The Works of the late Right Honourable Richard Brinsley Sheridan

Front matter

THE' WORKS OF THE LATE RICHARD BRINSLEY SHERIDAN LONDON: PUINTED BY THOMAS UAVISON, WHITEFKIARS. THE WORKS OF THE LATE RIGHT HONOURABLE RICHARD BRINSLEY SHERIDAN. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. I. LONDON : john Murray, albemarle-street, JAMES RIDGyVAY; AND THOMAS WILKIE 1821.

ADVERTISEMENT.

. In sending forth this Collection of the Works of Mr. Sheridan, without the Life of the Author, by which it was to have been accompanied, it is but right to ex plain some of the reasons of such an omis sion to the public. One of the chief causes of delay has been the absence from England of the person to whom the very difficult and de licate task of doing justice to the memory of this extraordinary man was entrusted. At a distance from all those living yvit nesses of his career, who alone can supply the means of tracing it fully and ac curately, it may easily be imagined that VI

Preface

v THE RIVALS: A Comedy 1 Preface 3 Prologue 11 Prologue, spoken on the Tenth Night . . 13 Epilogue 15 Dramatis Personae 17 ST. PATRICK'S DAY: or, The Scheming Lieutenant. A Farce 157 Dramatis Personae 159 THE DUENNA : A Comic Opera .... 201 Dramatis Personae 203 A TRIP TO SCARBOROUGH : A Comedy . 295 Dramatis Personae 297 Prologue THE RIVALS: A COMEDY. FIRST ACTED AT COVENTT-GARDEN THEATRE, ON TUESDAY, THE 17TH OF JANUARY, 1775. VOL. I. B

PREFACE.

. A preface to a play seems generally to be con sidered as a kind of closet-prologue, in which — if his piece has been successful — the author solicits that indulgence from the reader which he had before experienced from the audience : but as the scope and immediate object of a play is to please a mixed assembly in representa tion (whose judgment in the theatre at least is decisive), its degree of reputation is usually as determined as public, before it can be prepared for the cooler tribunal of the study. Thus any farther solicitude on the part of the writer be comes unnecessary at least, if not an intrusion : and if the piece has been condemned in the performance, I fear an address to the closet, like an appeal to posterity, is constantly re garded as the procrastination of a suit, from a consciousness of the yveakness of the cause. From these considerations, the following comedy b

PREFACE.

. would certainly have been submitted to the reader, yvithout any farther introduction than what it had in the representation, but that its success has probably been founded on a circum stance which the author is informed has not before attended a theatrical trial, and which consequently ought not to pass unnoticed. I need scarcely add, that the circumstance alluded to was the withdrawing of the piece, to remove those imperfections in the first re presentation which were too obvious to escape reprehension, and too numerous to admit of a hasty correction. There are feyv writers, I be lieve, who, even in the fullest consciousness of error, do not yvish to palliate the faults which they acknowledge ; and, however trifling the performance, to second their confession of its deficiencies, by whatever plea seems least dis graceful to their ability.

In the present instance, it cannot be said to amount either to candour or modesty in me, to acknowledge an extreme inexperience and yvant of judgment on matters, in which, without guidance from practice, or spur from success, a young man should scarcely boast of being an adept. If it be said, that under such disadvantages no one should attempt to write a play, I must beg leave to dissent from the position, while the first point of experience

PREFACE.

. 5 that I have gained on the subject is, a know ledge of the candour and judgment with which an impartial public distinguishes between the errors of inexperience and incapacity, and the indulgence which it shows even to a disposition to remedy the defects of either. It were unnecessary to enter into any farther extenuation of what yvas thought exceptionable in this play, but that it has been said, that the managers should have prevented some of the defects before its appearance to the public — and in particular the uncommon length of the piece as represented the first night. It w*ere an ill return for the most liberal and gentlemanly conduct on their side, to suffer any censure to rest yvhere none was deserved. Hurry in writing has long been exploded as an excuse for an author ; — however, in the dramatic line, it may happen, that both an author and a manager may wish to fill a chasm in the entertainment of the public with a hastiness not altogether culpable.

The season was advanced yvhen I first put the play into Mr. Harris's hands : — it was at that time at least double the length of any acting comedy. I profited by his judgment and experience in the curtailing of it — till, I believe, his feeling for the vanity of a young author got the better of his desire for correctness, and he

PREFACE.

