Alceste has lost the court case which was first mentioned in Act I. He rants on about it to Philinte: "By dint of sheer hypocrisy, of opened and most palpable fraud, right is overthrown and justice perverted!" Alceste vows to accept his punishment to prove himself a living example of one victimized by this wicked age, and further vows to withdraw from society. Philinte calmly says "I think your intentions are a little rash." He then explains that the weakness of human nature from which this injustice and evils of all kinds spring, is merely something that we must learn to live with. Alceste dismisses this and says that he will test Célimène's reaction to his decision. Philinte leaves to visit Eliante and Alceste waits for Célimène.
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