6 “Tartuffe aussi fut perdu par une femme.” A stunning sentence for anyone familiar with Tartuffe, as most of the

6 "Tartuffe aussi fut perdu par une femme." A stunning sentence for anyone familiar with Tartuffe, as most of the French were and are. The lines quoted are from Tartuffe (see note for p. 281, ll. 28–32) as the hypocrite prepares to seduce Elmire, the virtuous wife of his preposterous benefactor, Orgon. Most people would say that Tartuffe was unmasked by Elmire, his "ruin" being richly deserved.