescued you when you were destitute have you forgotten that you thankless brute no no no i well remember everything but my first duty is to serve my king that obligation is so paramount that other claims beside it do not count and for it i would sacrifice my wife my family my friend or my own life hypocrites all that we must revere he uses to cloak his plots and camouflage his ruses if it is true that you are animated by pure and loyal zeal as you have stated why was this zeal not roused until you sought to make organa cuckold and been caught why weren't you moved to give your evidence until your outraged host had driven you hence i shan't say that the gift of all this treasure ought to have damped your zeal in any measure but if he is a traitor as you declare how could you condescend to be his heir sir spare me all this clamor it's growing shrill please carry out your orders if you will yes i have delayed too long sir thank you kindly you're just the proper person to remind me uh come you are off to join the other borders in the king's prison according to his orders who i sir yes to prison [Laughter] this can't be true i owe an explanation but not to you sir all is well rest easy and be grateful we serve a prince to whom all sham is hateful a prince who sees into our inmost hearts and can't be fooled by any trickster's arts his royal soul though generous and human use all things with discernment and acumen his sovereign reason is not lightly swayed and all his judgments are discreetly weighed he honors righteous men of every kind and yet his zeal for virtue is not blind nor does his love of piety numb his wits and make him tolerant of hypocrites it was hardly likely this this man could cousin a king who's foiled such liars by the dozen with one keen glance the king perceived the whole perverseness and corruption of his soul and thus high heavens justice was displayed betraying you the rogue stood self-betrayed the king soon recognized tartuffe as one notorious by another name who'd done so many vicious crimes that one could fill ten volumes with them and be writing still but to be brief our sovereign was appalled by this man's treachery toward you which he called the last worst villainy of a vile career and bad me follow the impostor here to see how gross his impudence could be and force him to restore your property your private papers by the king's command i hereby seize and give into your hand the king by royal order invalidates the deed which gave this rascal your estates and pardons furthermore your grave offense in harboring an exiles documents by these decrees our prince rewards you for your loyal deeds in the late civil war and shows how heartfelt is his satisfaction in recompensing any worthy action how much he prizes merit and how he makes more of man's virtues than of their mistakes oh heaven be praised i breathe again at last safe can't believe the dangers passed well traitor now you see our brother please let's not descend to such indignities leave the poor rats to his unhappy fate and don't say anything to aggravate his present woes but rather hope that he will soon embrace honest piety and mend his ways and by true repentance move our just king to moderate his sentence meanwhile go kneel before your sovereign stone and thank him for the mercies he has shown well said let's go at once and gladly kneeling express the gratitude which all are feeling then when the first great duty has been done we'll turn with pleasure to a second one and give valer whose love has proven so true the wedded happiness which is his to you okay everyone come on back wasn't that fun what a talented bunch of people thank you so much for joining us tonight and watching this hilarious and silly reading don't forget to join us next saturday for another wonderful reading thank you have a good night