“ 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 ”
Molière, Tartuffe or The Impostor (1669). copy citation
| Author | Molière |
|---|---|
| Source | Tartuffe or The Impostor |
| Topic | fate virtue |
| Date | 1669 |
| Language | English |
| Reference | |
| Note | Translated by Curtis Hidden Page |
| Weblink | https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Tartuffe_or_the_Hypocrite |
Context
“. . . 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.
ORGON (to Mariane)
So! I must learn what's what from her, you see!”
source
