Women who are always fiercely intrench'd in their Prudery, look upon every body with Contempt, and think all the good Qualities that others poffefs are nothing in comparison of a wretched Honour which no body regards. Have this Character always before your Eyes, that you may make the Grimaces of it right. [To Mrs. Brie.] As for you, you play one of those Women who think they are the most virtuous Perfons in the World, provided they fave Appearances; thofe Women who think the Crime lies only in the Scandal ; who would carry on the Affairs they have quietly on the foot of an honourable Attachment, and call those Friends whom other People call Galants. Enter well into this Character. [To Mrs. Moliere.] You play the fame Character as in the Criticism, I have nothing to fay to you any more than to Mrs. Du Parc. [To Mrs. Croify.] As for you, you represent one of those Perfons who are sweetly charitable to all the World, those Women who always give a Lash with their Tongue en paffant, and would be very forry if they fuffer'd their Neighbour to be well spoke of. I believe you'll not acquit yourself ill of this Part. [To Mrs. Hervey.] And for you, you are a conceited Abigail, who's always thrufting her Oar into Converfation, and catching all her Mistress's Terms as much as fhe can. I tell you all your Characters, that you may imprint them ftrongly in your Minds. Let us begin to repeat, and fee how 'twill do. Oh, here's an Impertinent, we wanted no more than this. SCENE LA THORILLIERE, MOLIERE, BRE COURT, LA GRANGE, DU CROISY, Mefdemoiselles DU PARC, BEJART, DE BRIE, MOLIERE, DU CROISY, HERVE. LA THORILLIERE. ON jour, monfieur Moliere. B° MOLIERE. Monfieur, votre ferviteur. [à part.] La pefte foit de l'homme ! LA THORILLIERE. Comment vous en va? MOLIERE. Fort bien pour vous fervir. [aux actrices.] Mefdemoiselles, ne . . . LA THORILLIERE. Je viens d'un lieu ou j'ai bien dit du bien de vous. MOLIERE. Je vous fuis obligé. [à part.] Que le diable t'emporte ! [aux Acteurs.] Ayez un peu foin . . . LA THORILLIERE. Vous jouez une piéce nouvelle aujourd'hui ? MOLIERE. Oui, Monfieur. [aux adrices.] N'oubliez pas ... LA THORILLIERE. C'eft le Roi qui vous la fait faire ? MOLIERE. Oui, Monfieur. [aux acteurs.] De grace, fongez. ... LA THORILLIERE. Comment l'appellez-vous? LA THORILLIERE. Je vous demande comment vous la nommez. MOLIERE. Ah! Ma foi, je ne fçais. [aux actrices.] Il faut, s'il vous plaît, que vous . . . LA THORILLIERE. Comment ferez-vous habillés? MOLIERE. Comme vous voyez. [aux acteurs.] Je vous prie... LA THORIL SCENE II. TORRILLIERE, MOLIERE, BRECOURT, TORRILLIERE. Ood-morrow, Mr. Moliere. Go MOLIERE, Sir, your Servant. [Afide.] Plague take the Fellow! TORRILLIERE. How goes it? MOLIERE. Very well, at your Service. [To the Adtreffes.] Ladies, don't TORRILLIERE. I come from a Place where I have been faying a great many fine things of you. MOLIERE. I'm oblig'd to you. [Afide.] The Devil take thee! [To the Actors.] Have a little care TORRILLIBRE. You play a new Piece to-day d'ye? MOLIERE. Yes, Sir. [To the Actreffes. Don't forget TORRILLIERE. The King makes you do it, hey? MOLIERE. Yes, Sir. [To the Actors.] Pray remem ber to TORRILLIERE. What do you call it ? MOLIERE. Yes, Sir. TORRILLIERE. I ask what you call it. MOLIERE. I'faith! I don't know. [To the Actresses.】 TORRILLIERE. How fhall you be drefs'd? now TORRIL LA THORILLIERE. Quand commencez-vous ? MOLIERE. Quand le Roi fera venu. [à part.] Au diantre le queftionneur ! LA THORILLIERE. Quand croyez-vous qu'il viennè ? MOLIERE. La pefte m'étouffe, Monfieur, fi je le fçais. LA THORILLIERE. Sçavez-vous point . . . MOLIERE. Tenez, Monfieur, je fuis le plus ignorant homme du monde. Je ne fçais rien de tout ce que vous pourrez me demander, je vous jure. [à part.] J'enrage. Ce boureau vient avec un air tranquille vous faire des questions, & ne fe foucie pas qu'on ait en tête d'autres affaires. LA THORILLIERE. Mesdemoiselles, votre ferviteur. MOLIERE. Ah! Bon. Le voilà d'un autre côté. LA THORILLIERE à mademoiselle du Croify.] Vous voilà belle comme un petit ange. Jouez-vous toutes deux aujourd'hui ? [En regardant mademoiselle Hervé. Mademoiselle DU CROISY. Oui, monfieur. LA THORILLIERE. Sans vous, la comédie ne vaudroit pas grand' chose. MOLIERE bas aux actrices.] Vous ne voulez pas faire en aller cet homme-là ? Mademoiselle DE BRIE à la Thorilliere.] Monfieur, nous avons ici quelque chofe à répéter ensemble.' LA THORILLIERE. Ah! Parbleu, je ne veux pas vous empêcher; vous n'avez qu'à poursuivre. Mademoiselle DE BRIE. Mais . . . LA THORILLIERE. Non, non, je ferois fâché d'incommoder perfonne. Faites librement ce que vous avez à faire. Mademoiselle DE BRIE. Oui; mais ... LA THORILLIERE. Je fuis homme fans cérémonje, vous dis-je, & vous pouvez répéter ce qui vous plaira, Mo TORRILLIERE. When d'ye begin? MOLIERE. When the King comes. [Afide.] Deuce on the Question-monger! TORRILLIERE. When do you think he'll come? MOLIERE. Plague choke me if I know, Sir. TORRILLIERE. Don't you know MOLIERE. Look you, Sir, I am the most ignorant Man in the World, I know nothing of whatever you may ask me I proteft t'ye. [Afide.] I'm mad; this tormenting Coxcomb comes with an Air of Tranquillity asking one Questions, and never confiders that one has other things in one's Head. TORRILLIERE. Ladies, your Servant. MOLIERE. Good. Now he's got on t'other fide. TORRILLIERE To Mrs. Croify.] You are as handfome as a little Angel. Do you play, both of you, to[Looking on Mrs. Hervey. day. Mrs. CROISY. Yes, Sir. TORRILLIERE. Without you the Comedy would not be worth much. MOLIERE Whispering the Actresses.] Won't you fend that Man there going? Mrs. DE BRIE to Torrilliere.] Sir, we have fomething here to repeat together. TORRILLIERE. Oh! S'life, I'll not hinder you. You have nothing to do but go on. Mrs. DE BRIE. But TORRILLIERE. No, no, I fhou'd be forry to incommode any Body; do freely what you have to do. Mrs. DE BRIE. Yes, but TORRILLIERE. I am a Man of no Ceremony I tell you, and you may repeat what you please. VOL. III. Q Mo |