. left many excrescences remaining, because he had assisted in pruning so many' more. Hence, thoucrh I was not uninformed that the acts yvere still too long, I flattered myself that, after the first trial, I might yvith safer judgment proceed to remove what should appear to have been most dissatisfactory. Many other errors there were, yvhich might in part have arisen from my being by no means conversant with plays in general, either in reading or at the theatre. Vet I own that, in one respect, I did not regret in v ignorance : for as my first yvish in attempt ing a play was to avoid every appearance of plagiary, I thought I should stand a better chance of effecting this from being in a walk yvhich I had not frequented, and where, conse quently, the progress of invention was less likely to be interrupted by starts of recollection : for on subjects on which the mind has been much informed, invention is sloyv of exerting itself.

Faded ideas float in the fancy like half-for gotten dreams; and the imagination in its fullest enjoyments becomes suspicious of its offspring, and doubts whether it has created or adopted. With regard to some particular passages which on the first night's representation seemed generally disliked, I confess, that if I felt any

PREFACE.

. 7 emotion of surprise at the disapprobation, it was not that they were disapproved of, but that I had not before perceived that they deserved it. As some part of the attack on the piece was begun too early to pass for the sentence of judgment, which is ever tardy in condemning, it has been suggested to me, that much of the disapprobation must have arisen from virulence of malice, rather than severity of criticism : but as I was more apprehensive of there being just grounds to excite the latter than conscious of having deserved the former, I continue not to believe that probable, which I am sure must have been unprovoked. However, if it was so, and I could even mark the quarter from whence it came, it would be ungenerous to retort ; for no passion suffers more than malice from disappointment.

For my own part, I see no reason why the author of a play should not regard a first night's audience as a candid and judicious friend attending, in behalf of the public, at his last rehearsal. If he can dispense with flattery, he is sure at least of sincerity, and even though the annotation be rude, he may rely upon the justness of the comment. Considered in this light, that audience, whose fiat is essential to the poet's claim, whether his object be fame or profit, has surely a right to expect some defer-

PREFACE.

. ence to its opinion, from principles of politeness at least, if not from gratitude. As for the little puny critics, who scatter their peevish strictures in private circles, and scribble at every author yvho has the eminence of being unconnected yvith them, as they are usually spleen-swoln from a vain idea of increasing their consequence, there will always be found a petulance and illiberality in their remarks, yvhich should place them as far beneath the notice of a gentleman, as their original dulness had sunk them from the level of the most un successful author. It is not without pleasure that I catch at an opportunity of justifying myself from the charge of intending any national reflection in the cha racter of Sir Lucius O'Trigger. If any gentle men opposed the piece from that idea, I thank them sincerely for their opposition ; and if the condemnation of this comedy (hoyvever miscon ceived the provocation) could have added one spark to the decaying flame of national attach ment to the country supposed to be reflected on, I should have been happy in its fate -. and might with truth have boasted, that it had done more real service in its failure, than the successful morality of a thousand stage-novels yvill ever effect.

PREFACE.

. It is usual, I believe, to thank the performers in a new play, for the exertion of their several abilities. But where (as in this instance) their merit has been so striking and uncontroverted, as to call for the warmest and truest applause from a number of judicious audiences, the poet's after-praise comes like the feeble acclamation of a child to close the shouts of a multitude. The conduct, however, of the principals in a theatre cannot be so apparent to the public. I think it therefore but justice to declare, that from this theatre (the only one I can speak of from experience) those writers yvho wish to try the dramatic line will meet with that candour and liberal attention, which are generally al lowed to be better calculated to lead genius into excellence, than either the precepts of judgment, or the guidance of experience. THE AUTHOR.

Prologue

. BY THE AUTHOR. Spoken by Mr. WOODWARD and Mr. QUICK. Enter Serjeant at Law, and Attorney following, and giving a paper. Serj. What's here ! — a vile cramp hand ! I cannot see Without my spectacles. — Att. He means his fee. Nay, Mr. Serjeant, good sir, try again. [Gives money. Serj. The scrawl improves ! [more] O come, 'tis pretty plain. Hey ! how's this ? Dibble ! — sure it cannot be ! A poet's brief! a poet and a fee ! Att. Yes, sir ! though you without reward, I know, Would gladly plead the Muse's cause. — Serj. So ! — So ! Att. And if the fee offends, your wrath should fall On me. — Serj. Dear Dibble, no offence at all. Att. Some sons of Phoebus in the courts we meet, Serj. And fifty sons of Phoebus in the Fleet ! Att. Nor pleads he worse, who with a decent sprig Of bays adorns his legal waste of wig.

