Ravenscroft wrote "_The Wrangling Lovers, or the Invisible Mistress_. Acted at the Duke's Theatre, 1677. London, Printed for William Crook, at the sign of the _Green Dragon_, without _Temple-Bar_, 1677." Though the plot was partly taken from a Spanish novel, the author has been inspired by Molière's _Dépit amoureux_. The scene is in Toledo: Éraste is called Don Diego de Stuniga, Valère Don Gusman de Haro, "a well-bred cavaliere," Lucile is Octavia de Pimentell, and Ascanio is Elvira; Gros-René's name is Sanco, "vallet to Gusman, a simple pleasant fellow," and Mascarille is Ordgano, "a cunning knave;" Marinette is called Beatrice and Frosine Isabella. The English play is rather too long. Don Gusman courts Elvira veiled, whilst in the French play Ascanio, her counterpart, is believed to be a young man. There is also a brother of Donna Elvira, Don Ruis de Moncade, who is a rival of Don Diego, whilst in _le Dépit-amoureux_. Valère is not the brother but the husband of Ascanio and the rival of Éraste (Don Diego) as well. The arrangement of the English comedy differs greatly from the French. Though the plot in both plays is nearly identical, yet the words and scenes in _The Wrangling Lovers_ are totally different, and not so amusing. Mascarille and Gros-René are but faintly attempted; Marinette and Frosine only sketched in outline; and in the fifth act the ladies appear to have nothing else to do but to pop in and out of closets. The scenes of the French play between Albert and Metaphrastus (ii. 7); the very comical scene between Albert and Polydore (iii. 4) and the reconciliation scene between Lucile and Éraste (iv. 3), are also not rendered in the English comedy. There are very few scenes which can be compared with those of _le Dépit amoureux_. DRAMATIS PERSONÆ. ÉRASTE, _in love with Lucile_. ALBERT, _father to Lucile_. [Footnote: This part was played by Moliére himself] GROS-RENÉ, _servant to Éraste_. VALÈRE, _son to Polydore_. POLYDORE, _father to Valère_. MASCARILLE, _servant to Valère_. METAPHRASTUS, _a pedant_. LA RAPIÉRE, _a bully_. LUCILE, _daughter to Albert_. ASCANIO, _Albert's daughter, in man's clothes_. FROSINE, _confidant to Ascanio_. MARINETTE, _maid to Lucile_. THE LOVE-TIFF. (LE DÉPIT AMOUREUX.) * * * * * ACT I. SCENE I.--ÉRASTE, GROS-RENÉ. ERAS. Shall I declare it to you? A certain secret anxiety never leaves my mind quite at rest. Yes, whatever remarks you make about my love, to tell you the truth, I am afraid of being deceived; or that you may be bribed in order to favour a rival; or, at least, that you may be imposed upon as well as myself.