TARTUFFE: I may be pious, but I’m still a man.
And at the sight of your celestial charms,
Reason and heart alike lay down their arms.
Coming from me, I know these words distress you;
But after all, I’m not an angel, bless you;
And if you think I’ve put myself to shame,
It’s your bewitching charms that are to blame.[Ah! pour être dévot, je n’en suis pas moins homme:
Et, lorsqu’on vient à voir vos célestes appas,
Un cœur se laisse prendre, et ne raisonne pas.
Je sais qu’un tel discours de moi paraît étrange :
Mais, madame, après tout, je ne suis pas un ange ;
Et, si vous condamnez l’aveu que je vous fais,
Vous devez vous en prendre à vos charmants attraits.]Molière (1622-1673) French playwright, actor [stage name for Jean-Baptiste Poquelin]
Tartuffe, or the Hypocrite [Le Tartuffe, ou L’Imposteur], Act 3, sc. 3 (1669) [tr. Frame (1967)]
(Source)
The ostensibly pious Tartuffe trying to explain to his host's wife, Elmire, why he is hitting on (and kind of blaming it on her).
The lines are an imitation of Boccaccio's Decameron, Day 3, Book 8 (c. 1530), where a confessor tells a beautiful woman:Such is the might of your bewitching beauty, that love constrains me thus to act. And, let me tell you, good cause have you to vaunt you of your beauty more than other women, in that it delights the saints, who are used to contemplate celestial beauties; whereto I may add that, albeit I am an abbot, yet I am a man even as others.
[tr. Rigg (1903)]
(Source (French)). Alternate translations:Ah! being a Devotee does not make me less a Man; and when one comes to view your celestial Charms, the Heart surrenders, and reasons no more. I know, that such Language from me, seems somewhat strange; but, Madam, after all, I am not an Angel, and shou'd you condemn the Declaration I make, you must lay the Blame upon your attractive charms.
[tr. Clitandre (1672)]Ah! although I am a pious man, I am not the less a man; and, when one beholds your heavenly charms, the heart surrenders and reasons no longer. I know that such discourse from me must appear strange; but, after all, Madam, I am not an angel; and if my confession be condemned by you, you must blame your own attractions for it.
[tr. Van Laun (1876)]Ah! Although a devotee, I am no less a man. When your celestial attractions burst upon the sight, the heart surrenders, and reasons no more. I know that such language from me seems somewhat strange; but after all, madam, I am not an angel; and, if you condemn the confession I make, you have only your own attractions to blame for it.
[tr. Wall (1879)]Ah, being devout does not make me less a man; and when one comes to view your celestial charms the heart surrenders, and thinks no more. I know that this longing seems strange coming from me, but I am not an angel, and if you condemn the declaration I make, you must lay the biame on your attractive charms.
[tr. Mathew (1890)]Ah! I may be pious, but I am none the less a man; and when your heavenly charmes are seen the heart surrenders without reasoning. I know such language from me must seem strange; but, after all, Madame, I am not an angel, and, if you condemn my avowal, you must lay the blame on your captivating attractions.
[tr. Waller (1903)]Though pious, I am none the less a man;
And when a man beholds your heavenly charms,
The heart surrenders, and can think no more.
I know such words seem strange, coming from me;
But, madam, I'm no angel, after all;
If you condemn my frankly made avowal
You only have your charming self to blame.
[tr. Page (1909)]Ah, pious though I be, I'm still a man.
And when one glimpses your celestial beauties,
The heart is captured, and it cannot argue.
I know such words from me may seem surprising.
But after all, madame, I'm not an angel.
If you condemn the avowal I make to you,
You must accuse your own bewitching charms.
[tr. Bishop (1957)]I may be pious, but I'm human too:
With your celestial charms before his eyes,
A man has not the power to be wise.
I know such words sound strangely, coming from me,
But I'm no angel, nor was meant to be,
And if you blame my passion, you must needs
Reproach as well the charms on which it feeds.
[tr. Wilbur (1963)]I'm pious, but I'm still a man.
To glimpse your beauty is to fall,
To lose oneself beyond recall,
And when a heart is forced to yield,
Reason gives up; it quits the field.
You don't expect such words from me
But I'm no saint, why should I be?
You find this declaration strange?
To change it, you will have to change,
Become less lovely, less divine.
(Ha! Tell the sun it shouldn't shine!)
[tr. Bolt (2002)]Ah! Pious one may be: one is still a man. The heart, seeing such celestial charms, is captivated and is incapable of reason. Perhaps what I have said seems unexpected, but after all, I am a man, not an angel; and if you fault this admission that I have made, blame your unearthly beauty, which provoked it.
[tr. Steiner (2008)]