Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

1

Provok'd Husband.

pounds upon them, the detection of which has occafioned the latter to let Manly into the plan that is laid against Sir Francis: what follows between Mirtilla and the young Squire, is commonly omitted in representation, not we apprehend through a deficiency of merit, but to curtail the piece which certainly exceeds usual, and defirable bounds.

Sir Francis, filled with fresh importance from having been at St. Stephen's chapel; displays his consequence, perseverance and patriotifm, in very diverting colours to Mrs. Motherly, who in the true stile of such obliging ladies, echoes every thing the baronet advances with most courtly admiration, Manly's entrance gives rise to a scene of infinite merit-a scene we could wish read every morning after prayers in the house of commons; though if it had as flight an effect as the devotion has, it may as well be let alone; it is impossible to describe a picture more strongly satirical than Sir Francis's interview with the ministers; chimerical hopes of preferment, from a squeeze by the hand, and to a member of such importance, who scarce knew, like many others, what side he voted on, are subject both for laughter and pity-a man wading beyond his depth not able to swim, and catching at twigs for support, is highly emblematic of Sir Francis, whose ignorance lays a snare to entrap himself.

The ladies and their gallant attendant count Baffet, change the conversation to more detached matters; his intruding himself a second time upon Manly, who in a former scene treated him with contempt, shows

2

Provok'd Husband. shows palpably the servile coxcomb: Sir Francis's blundering misconception, especially respecting the sharper's courage, is admirably rallied by Manly; Miss breaks out, with an excellent specimen of her city improvement, in the rhapsodical journal of proceedings, which the repeats; Sir Francis's remark on Jenny's snappish behaviour to her mama-"there's your fine growing spirit for you, now take "it down an you can," is a very just reproof to the ridiculous indulgence which has encouraged it; the jealousy conceived against the daughter, shows her ladyship to be vicious as well as vain and fillyher laying hold of the promise, Sir Francis fancies he has got of a thousand a year, is very natural; and produces a whimsical altercation, concerning the expences she has already run to; Squire, Richard's conftant attention to eating, is characteristic and feems an inheritance from his wife father: we apprehend the following speech of the baronet's, upon his lady's propofing to buy fome lace as fine as a cohweb, is an excellent stroke of political fatire, and forced feeling: "Very fine, here I mun fast, till "I am almost famished for the good of my country, "while madam is laying me out one hundred pounds "a day, in lace as fine as a cobweb, for the honour of "my family! ods flesh, things had need go well at "this rate."

The conclufive scene of this act, relates to Baffet's plot of fecuring Miss Jenny, to which the young lady herself feems most forwardly confentingMirtilla who has hitherto appeared in a light of pity,

Dd2

Provok'd Husband: pity, stands here an object of censure; but we must confider what she says, as calculated to draw her deceiver more deeply into the snare laid for him; what he says of wanting to be busy with her again, and her reply, that he will foon have one to find him fufficient employment, are fentiments not strictly delicate.

The Count's differtation in foliloquy, upon affumed rank and sharping principles, is admirable; we heartily wish what follows, was confpicuously hung up, in every capital gaming house throughout the kingdom-" Since our modern men of quality, are " grown wife enough to be sharpers; I think sharp"ers are fools that don't take up the airs of men of "quality."

The conversation which passes between Manly and lady Grace, at the beginning of the fifth act, gives us a good and necessary idea, of the interesting crisis his lady's conduct has brought things to in lord Townly's family; and their mutual defire of mitigating matters, furnishes a favourable picture of their friendly feelings,

Sir Francis's scene very judiciously shows a sense of error, urging its way upon his dull comprehenfion, and Manly's laying hold of the opportunity to point out his frightful situation in its real colours, shews good sense, and a generous mind-the poor well-meaning baronet, is involved in such a heap of dilemma's, that even the laughter which his ignorant confufion raises, must be mingled with fome touches of concern; the means of his extrication

[blocks in formation]

Provok'd Husband. are very artfully left in fufpence at the end of the scene.

What passes between lady Townly and Trusty at the toilet, manifests the very effence of fashionable insensibility, a vacant head, and a callous heartthe description of what passed the night before is inimitable-taking the money from Poundage, shews a dishonest meanness which an infatuation to gaming, and a want of money will subject the higheft, as well as lowest classes of life to; it points out too, most satirically, the light in which tradesmen, and their circumstances are held in, by many of the gay world, who, being unprincipled themselves, think none of inferior rank in life have any right to, or occafion for punctual integrity.

The squabble between Poundage and the mercer, is most happily imagined, for bringing lord Townly on with the true dignity of an honourable nobleman; which is far above a right honourable knave; and an injured husband; one provocation is excellently grafted upon another, to justify the violent agitation he appears in; and his first reproach to the lady, strikes home at one mainpoint of disgrace, her diffipated folly brings on him; his arguments are keen, yet consistent with decorum, and spirited without being outrageous; while her replies, confifting of faint fallies of false wit, evidently show the badness of her cause, and give his lordship such openings for conviction, as afford reason, triumphant: admiffion to bear down all her principles, but fome embers of pride, which light into a short flame.

The Provok'd Husband.

The crisis to which matters are brought when Manly and lady Grace appear alarms attention, and even throws fome gleams of pity on the character of her infatuated lady ship; here the pathetic truly rifes upon us, and while we tremble for the unhappy wife, we mustapplaud and sympathize with the determined hufband, who paints the guilt, and pronounces sentence with all the tender firmness of a just and humane judge.

Lady Townly's feelings of remorse advance up. on us in a pleasing, because an unexpected manner, and so much as we have blamed her errors, we are also prepared to receive her fenfible recantation, which works that happy, agreeable effect upon his lordship it must do upon every generous mind; as indifcretion is the highest crime chargeable against her, the arguments of exculpation she offers are very admissible, and the effect of reconciliation is, I prefume, to the wish of every auditor; in short, this turn of affairs, so gradually, and with fuch probability brought about, is far fuperior to Sir John Vanburgh's original suggestion of turning the lady out of doors. The husband's authority is well maintained as the piece now stands, without any exertion of hardening feverity, which may startle, but generally renders vice more obstinate.

Though the first part of the masquerade scene is, for fake of reducing the play to more bearable compass, usually omitted, yet it contains many excellent strokes of fatire; what follows deferves

particular attention and praise; in respect of those

moft

« ZurückWeiter »