Plays, written by Sir John Vanbrugh, volume the first

_Wor._ Now am I almost in Love with you again. Nay, I don't know but I might be quite so, had I made one short Campaign with _Amanda_. Therefore, if you find 'twould tickle your...

_I Smile at Love, and all its Arts, The Charming_ Cynthia _cry'd; Take heed, for Love has piercing Darts, A wounded Swain reply'd. Once free and blest as you are now, I trifled...

_Lov._ I'll then convince you you have none, by making it no longer so. Know then, I happen'd in the Play to find my very Character, only with the Addition of a Relapse; which s...

_Young Fash._ [_Aside._] The Devil it does! _Lory_, you see how things are, here will be a Discovery presently, and we shall have our Brains beat out: For my Brother will be sur...

_Aman._ But pr'ythee, _Berinthia_, instruct me a little farther; for I am so great a Novice, I'm almost asham'd on't. My Husband's leaving me whilst I was young and fond, threw...

_Lov._ Nor shall they trouble you much longer, A little time shall shew you they were groundless; This Winter shall be the fiery Trial of my Virtue; Which, when it once has past...

_Coup._ Wou'd the Pox had the Doctor----I'm quite out of Wind [_To Lo._] Set me a Chair, Sirrah. Ah----[_Sits down._] [_To Young Fash._] Why the Plague can'st not thou lodge upo...

_Euph._ I must confess, my Fortune wou'd be greater; But what's a Fortune to a Heart like mine? 'Tis true, I'm but a young Philosopher, Yet in that little Space my Glass has run...

Don _Ped._ You talk, _Alvarada_, like a perfect Stranger to that Tenderness methinks every Son shou'd feel for a good Father: For my part, I've receiv'd such repeated Proofs of...

_Esop._ The older 'tis, the easier to be govern'd; Were mine of as long a standing, 'twere possible I might get the better on't. Old Passions are like old Men; weak, and soon jo...

_Lady Fan._ [_Aside._] Very pretty truly--But how the Blockhead went out--languishing at her, and not a Look toward me!--Well, Churchmen may talk, but Miracles are not ceas'd. F...

Esop. _There needed no more Invitation To e'er a Country 'Squire i'th' Nation: Exactly to the time he came, Punctual as Woman when she meets A Man between a pair of Sheets, As g...

Oho! my good Signior Don _John_, you are mistaken in your Man; I am your humble Valet, 'tis true, and I am to obey you; but when you have got the Devil in your Body, and are upo...

_Const._ An't please your Worship, this here comical sort of a Gentlewoman has committed great Outrages to-night. She has been frolicking with my Lord _Rake_ and his Gang; they...

_Esop._ [_Aside._] Shield me, my Stars! What have you sent me here? For Pity's Sake, good Lady, be more humane: My Capacity is too heavy, to mount to your Style: If you wou'd ha...

_Assist me only with your Charms, You'll find I'm Man, and still am bold; You'll find I still can strike, tho' old: I only want your Aid to raise my Arms._

_Some colour of Reason thy Counsel might bear, Cou'd a Man have no more than his Wife to his share; Or were I a Monarch so cruelly just, To oblige a poor Wife to be true to her...

_Sir John._ Oons, Sir, I think a Woman and a Secret are the two impertinentest Themes in the Universe: Therefore pray let's hear no more of my Wife, nor your Mistress. Damn 'em...

_Lady Fan._ Lard, how ill-natur'd thou art, _Cornet_, to tell me so, tho' the thing shou'd be true! Don't you know that I have Humility enough to be but too easily out of Concei...

Don _Fel._ We all know, Don _John_, some by their own Experience, some by that of others, how nice a Gentleman's Honour is, and how easily tarnish'd; an _Eclaircissement_ manag'...

Don _Ped._ [_Aside._] This Mystery must unfold before we part. What Torments has my Fate provided me? Is this the Comfort I'm to reap, to dry my Tears, for my poor Father's deat...

_Heart._ I shou'd have, if I had a good Opinion enough of her's, to believe she cou'd do as much by me. For to do 'em right, after all, the Wife seldom rambles, till the Husband...

_Const._ And in refusing all, you starve it. Forgive me, therefore, since my Hunger rages, if I at last grow wild, and in my frenzy force at least this from you. [_Kissing her H...

Sir _John Vanbrugh_, an eminent dramatic Writer, Son of Mr. _Giles Vanbrugh_, of _London_, Merchant, was born in the Parish of _St. Stephen_'s, _Wallbrook_, in 1666. The Family...

_Tayl._ [_Pausing._] I think I had e'en as good follow the Gentleman's friendly Advice; for if I dispute any longer, who knows but the Whim may take him to case me? These Courti...

You'd see, perhaps, a venerable Statesman sit fast asleep in a great downy Chair; whilst, in that soft Vacation of his Thought, blind Chance (or what at least we blindly call so...

Perjured Husband Perolla and Isidora, by C. Cibber Phædra and Hippolitus, by Smith Pilgrim, by Beaumont and Fletcher Polly, by Mr. Gay Prophetess, by Beaumont Provok'd Husband,...