Serj. Full-bottom'd heroes thus, on signs, unfurl A leaf of laurel in a grove of curl ! Yet tell your client, that, in adverse days, This wig is warmer than a bush of bays. Att. Do you, then, sir, my client's place supply, Profuse of robe, and prodigal of tie Do you, with all those blushing powers of face, And wonted bashful hesitating grace. Rise in the court, and nourish on the case. [Exit. PROLOGEE. Serj. For practice then suppose — this brief will show it, Me, Serjeant Woodward, — counsel for the poet. Used to the ground, I know 'tis hard to deal With this dread court, from whence there's no appeal ; No tricking here, to blunt the edge of law, Or, damn'd in equity, escape by f aw: But judgment given, your sentence must remain ; No writ of error lies — to Drury-lanc ! Yet when so kind you seem, 'tis past dispute We gain some favour, if not costs of suit.

No spleen is here ! I see no hoarded fury ; — I think I never faced a milder jury! Sad else our plight ! where frowns are transportation. A hiss the gallows, and a groan damnation ! But such the public candour, without fear My client waves all right of challenge here. No newsman from our session is dismiss'd, Nor wit nor critic xce scratch off the list ; His faults can never hurt another's ease, His crime, at worst, a bud attempt to please: Thus, all respectin<_,, he appeals to all, And by the general voice will stand or fall. The play being withdrawn after the first night's representation, upon its second appearance the lines from ' Hey! how's this?' to ' no offence at all,' were omitted, and the following inserted : ' How's this ! the poet's brief again .' O ho ! ' Cast, I suppose? — AU.

O pardon me — Xo — No— ■ \\\- found the court, o'erlooking stricter laws, ' Indulgent to the men's of the cause ; ' By judges mild, unused to harsh denial, ' A rule was granted for another trial. ' Serj. Then hark'ee, Dibble, did you mend your pleadings , ' Errors, no few, we've found in our proceedings. ' Att. Come, courage, sir, we did amend oxa plea, ' Hence your ncu brief, and this refreshing fee.'

PROLOGUE.

. BY THE AUTHOR. Spoken on the Tenth Night, by Mrs. BuLKLEY. Granted our cause, our suit and trial o'er, The worthy Serjeant need appear no more : In pleasing I a different client choose, He served the Poet, — I would serve the Muse : Like him, I'll try to merit your applause, A female counsel in a female's cause. Look on this form *, — where Humour, quaint and sly, Dimples the cheek, and points the beaming eye ; Where gay Invention seems to boast its wiles In amorous hint, and half-triumphant smiles ; While her light mask or covers Satire's strokes, Or hides the conscious blush her wit provokes. — Look on her well — does she seem form'd to teach ? Should you expect to hear this lady preach ? Is gray experience suited to her youth ? Do solemn sentiments become that mouth ? Bid her be grave, those lips should rebel prove To every theme that slanders mirth or love.

Yet thus adorn'd with every graceful art To charm the fancy and yet reach the heart- Must we displace her ? And instead advance The Goddess of the woful countenance — * Pointing to the figure of Comedy.

PROLOGUE.

. The sentimental Muse ! — Her emblems view. The Pilgrim's Progress, and a sprig of rue ! View her — too chaste to look like flesh and blood — Primly portray'd on emblematic wood ! There fix'd in usurpation should she stand, She'll snatch the dagger from her sister's hand : And having made her vot'ries weep a food, Good heaven ! she'll end her comedies in blood — Bid Harry Woodward break poor Dunstals crown ! Imprison Quick, and knock Ned Shuter down; While sad Barsanti, weeping o'er the scene, Shall stab herself — or poison Mrs. Green. Such dire encroachments to prevent in time, Demands the critic's voice — the poet's rhyme. Can our light scenes add strength to ho]y laws ! Such puny patronage but hurts the cause : Fair Virtue scorns our feeble aid to ask ; And moral Truth disdains the trickster's mask.

For here their fav'rite stands *, whose brow, severe And sad, claims Youth's respect, and Pity's tear; Who, when oppress'd by foes her worth creates, Can point a poniard at the Guilt she hates. * Pointing to Tragedy.