The IMPROMPTU of VERSAILLES, a Comedy of One Act in Profe, acted at Versailles in October 1663, and at Paris at the Theatre of the Palace-Royal the 4th of November the fame Year.

M

OLIERE, deeply affected with the King's Kindness to him, of which he had just receiv'd new Marks, thought that he ought in his Prefence, and be fore the whole Court, to destroy the Sufpicion of his having drawn the Characters of particular Perfons in The School for Wives, which might have prov'd difadvantageous to him; and for this purpofe brought on The Impromptu of Verfailles. In this Piece Bour fault is far from being fpar'd, and is nam'd with the utmoft Contempt; but this Contempt affected only his Genius and Talents; he had attack'd Moliere in a more fenfible Part: If the Writings of Moliere were very ancient we fhou'd have thought it a Curiosity that we find in this piece the Time of his Marriage with the Daughter of the Comedian Bejart. (Impromptu of Verfailles, Scene I.)

MOLIERE. Hold your Peace, Wife, you're an

Mrs. MOLIERE. Thank you, good Husband;" fee how it is; Matrimony alters People frangely; you would not have faid this a Year and half ago.

ACTEUR ́S.

MOLIERE, marquis ridicule.
BRÉCOURT, homme de qualité.
LA GRANGE, marquis ridicule.
DU CROISY, poëte.

Mademoiselle DU PARC, marquife façonniére.
Mademoiselle BÉJART, prude.

Mademoiselle DE BRIE, fage coquette.
Mademoiselle MOLIERE, fatyrique fpirituelle.
Mademoiselle DU CROISY, pefte doucereuse.
Mademoiselle HERVÉ, fervante précieuse.
LA THORILLIÉRE, marquis fâcheux.
BÉJART, homme qui fait le néceffaire.
QUATRE NÉCESSAIRES.

La SCENE eft à Versailles, dans l'antichambre du Roi.

ACTOR S.

MOLIERE, a ridiculous Marquis.

BRECOURT, a Man of Quality.

LA GRANGE, a ridiculous Marquis.

Du CROISY, a Poet.

Mrs. DU PARC, a ceremonious Marchionefs.

Mrs. BEJART, a Prude.

Mrs. DE BRIE, a fage Coquette.

Mrs. MOLIERE, a fatirical Wit.

Mrs. Du CROISY, a whining Gipfy.
Mrs. HERVEY, a conceited Chamber-maid.
TORRILLIERE, an impertinent Marquis..
BEJART, a Bufy-body.

FOUR ATTENDANTS.

SCENE Verfailles, in the King's Antichamber.

Vo L. III,

Р

L'Impromptu de Verfailles.

SCENE

I

MOLIERE, BRECOURT, LA GRANGE, DU CROISY, Mefdemoiselles DU PARC, BEJART, DE BRIE, MOLIERE, DU CROISY, HERVE'.

MOLIERE feul, parlant à fes camarades qui font derriére le théatre.

LLONS donc, Meffieurs & Mesdames, vous moquez-vous avec votre longueur, & ne voulez-vous pas tous venir ici? La pefte foit des gens! Holà, ho, monfieur de Brécourt.

BRÉCOURT derrière le théatre.] Quoi?

MOLIERE. Monfieur de la Grange.
LA GRANGE. Qu'est-ce?

MOLIERE. Monfieur du Croify.

DU CROISY. Plaît-il ?

MOLIERE. Mademoiselle du Parc.

Mademoiselle DU PARC. Hé bien ?

MOLIERE. Mademoiselle Béjart.

Mademoiselle BÉJART. Qu'y a-t-il ?

MOLIERE. Mademoiselle de Brie.

Mademoiselle DE BRIE. Que veut-on ?

MOLIERE. Mademoisete du Croify.

Mademoiselle Du CROISY. Qu'est-ce que c'est ?

MOLIERE. Mademoiselle Hervé.

Made

THE

Impromptu of Versailles.

SCENE

I.

MOLIERE, BRECOURT, LA GRANGE, DU CROISY, Mrs. DU PARC, Mrs. BEJART, Mrs. DU BRIE, Mrs. MOLIERE, Mrs. DU CROISY, Mrs. HERVEY.

MOLIERE alone, 'talking to the Players who are behind the Scenes.

OME Gentlemen and Ladies, are you in jeft, delaying thus, and won't you come hither? Plague take the People! So ho, Mr. Brecourt.

BRECOURT behind the Scenes.] What?

MOLIERE. Mr. La Grange.
LA GRANGE. What now?
MOLIERE. Mr. Du Croify.

DU CROISY. What do you want?
MOLIERE. Mrs. Du Parc ?

Mrs. DU PARC. Well?

MOLIERE. Mrs. Bejart.

Mrs. BEJART. Who's there?

MOLIERE. Mrs. De Brie.

Mrs. DE BRIE. What would you have?
MOLIERE. Mrs. Du Croify.

Mrs. Du CROISY. What's the matter?
MOLIERE. Mrs. Hervey.

P.2

Mrs.