At the moment that Philinte is making advances to Eliante, Alceste enters ranting that Célimène has been unfaithful to him. He claims to have in his possession a love letter which Célimène has written to Oronte. Philinte tries to calm him, saying that the letter simply might have given the wrong impression, but Alceste refuses to listen. Then Alceste offers his devotion to Eliante in order to get vengeance on Célimène. Eliante stays him with the words: "guilt in loved ones soon turns to innocence again, resentment quickly vanishes; we all know what lovers' quarrels are." Alceste claims undying antagonism toward Célimène.
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