Mariane. What?

Dorine. Tell him that you cannot love by proxy, that you marry for yourself, and not for him; that, you being the only one concerned in this matter, it is you, and not he, who must like the husband, and that since Tartuffe is so charming in his eyes, he may marry him himself without let or hindrance.

Mariane. Ah! a father, I confess, has so much authority over us, that I have never had the courage to answer him.

Dorine. But let us argue this affair. Valère has proposed to you: do you love him, pray, or do you not?

Mariane. Ah! you do my feelings great injustice, Dorine, to ask me such a question. Have I not a hundred times opened my heart to you? and do not you know the warmth of my affection for him?

Dorine. How do I know whether your lips have spoken what your heart felt? and whether you have any real regard for this lover?

Mariane. You wrong me greatly in doubting it, Dorine; for my true sentiments have been but too clearly shown.

Dorine. You really love him, then?

Mariane. Yes, very passionately.

Dorine. And, to all appearance, he loves you as well?

Mariane. I believe so.

Dorine. And you are both equally eager to marry each other?

Mariane. Assuredly.

Dorine. What do you expect from this other match then?

Mariane. To kill myself, if they force me to it.

Dorine. Very well. That is a resource I did not think of; you have only to die to get out of trouble. The remedy is doubtless admirable. It drives me mad to hear this sort of talk.

Mariane. Good gracious! Dorine, what a temper you get into! You do not sympathize in the least with people’s troubles.

Dorine. I do not sympathize with people who talk stupidly, and, when an opportunity presents itself, give way as you do!

Mariane. But what would you have me do? If I am timid …

Dorine. Love requires firmness.

Mariane. But have I wavered in my affection towards Valère? and is it not his duty to obtain a father’s consent?

Dorine. But what! if your father is a downright churl, who is completely taken up with Tartuffe, and will break off a match he had agreed on, is your lover to be blamed for that?