hing to me,
For I think of nothing but doing my duty.
Mariane. Your pretense to honor is all a fake,
And this is just the right job for you to take.
Tartuffe. The task can only shower me with grace
Since our Prince's command has sent me to this place.
Orgon. But don't you recall how my charity
Raised you, you ingrate, from your misery?
Tartuffe. Yes, I know that I once received assistance,
But my duty to the Prince demands this persistence:
'Tis a sacred duty of such fortitude
That it has suppressed all my gratitude,
And I would sacrifice to this powerful force
Friends, wife, parents, and myself, of course.
Elmire. The hypocrite!
Dorine. How well he can create
A treacherous cloak from all we venerate!
Cleante. But if this zeal which drives you and with which
You plume yourself lifts you to a holy niche,
Why is it that it didn't come to life
Until after he caught you with his wife,
And why did you only denounce him today
After honor made him chase you away?
I don't claim that the gift of all his estates
Ought to distract you from duty's dictates,
But if you planned to reveal his treason here,
Why were you willing to take his wealth back there?
Tartuffe [to the Officer]. From all this noise, sir, please deliver me,
And be so kind as to enforce your decree.
Police Officer. Yes, I've been rather slow to issue it.
Your own mouth aptly invites me to do it;
And so it will be done if you will come
Straight to the jail that will be your new home.
Tartuffe. Who? Me, sir?
Police Officer. Yes, you.
Tartuffe. But why to prison?
Police Office. I need not explain to you my reason.
[To Orgon.] Calm yourself, sir, after passions of such heat.
We're ruled by a Prince who's a foe to deceit,
A Prince whose eyes can read what the soul has writ,
And who can't be fooled by a hypocrite.
Blessed with a fine discernment, his great heart
Always sees the whole picture, not just each part.
Nothing can drive him to exaggeration;
His firm reason clings to moderation.
He confers on men of worth immortal glory;
But that zeal is not blind or peremptory,
And his love for what's true does no