ORGON

Warned that Tartuffe is a fraud, Orgon instead pours out the story of how he fell for him — a masterpiece of comic self-delusion that builds, with total sincerity, to a man accusing himself of killing a flea too angrily.

1:35Comedic40s–50sIntermediate

The speech230 words · 3 beats

0:00 / 1:35

Off-book

I learned his poverty, and who he was, by questioning his servant, who is like him, and gave him gifts; but in his modesty he always wanted to return a part. "It is too much," he'd say, "too much by half; I am not worthy of your pity." Then, when I refused to take it back, he'd go, before my eyes, and give it to the poor. At length heaven bade me take him to my home, and since that day, all seems to prosper here.

You'd not believe how far his zeal can go: he calls himself a sinner just for trifles; the merest nothing is enough to shock him; so much so, that the other day I heard him accuse himself for having, while at prayer, in too much anger caught and killed a flea.turn

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ORGON

Tartuffe · Molière · 1:35 · 230 words

Ah! If you'd seen him, as I saw him first, you would have loved him just as much as I. He came to church each day, with contrite mien, kneeled, on both knees, right opposite my place, and drew the eyes of all the congregation, to watch the fervour of his prayers to heaven; with deep-drawn sighs and great ejaculations, he humbly kissed the earth at every moment; and when I left the church, he ran before me to give me holy water at the door. I learned his poverty, and who he was, by questioning his servant, who is like him, and gave him gifts; but in his modesty he always wanted to return a part. "It is too much," he'd say, "too much by half; I am not worthy of your pity." Then, when I refused to take it back, he'd go, before my eyes, and give it to the poor. At length heaven bade me take him to my home, and since that day, all seems to prosper here. You'd not believe how far his zeal can go: he calls himself a sinner just for trifles; the merest nothing is enough to shock him; so much so, that the other day I heard him accuse himself for having, while at prayer, in too much anger caught and killed a flea.

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