The New Manufacture, Foote and Co., Undertakers; Play, Pantomime, Opera, Farce,--by the Makers! We scorn, like our brethren, our fortunes to owe To Shakespeare and Southern, to Otway and Rowe. Though our judgment may err, yet our justice is shewn, For we promise to mangle no works but our own. And moreover on this you may firmly rely, If we can't make you laugh, that we won't make you cry. For Roscius, who knew we were mirth-loving souls, Has lock'd up his lightning, his daggers, and bowls. Resolv'd that in buskins no hero shall stalk, He has shut us quite out of the Tragedy walk. No blood, no blank verse!--and in short we're undone, Unless you're contented with Frolic and Fun. If tired of her round in the Ranelagh-mill, There should be but one female inclined to sit still; If blind to the beauties, or sick of the squall, A party should shun to catch cold at Vauxhall; If at Sadler's sweet Wells the made wine should be thick, The cheese-cakes turn sour, or Miss Wilkinson sick; If the fume of the pipes should oppress you in June, Or the tumblers be lame, or the bells out of tune; I hope you will call at our warehouse in Drury; We've a curious assortment of goods, I assure you; Domestic and foreign, and all kinds of wares; English cloths, Irish linnen, and French petenlairs! If for want of good custom, or losses in trade, The poetical partners should bankrupts be made; If from dealings too large, we plunge deeply in debt, And Whereas issue out in the Muses Gazette; We'll on you our assigns for Certificates call; Though insolvent, we're honest, and give up our all." Otway in his very indecent play, _The Soldier's Fortune_, performed at Dorset Garden, 1681, has borrowed freely from Moliere; namely: one scene from _Sganarelle_, four scenes from _The School for Husbands_, and a hint from _The School for Wives_. The joke from _The Pretentious Young Ladies_, Scene xii., page 162, about "the half moon and the full moon" is repeated in the conversation between Fourbin and Bloody-Bones in _The Soldier's Fortune_. Sir John Vanbrugh also translated Moliere's _Sganarelle_, which was performed at the Queen's Theatre in the Haymarket, 1706, but has not been printed. There was also a ballad opera played at Drury Lane April 11, 1733, called the _Imaginary Cuckold_, which is an imitation of _Sganarelle_. DRAMATIS PERSONAE GORGIBUS, _a citizen of Paris_. LELIO, _in love with Celia_. SGANARELLE, _a citizen of Paris and the self-deceived husband_. [Footnote: Moliere acted this part himself. In the inventory of his dresses taken after his death, and given by M. Eudore Soulie in his _Recherches sur Moliere_, 1863. we find: "a ... dress for the _Cocu imaginaire_, consisting of knee-breeches, doublet, cloak, collar, and shoes, all in crimson red satin."] VILLEBREQUIN, _father to Valere_. GROS-RENE, _servant to Lelio_. A RELATIVE OF SGANARELLE'S WIFE.