the double-dealer-第2章
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I must now; sir; declare to the world how kind you have been to my
endeavours; for in regard of what was well meant; you have excused
what was ill performed。 I beg you would continue the same method in
your acceptance of this dedication。 I know no other way of making a
return to that humanity you shewed; in protecting an infant; but by
enrolling it in your service; now that it is of age and come into
the world。 Therefore be pleased to accept of this as an
acknowledgment of the favour you have shewn me; and an earnest of
the real service and gratitude of;
Sir; your most obliged; humble servant;
WILLIAM CONGREVE。
TO MY DEAR FRIEND MR。 CONGREVE;
ON HIS COMEDY CALLED THE DOUBLE…DEALER。
Well then; the promised hour is come at last;
The present age of wit obscures the past。
Strong were our sires; and as they fought they writ;
Conqu'ring with force of arms and dint of wit。
Theirs was the giant race; before the flood;
And thus; when Charles returned; our empire stood。
Like Janus he the stubborn soil manured;
With rules of husbandry the rankness cured;
Tamed us to manners; when the stage was rude;
And boist'rous English wit with art indued。
Our age was cultivated thus at length;
But what we gained in skill we lost in strength。
Our builders were with want of genius curst;
The second temple was not like the first:
Till you; the best Vitruvius; come at length;
Our beauties equal; but excel our strength。
Firm Doric pillars found your solid base;
The fair Corinthian crowns the higher space;
Thus all below is strength; and all above is grace。
In easy dialogue is Fletcher's praise:
He moved the mind; but had no power to raise。
Great Johnson did by strength of judgment please
Yet doubling Fletcher's force; he wants ease。
In diff'ring talents both adorned their age;
One for the study; t'other for the stage。
But both to Congreve justly shall submit;
One matched in judgment; both o'er…matched in wit。
In him all beauties of this age we see;
Etherege his courtship; Southern's purity;
The satire; wit; and strength of manly Wycherly。
All this in blooming youth you have achieved;
Nor are your foiled contemporaries grieved;
So much the sweetness of your manners move;
We cannot envy you; because we love。
Fabius might joy in Scipio; when he saw
A beardless consul made against the law;
And join his suffrage to the votes of Rome;
Though he with Hannibal was overcome。
Thus old Romano bowed to Raphael's fame;
And scholar to the youth he taught became。
O that your brows my laurel had sustained;
Well had I been deposed if you had reigned!
The father had descended for the son;
For only you are lineal to the throne。
Thus when the state one Edward did depose;
A greater Edward in his room arose。
But now; not I; but poetry is cursed;
For Tom the Second reigns like Tom the First。
But let 'em not mistake my patron's part;
Nor call his charity their own desert。
Yet this I prophesy: Thou shalt be seen
(Though with some short parenthesis between)
High on the throne of wit; and seated there;
Not mine (that's little) but thy laurel wear。
Thy first attempt an early promise made;
That early promise this has more than paid。
So bold; yet so judiciously you dare;
That your least praise is to be regular。
Time; place; and action may with pains be wrought;
But genius must be born; and never can be taught。
This is your portion; this your native store;
Heav'n; that but once was prodigal before;
To Shakespeare gave as much; she could not give him more。
Maintain your post: that's all the fame you need;
For 'tis impossible you should proceed。
Already I am worn with cares and age;
And just abandoning th' ungrateful stage:
Unprofitably kept at heav'n's expense;
I live a rent…charge on his providence。
But you; whom every muse and grace adorn;
Whom I foresee to better fortune born;
Be kind to my remains; and oh; defend;
Against your judgment; your departed friend!
Let not th' insulting foe my fame pursue;
But shade those laurels which descend to you:
And take for tribute what these lines express:
You merit more; nor could my love do less。
JOHN DRYDEN。
PROLOGUESpoken by Mrs。 Bracegirdle。
Moors have this way (as story tells) to know
Whether their brats are truly got or no;
Into the sea the new…born babe is thrown;
There; as instinct directs; to swim or drown。
A barbarous device; to try if spouse
Has kept religiously her nuptial vows。
Such are the trials poets make of plays;
Only they trust to more inconstant seas;
So does our author; this his child commit
To the tempestuous mercy of the pit;
To know if it be truly born of wit。
Critics avaunt; for you are fish of prey;
And feed; like sharks; upon an infant play。
Be ev'ry monster of the deep away;
Let's have a fair trial and a clear sea。
Let nature work; and do not damn too soon;
For life will struggle long e'er it sink down:
And will at least rise thrice before it drown。
Let us consider; had it been our fate;
Thus hardly to be proved legitimate:
I will not say; we'd all in danger been;
Were each to suffer for his mother's sin:
But by my troth I cannot avoid thinking;
How nearly some good men might have 'scaped sinking。
But; heav'n be praised; this custom is confined
Alone to th' offspring of the muses kind:
Our Christian cuckolds are more bent to pity;
I know not one Moor…husband in the city。
I' th' good man's arms the chopping bastard thrives;
For he thinks all his own that is his wives'。
Whatever fate is for this play designed;
The poet's sure he shall some comfort find:
For if his muse has played him false; the worst
That can befall him; is; to be divorced:
You husbands judge; if that be to be cursed。
DRAMATIS PERSONAE。
MEN。
MASKWELL; a villain; pretended friend to Mellefont; gallant to Lady
Touchwood; and in love with Cynthia;Mr。 Betterton
LORD TOUCHWOOD; uncle to Mellefont;Mr。 Kynaston
MELLEFONT; promised to; and in love with Cynthia;Mr。 Williams
CARELESS; his friend;Mr。 Verbruggen
LORD FROTH; a solemn coxcomb;Mr。 Bowman
BRISK; a pert coxcomb;Mr。 Powell
SIR PAUL PLYANT; an uxorious; foolish old knight; brother to Lady
Touchwood; and father to Cynthia;Mr。 Dogget
WOMEN。
LADY TOUCHWOOD; in love with Mellefont;Mrs。 Barry
CYNTHIA; daughter to Sir Paul by a former wife; promised to
Mellefont;Mrs。 Bracegirdle
LADY FROTH; a great coquette; pretender to poetry; wit; and
learning;Mrs。 Mountfort
LADY PLYANT; insolent to her husband; and easy to any pretender;
Mrs。 Leigh
CHAPLAIN; BOY; FOOTMEN; AND ATTENDANTS。
THE SCENE: A gallery in the Lord Touchwood's house; with chambers
adjoining。
THE DOUBLE…DEALERACT I。SCENE I。
A gallery in the Lord Touchwood's home; with chambers adjoining。
Enter CARELESS; crossing the stage; with his hat; gloves; and sword
in his hands; as just risen from table: MELLEFONT following him。
MEL。 Ned; Ned; whither so fast? What; turned flincher! Why; you
wo' not leave us?
CARE。 Where are the women? I'm weary of guzzling; and begin to
think them the better company。
MEL。 Then thy reason staggers; and thou'rt almost drunk。
CARE。 No; faith; but your fools grow noisy; and if a man must
endure the noise of words without sense; I think the women have more
musical voices; and become nonsense better。
MEL。 Why; they are at the end of the gallery; retired to their tea
and scandal; according to their ancient custom; after dinner。 But I
made a pretence to follow you; because I had something to say to you
in private; and I am not like to have many opportunities this
evening。
CARE。 And here's this coxcomb most critically come to interrupt
you。
SCENE II。
'To them' BRISK。
BRISK。 Boys; b