Et vous pardonne enfin cette offense secrète
Où vous a d'un ami fait tomber la retraite ;
Et c'est le prix qu'il donne au zèle qu'autrefois
On vous vit témoigner en appuyant ses droits,
Pour montrer que son cœur sait, quand moins on y
pense,

D'une bonne action verser la récompense,

Que jamais le mérite avec lui ne perd rien,

Et que mieux que du mal il se souvient du bien. DOR. Que le Ciel soit loué !

MAD. PER.

ELM. Favorable succès !
MAR.

Maintenant je respire.

Qui l'aurait osé dire?

ORG. (à TARTUFFE.) Hé bien! te voilà, traître..
CLEAN.
Ah! mon frère, arrêtez,
Et ne descendez point à des indignités;

A son mauvais destin laissez un misérable,

Et ne vous joignez point au remords qui l'accable:
Souhaitez bien plutôt que son cœur en ce jour
Au sein de la vertu fasse un heureux retour,
Qu'il corrige sa vie en détestant son vice
Et puisse du grand Prince adoucir la justice,
Tandis qu'à sa bonté vous irez à genoux

Rendre ce que demande un traitement si doux. ORG. Oui, c'est bien dit; allons à ses pieds avec joie

Nous louer des bontés que son cœur nous déploie.
Puis, acquittés un peu de ce premier devoir,

Aux justes soins d'un autre il nous faudra pourvoir,
Et par un doux hymen couronner en Valère
La flamme d'un amant généreux et sincère.

FIN.

to that man all your wealth, and, finally, he pardons you the secret offence into which the retreat of a friend caused you to fall. This is the reward he bestows for the zeal which he formerly saw you display in the support of his rights, to show that his heart knows, when least suspected, how to recompense a good action, that merit is never ignored by him, and that he remembers good much better than evil.

DOR. Heaven be praised!

MAD. PER. Now I breathe again.

ELM. What a happy end to our troubles!

Much

MAR. Who would have dared to foretell this? ORG. (TO TARTUFFE.) Ah! well, there you go, traitor ! CLEAN. Ah! my brother, stay, do not descend to abuse. Leave the wretch to his evil fate, and do not add to the remorse which overwhelms him. rather hope his heart may to-day make a happy return to the bosom of virtue; that he may reform his life in detesting his crime, and thus cause our glorious King to temper justice; whilst you throw yourself on your knees in return for his lenity and render the thanks such mild treatment demands.

DRG. Yes, it is well said. Let us joyfully throw ourselves at his feet and praise the goodness which his heart has shown to us. Then, having acquitted ourselves a little of this first duty, let us apply ourselves to the pressing claims of another, and by a happy wedding let us crown in Valère the ardour of a generous and sincere lover.

END.

DON JUAN

OR

THE FEAST WITH THE STATUE (Le Festin de Pierre)

Don Juan was performed for the first time February 15, 1665, and it is said that the part of Sganarelle was played by Molière. The play was written during the storm of opposition which prevented the regular performance of Tartuffe; it is an equally trenchant attack upon hypocrisy but aroused somewhat less enmity since no specific class was selected as the objective. Nevertheless it ceased its first run after the 20th of March, in the year of its production, and the hand of the Court is evident in the early excision and alteration of scenes. The present text is based upon that of 1682, (in the posthumous works of Molière) before it was 'corrected by order.'