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Robert Browning (1812–1889). A Blot in the ’Scutcheon.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14.

Act II Scene III

Say, have you lost the tongue from out your head?

And must I speak your role from A to Zed?

You let them broach a project that’s absurd,

And don’t oppose it with a single word!

What can I do? My father is the master.

Do? Everything, to ward off such disaster.

But what?

Tell him one doesn’t love by proxy;

Tell him you’ll marry for yourself, not him;

Since you’re the one for whom the thing is done,

You are the one, not he, the man must please;

If his Tartuffe has charmed him so, why let him

Just marry him himself—no one will hinder.

A father’s rights are such, it seems to me,

That I could never dare to say a word.

Came, talk it out. Valère has asked your hand:

Now do you love him, pray, or do you not?

Dorine! How can you wrong my love so much,

And ask me such a question? Have I not

A hundred times laid bare my heart to you?

Do you know how ardently I love him?

How do I know if heart and words agree,

And if in honest truth you really love him?

Dorine, you wrong me greatly if you doubt it;

I’ve shown my inmost feelings, all too plainly.

So then, you love him?

Yes, devotedly.

And he returns your love, apparently?

I think so.

And you both alike are eager

To be well married to each other?

Surely.

Then what’s your plan about this other match?

To kill myself, if it is forced upon me.

Good! That’s a remedy I hadn’t thought of.

Just die, and everything will be all right.

This medicine is marvellous, indeed!

It drives me mad to hear folk talk such nonsense.

Oh dear, Dorine you get in such a temper!

You have no sympathy for people’s troubles.

I have no sympathy when folk talk nonsense,

And flatten out as you do, at a pinch.

But what can you expect?—if one is timid?—

But what is love worth, if it has no courage?

Am I not constant in my love for him?

Is’t not his place to win me from my father?

But if your father is a crazy fool,

And quite bewitched with his Tartuffe? And breaks

His bounden word? Is that your lover’s fault?

But shall I publicly refuse and scorn

This match, and make it plain that I’m in love?

Shall I cast off for him, whate’er he be,

Womanly modesty and filial duty?

You ask me to display my love in public…?

No, no, I ask you nothing. You shall be

Mister Tartuffe’s; why, now I think of it,

I should be wrong to turn you from this marriage.

What cause can I have to oppose your wishes?

So fine a match! An excellent good match!

Mister Tartuffe! Oh ho! No mean proposal!

Mister Tartuffe, sure, take it all in all,

Is not a man to sneeze at—oh, by no means!

’Tis no small luck to be his happy spouse.

The whole world joins to sing his praise already;

He’s noble—in his parish; handsome too;

Red ears and high complexion—oh, my lud!

You’ll be too happy, sure, with him for husband.

Oh dear!…

What joy and pride will fill your heart

To be the bride of such a handsome fellow!

Oh, stop, I beg you; try to find some way

To help break off the match. I quite give in,

I’m ready to do anything you say.

No, no, a daughter must obey her father,

Though he should want to make her wed a monkey.

Besides, your fate is fine. What could be better!

You’ll take the stage-coach to his little village,

And find it full of uncles and of cousins,

Whose conversation will delight you. Then

You’ll be presented in their best society.

You’ll even go to call, by way of welcome,

On Mrs. Bailiff, Mrs. Tax-Collector,

Who’ll patronise you with a folding-stool.

There, once a year, at carnival, you’ll have—

Perhaps—a ball; with orchestra—two bag-pipes;

And sometimes a trained ape, and Punch and Judy;

Though if your husband…

Oh, you’ll kill me. Please

Contrive to help me out with your advice.

I thank you kindly.

Oh! Dorine, I beg you…

To serve you right, this marriage must go through.

Dear girl!

No.

If I say I love Valère…

No, no. Tartuffe’s your man, and you shall taste him.

You know I’ve always trusted you; now help me…

No, you shall be, my faith! Tartuffified.

Well, then, since you’ve no pity for my fate

Let me take counsel only of despair;

It will advise and help and give me courage;

There’s one sure cure, I know, for all my troubles.

There, there! Come back. I can’t be angry long.

I must take pity on you, after all.

Oh, don’t you see, Dorine, if I must bear

This martyrdom, I certainly shall die.

Now don’t you fret. We’ll surely find some way.

To hinder this… But here’s Valère, your lover.