Plays, written by Sir John Vanbrugh, volume the firstVanbrugh, John
General
Plays, written by Sir John Vanbrugh, volume the first
Vanbrugh, John
Comedy plays; English drama -- 18th century; English drama -- Restoration, 1660-1700
_Lady Brute._ Because we have Intrigues of our own, that make us more
Sport, Child. And so let's in and consider of 'em.
[_Exeunt._
+SCENE+, _A Dressing-Room_.
_Enter Lady ~Fancyfull~, ~Madamoiselle~, and ~Cornet~._
_Lady Fan._ How do I look this Morning?
_Cor._ Your Ladyship looks very ill, truly.
_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 Conceit with myself? Hold the Glass;
I dare swear that will have more Manners than you have. _Madamoiselle_,
let me have your Opinion too.
_Madam._ My opinion pe, Matam, dat your Latyship never look so well in
your Life.
_Lady Fan._ Well, the _French_ are the prettiest, obliging People; they
say the most acceptable, well-manner'd things--and never flatter.
_Madam._ Your Latyship say great Justice inteed.
_Lady Fan._ Nay, every thing's just in my House but _Cornet_. The
very Looking-Glass gives her the _Dementi_. But I'm almost afraid it
flatters me, it makes me look so very engaging.
[_Looking affectedly in the Glass._
_Madam._ Inteed, Matam, your face pe handsomer den all de Looking-Glass
in de World, _croyez moy_.
_Lady Fan._ But is it possible my Eyes can be so languishing--and so
very full of Fire?
_Madam._ Matam, if de Glass was Burning-Glass, I believe your Eyes set
de Fire in de House.
_Lady Fan._ You may take that Night-gown, _Madamoiselle_; get out of
the Room, _Cornet_; I can't endure you. This Wench, methinks, does look
so unsufferably ugly.
_Madam._ Every ting look ugly, Matam, dat stand by your Latyship.
_Lady Fan._ No really, _Madamoiselle_, methinks you look mighty pretty.
_Madam._ Ah Matam! de Moon have no Eclat ven de Sun appear.
_Lady Fan._ O pretty Expression! Have you ever been in Love,
_Madamoiselle_?
Madam. _Ouy_, Matame.
[_Sighing._
_Lady Fan._ And were you belov'd again?
Madam. _Non_, Matame.
_Lady Fan._ O ye Gods! What an unfortunate Creature shou'd I be in such
a Case! But Nature has made me nice, for my own Defence: I'm nice,
strangely nice, _Madamoiselle_; I believe were the Merit of whole
Mankind bestow'd upon one single Person, I shou'd still think the
Fellow wanted something to make it worth my while to take notice of
him; and yet I could love; nay, fondly love, were it possible to have
a thing made on purpose for me: For I'm not cruel, _Madamoiselle_; I'm
only nice.
_Madam._ Ah Matam, I wish I was fine Gentleman for your sake. I do
all de ting in de World to get leetel way into your Heart. I make
Song, I make Verse, I give you de Serenade, I give great many Present
to _Madamoiselle_; I no eat, I no sleep, I be lean, I be mad, I hang
myself, I drown myself. _Ah ma chere Dame, que je vous aimerois!_
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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