Damis. Father, is it true that this cad threatens you, That he has forgotten the gifts that bound you two, And that his shameful pride, maddeningly, Has repaid your kindness with tyranny? Orgon. Yes, son; he's brought me to the verge of tears. Damis. Leave him to me. I'll cut off his ears. You must not flinch before his insolence For I'll soon restore your independence, And, to end the matter, I'll slice him like toast. Cleante. That's exactly like a bratty boy's boast. Please make your angry words more moderate. We live during a time and in a state Where violent acts are clearly unlawful. SCENE III Madame Pernelle, Mariane, Elmire, Dorine, Damis, Orgon, Cleante Madame Pernelle. What's happening? The tales I'm told are awful. Orgon. Novel things have been happening to me, And for all my kindness, this is my fee. I lift the man out of his misery; Like a brother, I take him home with me; Each day I treat him with greater largesse; I give him my daughter and all I possess; And at the same time the lying low-life Looks for the best way to seduce my wife, And, not fully content with what he's achieved, He threatens me with the gifts he's received, And he wishes to use, in ruining me, Those profits he gained from my foolish bounty To drive me from the home that I gave to him And reduce me to the state that he was in. Dorine. Poor man! Madame Pernelle. Son, I don't believe he'd allow Himself to take part in actions so foul. Orgon. How's that? Madame Pernelle. People always resent holy men. Orgon. Mother, what were you trying to say just then? Madame Pernelle. That in your home one sees the strangest things; Among them is the hate that envy brings. Orgon. How is it hate when I've told you the truth? Madame Pernelle. I warned you often when you were a youth: In this world virtue is oppressed forever; The envious may die, but envy never. Orgon. But what does this have to do with today? Madame Pernelle. People are telling you lies and hearsay. Orgon. I've already said that I myself saw it. Madame Pernelle. The malice of gossips is infinite. Orgon. You'll make me damn myself, Mother. I tell you I saw with my eyes just what he would do. Madame Pernelle. Some tongues always have some poison to spit, And nothing on earth is safe against it. Orgon. I do not know what these words of yours mean. I've seen it, I say, seen, with these eyes seen-- Do you know the word, seen? Must I shout it In your ears a hundred times and still you doubt it? Madame Pernelle. Dear Lord! Appearances may be deceiving: You shouldn't judge based on what you're perceiving. Orgon. I'll go mad! Madame Pernelle. People are prone to suspicion; Misjudgment is part of the human condition.