Act IScene V
Orgon, Cleante, Dorine
Orgon
Ah! Good morning, brother.
Cleante
I was just going, but am glad to greet you.Things are not far advanced yet, in the country?
Orgon
Dorine ...
To Cleante
Just wait a bit, please, brother-in-law.Let me allay my first anxietyBy asking news about the family.
To Dorine
Has everything gone well these last two days?What’s happening? And how is everybody?
Dorine
Madam had fever, and a splitting headacheDay before yesterday, all day and evening.
Orgon
And how about Tartuffe?
Dorine
Tartuffe? He’s well;He’s mighty well; stout, fat, fair, rosy-lipped.
Orgon
Poor man!
Dorine
At evening she had nauseaAnd couldn’t touch a single thing for supper,Her headache still was so severe.
Orgon
And howAbout Tartuffe?
Dorine
He supped alone, before her,And unctuously ate up two partridges,As well as half a leg o’ mutton, deviled.
Orgon
Poor man!
Dorine
All night she couldn’t get a winkOf sleep, the fever racked her so; and weHad to sit up with her till daylight.
Orgon
HowAbout Tartuffe?
Dorine
Gently inclined to slumber,He left the table, went into his room,Got himself straight into a good warm bed,And slept quite undisturbed until next morning.
Orgon
Poor man!
Dorine
At last she let us all persuade her,And got up courage to be bled; and thenShe was relieved at once.
Orgon
And how aboutTartuffe?
Dorine
He plucked up courage properly,Bravely entrenched his soul against all evils,And to replace the blood that she had lost,He drank at breakfast four huge draughts of wine.
Orgon
Poor man!
Dorine
So now they both are doing well;And I’ll go straightway and inform my mistressHow pleased you are at her recovery.