Chapter 1

Ladies_), one scene of the first act of Molière's _The School for Husbands_.

Murphy, in _The School for Guardians_, has borrowed from three plays of Molière. The main plot is taken from _The School for Wives_; some incidents of the second act are taken from _The Blunderer_ (see Introductory Notice to _The Blunderer_), but the scenes in which Oldcastle and Lovibond state their intention of marrying their wards, and the way in which one of the wards, Harriet, makes her love known to Belford is taken from _The School for Husbands_, though Leonor does not betray in the French comedy, as she does in the English, the confidence placed in her. The French Isabella acts like Harriet, but then she has a foolish and jealous guardian.

Wycherley in _The Country Wife_, probably acted in 1672 or 1673, and which is partly an imitation of Molière's _School for Wives_, has borrowed from _The School for Husbands_, the letter which Isabella writes to Valère (Act ii., Scene 8), and also the scene in which Isabella escapes disguised in her sister's clothes: but, of course, to give an additional zest to the English play, the author makes Pinchwife himself bring his wife to her lover, Horner. The scene hardly bears transcribing. He has also partly imitated in _The Gentleman Dancing-Master_, first performed in 1673, some scenes of _The School for Husbands_.

Otway, in _The Soldier's Fortune_ (see Introductory Notice to _Sganarelle, or The Self-Deceived Husband_), has borrowed from Molière's _School for Husbands_ that part of his play in which Lady Dunse makes her husband the agent for conveying a ring and a letter to her lover.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.

SGANARELLE, [Footnote: This part was played by Molière himself. In the inventory taken after Molière's death, and given by M. Soulié, we find: "A dress for _The School for Husbands_, consisting of breeches, doublet, cloak, collar, purse and girdle, all of a kind of brown coloured (_couleur de muse_) satin."] } } _brothers_. ARISTE, )

VALÈRE, _lover to Isabella_.

ERGASTE, _servant to Valère_.

A MAGISTRATE.

[Footnote: The original has _un Commissaire_, who in Molière's time, appears to have been a kind of inferior magistrate under the authority of the _Lieutenant-général de la Police_. The _Commissaires de Police_ were not established till 1699; and _The School for Husbands_ was played for the first time in 1661.]

A NOTARY.

ISABELLA, ) ) _sisters_. LÉONOR, }

LISETTE, _maid to Isabella_.

_Scene_.--A PUBLIC PLACE IN PARIS.

THE SCHOOL FOR HUSBANDS.

(_L'ECOLE DES MARIS_).

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