tartuffe-第11节
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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） have kept。 I know no more of it
Save that a warrant's drawn against you； sir；
And for the greater surety； that same rascal
Comes with the officer who must arrest you。
CLEANTE
His rights are armed； and this is how the scoundrel
Seeks to secure the property he claims。
ORGON
Man is a wicked animal； I'll own it！
VALERE
The least delay may still be fatal； sir。
I have my carriage； and a thousand louis；
Provided for your journey； at the door。
Let's lose no time； the bolt is swift to strike；
And such as only flight can save you from。
I'll be your guide to seek a place of safety；
And stay with you until you reach it； sir。
ORGON
How much I owe to your obliging care！
Another time must serve to thank you fitly；
And I pray Heaven to grant me so much favour
That I may some day recompense your service。
Good…bye； see to it； all of you 。 。 。
CLEANTE
Come hurry；
We'll see to everything that's needful； brother。
SCENE VII
TARTUFFE； AN OFFICER； MADAME PERNELLE； ORGON； ELMIRE； CLEANTE；
MARIANE； VALERE； DAMIS； DORINE
TARTUFFE （stopping Orgon）
Softly； sir； softly； do not run so fast；
You haven't far to go to find your lodging；
By order of the prince； we here arrest you。
ORGON
Traitor！ You saved this worst stroke for the last；
This crowns your perfidies； and ruins me。
TARTUFFE
I shall not be embittered by your insults；
For Heaven has taught me to endure all things。
CLEANTE
Your moderation； I must own； is great。
DAMIS
How shamelessly the wretch makes bold with Heaven！
TARTUFFE
Your ravings cannot move me； all my thought
Is but to do my duty。
MARIANE
You must claim
Great glory from this honourable act。
TARTUFFE
The act cannot be aught but honourable；
Coming from that high power which sends me here。
ORGON
Ungrateful wretch； do you forget 'twas I
That rescued you from utter misery？
TARTUFFE
I've not forgot some help you may have given；
But my first duty now is toward my prince。
The higher power of that most sacred claim
Must stifle in my heart all gratitude；
And to such puissant ties I'd sacrifice
My friend； my wife； my kindred； and myself。
ELMIRE
The hypocrite！
DORINE
How well he knows the trick
Of cloaking him with what we most revere！
CLEANTE
But if the motive that you make parade of
Is perfect as you say； why should it wait
To show itself； until the day he caught you
Soliciting his wife？ How happens it
You have not thought to go inform against him
Until his honour forces him to drive you
Out of his house？ And though I need not mention
That he'd just given you his whole estate；
Still； if you meant to treat him now as guilty；
How could you then consent to take his gift？
TARTUFFE （to the Officer）
Pray； sir； deliver me from all this clamour；
Be good enough to carry out your order。
THE OFFICER
Yes； I've too long delayed its execution；
'Tis very fitting you should urge me to it；
So therefore； you must follow me at once
To prison； where you'll find your lodging ready。
TARTUFFE
Who？ I； sir？
THE OFFICER
You。
