Tartuffe monologue from Tartuffe

Tartuffe’s monologue

: A love of heavenly beauty does not preclude

A proper love for earthly pulchritude;

Our senses are quite rightly captivated

By perfect works our Maker has created.

5Some glory clings to all that Heaven has made;

In you, all Heaven’s marvels are displayed.

On that fair face, such beauties have been lavished,

The eyes are dazzled and the heart is ravished;

How could I look on you, O flawless creature,

10And not adore the Author of all Nature,

Feeling a love both passionate and pure

For you, his triumph of self-portraiture?

At first, I trembled lest that love should be

A subtle snare that Hell had laid for me;

15I vowed to flee the sight of you, eschewing

A rapture that might prove my soul’s undoing;

But soon, fair being, I became aware

That my deep passion could be made to square

With rectitude, and with my bounden duty.

20I thereupon surrendered to your beauty.

It is, I know, presumptuous on my part

To bring you this poor offering of my heart,

And it is not my merit, Heaven knows,

But your compassion on which my hopes repose.

25You are my peace, my solace, my salvation;

On you depends my bliss – or desolation;

I bide your judgment and, as you think best,

I shall be either miserable or blest.

Public domain text.