Tartuffe by Molière
page 14 of 130 (10%)
page 14 of 130 (10%)
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The fellow knows his dupe, and makes the most on't,
He fools him with a hundred masks of virtue, Gets money from him all the time by canting, And takes upon himself to carp at us. Even his silly coxcomb of a lackey Makes it his business to instruct us too; He comes with rolling eyes to preach at us, And throws away our ribbons, rouge, and patches. The wretch, the other day, tore up a kerchief That he had found, pressed in the /Golden Legend/, Calling it a horrid crime for us to mingle The devil's finery with holy things. [Footnote 1: Referring to the rebellion called La Fronde, during the minority of Louis XIV.] [Footnote 2: Moliere's note, inserted in the text of all the old editions. It is a curious illustration of the desire for uniformity and dignity of style in dramatic verse of the seventeenth century, that Moliere feels called on to apologize for a touch of realism like this. Indeed, these lines were even omitted when the play was given.] SCENE III ELMIRE, MARIANE, DAMIS, CLEANTE, DORINE ELMIRE (to Cleante) You're very lucky to have missed the speech |
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