Tartuffe by Molière (most motivational books TXT) 📕

You hold your tongue. And know, the less he has,
The better cause have we to honour him.
His poverty is honest poverty;
It should exalt him more than worldly grandeur,
For he has let himself be robbed of all,
Through careless disregard of temporal things
And fixed attachment to the things eternal.
My help may set him on his feet again,
Win back his property⁠—a fair estate
He has at home, so I’m informed⁠—and prove him
For what he is, a true-born gentleman.

Yes, so he says himself. Such vanity
But ill accords with pious living, sir.
The man who cares for holiness alone
Should not so loudly boast his name and birth;
The humble ways of genuine devoutness
Brook not so much display of earthly pride.
Why should he be so vain?⁠ ⁠… But I offend you:
Let’s leave his rank, then⁠—take the man himself:
Can you without compunction give a man
Like him possession of a girl like her?
Think what a scandal’s sure to come of it!
Virtue is at the mercy of the fates,
When a girl’s married to a man she hates;
The best intent to live an honest woman
Depends upon the husband’s being human,
And men whose brows are pointed at afar
May thank themselves their wives are what they are.
For to be true is more than woman can,
With husbands built upon a certain plan;
And he who weds his child against her will
Owes heaven account for it, if she do ill.
Think then what perils wait on your design.

To Mariane. So! I must learn what’s what from her, you see!

You might do worse than follow my advice.

Daughter, we can’t waste time upon this nonsense;
I know what’s good for you, and I’m your father.
True, I had promised you to young Valère;
But, first, they tell me he’s inclined to gamble,
And then, I fear his faith is not quite sound.
I haven’t noticed that he’s regular
At church.

You’d have him run there just when you do.
Like those who go on purpose to be seen?

I don’t ask your opinion on the matter.
In short, the other is in Heaven’s best graces,
And that is riches quite beyond compare.
This match will bring you every joy you long for;
’Twill be all steeped in sweetness and delight.
You’ll live together, in your faithful loves,
Like two sweet children, like two turtledoves;
You’ll never fail to quarrel, scold, or tease,
And you may do with him whate’er you please.

With him? Do naught but give him horns, I’ll warrant.

Out on thee, wench!

I tell you he’s cut out for’t;
However great your daughter’s virtue, sir,
His destiny is sure to prove the stronger.

Have done with interrupting. Hold your tongue.
Don’t poke your nose in other people’s business.

She keeps interrupting him, just as he turns and starts to speak to his daughter.