Selected quad for the lemma: majesty_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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A59437
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The miser a comedy acted by His Majesties servants at the Theater Royal / written by Thomas Shadwell.
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Shadwell, Thomas, 1642?-1692.; Molière, 1622-1673. Avare.
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1672
(1672)
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Wing S2861A; ESTC R21941
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62,964
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102
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THE MISER A COMEDY ACTED By His Majesties Servants AT THE Theater Royal. Written by THOMAS SHADWELL LONDON Printed for Hobart Kemp at the sign of the Ship in the upper Walk of the New Exchange 1672. To the Right Honourable CHARLES Lord Buckhurst Gentleman of His MAJESTIES BED-CHAMBER My Lord THE Favour which your Lordship was pleased to shew to this Play I value more than all the loud Applauses of a Theater Nor can it be less esteemed by any man that has had the honour of knowing your Lordships Person or the pleasure of reading the diversions of your pen. It seems by your obliging kindness to the Poets and your great example in writing as if you were design'd by Heaven among many other great uses for the sustaining of declining Poetry This consideration with the boldness which your frequent favours have given me pull the trouble of this Dedication upon you You see my Lord the danger of encouraging any of us who are too apt without it to use the names of great men for the defence of our weaknesses and follies nay some are so arrogant to believe their injurious Dedications competent returns for all the Obligations they receive from the generosity of their Patrons But I my Lord have been too much obliged by you to think of making any return all that I can do is to beg leave to make an humble acknowledgment of all your favours and to take this occasion to publish my self to the World My Lord Your Lordships Most Obliged Humble Servant THOMAS SHADWELL READER THE Foundation of this Play I took from one of Moliere's called L' Avare but that having too few persons and too little action for an English Theater I added to both so much that I may call more than half of this Play my own and I think I may say without vanity that Moliere's part of it has not suffer'd in my hands nor did I ever know a French Comedy made use of by the worst of our Poets that was not better'd by ' em 'T is not barrenness of wit or invention that makes us borrow from the French but laziness and this was the occasion of my making use of L' Avare This Play as it was wrote in less than a moneth and was the last Play that was Acted at the Kings Theater in Covent-garden before the fatal fire there the great hast I made in writing it that made me very doubtful of the success of it which was the reason that at first I did not own it but conceal'd my Name I have resolved to take my leave of long Prefaces and will give you no farther trouble here for fear you should find too much afterwards PROLOGUE The Authors Name not being then known OUR Poet never doubts the good success Of Farce that 's in half French half English dress And this was made with little pains and wit As any cobling Poet e're wrote yet And therefore he 's resolv'd not to submit The Fortune of his Fellows he has seen Who in dull Farce have so successful been That could he write true wit he is in doubt Whether you would endure to sit it out But though he has no wit he has some shame And stealing from the French conceals his name French Plays in which true wit 's as rarely found As Mines of Silver are in English ground A foolish Marquiss or his knavish man Or some poor Pudden fool 's the best they can But stay I 've been to bold methinks I see The English Monsieurs rise in mutiny Crying confound him does he damn French Plays The only Pieces that deserve the Bayes France that on fashions does strict Laws impose The Universal Monarchy for Cloaths That rules our most important part our dress Should rule our wit which is a thing much less But Messieurs he says farther to provoke ye He would as soon be Author of Tu Quoque As any Farce that e're from France was sent And all consider'd 't is a complement And yet he hopes the advantages they gain That he may please ye with small stock of brain For our good natur'd Nation thinks it fit To count French Toys good Wares French nonsence wit The Actors Names Goldingham The Miser Theodore His Son Squeeze A Scrivener Timothy His Son Bellamour A Gentleman in disguise his true name Raines and servant to Gold but a lover of Theodora Rant and Hazzard Two Gamesters of the Town Robin Theodore's Servant Roger Iames and William Servants to Goldingham Iustice Two Bullies Constable and Watch Three Counterfeit Baylifs Fidlers Women Theodora Daughter to Goldingham Isabella Sister to Bellamour Cheatly A Procurer Lettice Her Daughter a Wench Ioyce A Wench Bridget The same The Miser ACT. 1. SCE. 1. Enter Rant Hazard Theodore Rant WHat a devil makes thee in so musty a humour Thou art as dull and dumpâ—â—â— as a fellow that had been drunk over night with Ale and had done noâ—â—â—ng but drunk Coffee talked Politicks and read Gazettes all this morning Haz. Hast lost thy money or thy wench Rant Nay faith Hazard if he has lost his money I am sure he has lost his wench in spight of the noble vertue of constancy Haz. Come Theodore a lucky hand or two at the Groom Porters will get thee as good a Mistriss as any about the Town Rant No pox on 't they are kept so high by foolish elder Brothers that poor younger Brothers must despaire of ' em Haz. No Rant thou art mistaken the Elder Brothers are so kind to keep 'em for the younger that can not do 't for themselves they are civil to the one for love and the other for money Rant I am not of your opinion there was never so much ready money and so little love stirring as at this time Haz. Faith then we that have but shallow purses must three or four club for one shee 'l serve us all considering how we drink Come Theodore be not melancholy if thou hast lost thy Mistriss I 'le club with thee for another Theo. So Gentlemen â—his Dialogue runâ— off very smartly you had rehearsed it before but I find you have the effects of last nights debauch upon you and are hot headed this morning what else should make you think me melancholy Rant Come faith thou art Theo. I must confess Gentlemen I am not in so brisk a humour as to leap over Joynt-stooles or come over a stick for the King or any of those pretty frolicks but I have no trouble unless you will create me one Haz. I am so far from that that I 'le tell thee news that will rejoyce the heart of thee if thou wert as dumpish as a young Spark that is newly denyed to be trusted for a white Periwig Theo. Prethee what 's that Rant That which I am sure you 'l bite at Haz. There is the most delicate charming creature come to lye over against us in Bow-street Oh t is a melting Girle she looks as if she would dissolve like an