Don Garcia of Navarre | Page 2

prince, and
hence, he sometimes becomes royally monotonous.
Some scenes of this play have been imitated in The Masquerade, a
comedy, acted at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, 1719, London,
"printed for Bernard Linton, between the Temple Gate," which was
itself partly borrowed from Shirley's Lady of Pleasure. The comedy
was written by Mr. Charles Johnson, who "was originally bred to the
law, and was a member of the Middle Temple; but being a great
admirer of the Muses, and finding in himself a strong propensity to
dramatic writing, he quitted the studious labour of the one, for the more
spirited amusements of the other; and by contracting an intimacy with
Mr. Wilks, found means, through that gentleman's interest, to get his
plays on the stage without much difficulty ... he, by a polite and modest
behaviour formed so extensive an acquaintance and intimacy, as
constantly ensured him great emoluments on his benefit night by which
means, being a man of economy, he was enabled to subsist very
genteelly. He at length married a young widow, with a tolerable fortune;
on which he set up a tavern in Bow Street, Covent Garden, but quitted
business at his wife's death, and lived privately on an easy competence
he had saved.... He was born in 1679 ... but he did not die till March 11,
1748." [Footnote: Biographia Dramatica, by Baker, Reed and Jones,
1812, Vol. I. Part i.]
The Masquerade is a clever comedy, rather free in language and
thought, chiefly about the danger of gambling. Some of the sayings are
very pointed. It has been stated that the author frequented the principal
coffee-houses in town, and picked up many pungent remarks there;

however this may be, the literary men who at the present time frequent
clubs, have, I am afraid, not the same chance. As a specimen of free
and easy--rather too easy--wit, let me mention the remarks of Mr.
Smart (Act I.) on the way he passed the night, and in what manner.
"Nine persons are kept handsomely out of the sober income of one
hundred pounds a year." I also observe the name of an old acquaintance
in this play. Thackeray's hero in the Memoirs of Mr. Charles J.
Yellowplush is "the Honourable Algernon Percy Deuceace, youngest
and fifth son of the Earl of Crabs," and in The Masquerade (Act III. Sc.
i) Mr. Ombre says: "Did you not observe an old decay'd rake that stood
next the box-keeper yonder ... they call him _Sir Timothy Deuxace_;
that wretch has play'd off one of the best families in Europe--he has
thrown away all his posterity, and reduced 20,000 acres of wood-land,
arable, meadow, and pasture within the narrow circumference of an
oaken table of eight foot." The Masquerade as the title of the play is a
misnomer, for it does not conduce at all to the plot. We give the greater
part of the Prologue to The Masquerade, spoken by Mr. Wilks:--
The Poet, who must paint by Nature's Laws, If he wou'd merit what he
begs, Applause; Surveys your changing Pleasures with Surprise, Sees
each new Day some new Diversion rise; Hither, thro' all the Quarters of
the Sky, Fresh Rooks in Flocks from ev'ry Nation hye, To us, the
Cullies of the Globe, they fly; French, Spaniards, Switzers; This Man
dines on Fire And swallows Brimstone to your Heart's Desire; Another,
Handless, Footless, Half a Man, Does, Wou'd you think it? what no
Whole one can, A Spaniard next, taught an Italian Frown, Boldly
declares he'll stare all Europe down: His tortured Muscles pleas'd our
English Fools;
[Footnote: In the rival House, Lincoln's-Inn-Fields Theatre, Rich was
bringing out Pantomimes, which, by the fertility of his invention, the
excellency of his own performance, and the introduction of foreign
performers, drew nightly crowded houses--hence the allusion.]
Why wou'd the Sot engage with English Bulls? Our English Bulls are
Hereticks uncivil, They'd toss the Grand Inquisitor, the Devil: 'Twas
stupidly contrived of Don Grimace, To hope to fright 'em with an ugly

Face. And yet, tho' these Exotick Monsters please, We must with
humble Gratitude confess, To you alone 'tis due, that in this Age, Good
Sense still triumphs on the British Stage: Shakespear beholds with Joy
his Sons inherit His good old Plays, with good old Bess's Spirit. Be
wise and merry, while you keep that Tether; Nonsense and Slavery
must die together.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.
DON GARCIA, _Prince of Navarre, in love with Elvira_.
[Footnote: In the inventory taken after Molière's death mention is made
of "Spanish dress, breeches, cloth cloak, and a satin doublet, the whole
adorned with silk embroideries." This is probably the dress in which
Molière played Don Garcia.]
DON ALPHONSO, _Prince of Leon, thought to be Prince of Castile,
under the name of Don Silvio_.