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 anxiety By 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 headache Day 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 nausea And could't touch a single thing for supper, Her headache still was so severe.

ORGON

And how About 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 wink Of sleep, the fever racked her so; and we Had to sit up with her till daylight.

ORGON

How About 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 then She was relieved at once.

ORGON

And how about Tartuffe?

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 mistress How pleased you are at her recovery.