the double-dealer(两面派)-第2节
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touched with the satire of this COMEDY。 Thus have they also
wrongfully accused me of doing them a prejudice； when I have in reality
done them a service。
You will pardon me； sir； for the freedom I take of making answers to
other people in an epistle which ought wholly to be sacred to you； but
since I intend the play to be so too； I hope I may take the more liberty of
justifying it where it is in the right。
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
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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
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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
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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。
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ACT 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'r
