Tartuffe by Moilere

Jean Baptiste Poquelin, better known by his stage name of Moliere, stands without a rival at the head of French comedy.

His life was spent in Paris and in the provinces, acting, directing performances, managing theaters, and writing plays.

He had his share of applause from the king and from the public; but the satire in his comedies made him many enemies, and he was the object of the most venomous attacks and the most impossible slanders.

He had his share of applause from the king and from the public; but the satire in his comedies made him many enemies, and he was the object of the most venomous attacks and the most impossible slanders.

He had his share of applause from the king and from the public; but the satire in his comedies made him many enemies, and he was the object of the most venomous attacks and the most impossible slanders.

Nor did he find much solace at home; for he married unfortunately, and the unhappiness that followed increased the bitterness that public hostility had brought into his life.

In the great plays that followed, "The School for Husbands" and "The School for Wives," "The Misanthrope" and "The Hypocrite"

In the great plays that followed, "The School for Husbands" and "The School for Wives," "The Misanthrope" and "The Hypocrite"

(Tartuffe), "The Miser" and "The Hypochondriac," "The Learned Ladies,"

"The Doctor in Spite of Himself," "The Citizen Turned Gentleman," and many others, he exposed mercilessly one after another the vices and foibles of the day.

"The Doctor in Spite of Himself," "The Citizen Turned Gentleman," and many others, he exposed mercilessly one after another the vices and foibles of the day.

Must have his say; it's perfect pandemonium.

Too full of gab, and too impertinent

Or give him anything but plague and torment.

Daughter, by your leave, your conduct

The lady's brother, I esteem you highly,

I'd urgently entreat you not to come

Shall I let a bigot criticaster

Come and usurp a tyrant's power here?

Till this fine gentleman deigns to consent?

If we must hark to him, and heed his maxims,

He censures everything, this zealous carper.

He censures everything, this zealous carper.

I should belie my feelings not to say so.

This vagabond, who hadn't, when he came,

If all were governed by his pious orders.

It would be a grievous thing

And leave the gossips free to vent their gall.

These arguments are nothing to the purpose.

She lives the model of austerity;

But age has brought this piety upon her,

And in the specious veil of haughty virtue

And in the specious veil of haughty virtue

Must carp at everything, and pardon nothing.

Must carp at everything, and pardon nothing.

In your great need, to make you all repent;

What makes you dream and stand agape,

Monsieur has his own kind of recompense,/And it's his zeal on your behalf, I guess,/That leads him to dishonor you, no less. -Moliere, Tartuffe, Act III scene 5, lines 1058-1059

Dear son, go on; tell me my crimes are great; /Call me thief, killer, traitor, reprobate; Load me with epithets still more abhorred: /I won't say no; they are my just reward.-Moliere, Tartuffe, Act III scene 6, lines 1101-1104