The Pretentious Young Ladies | Page 3

more than Judges, Princes, and Kings at seeing Trivelin, [Footnote: The Doctor and the Captain were traditional personages of the Italian stage; their parts need no further explanation; Trivelin was a popular Italian actor, who in a humorous and exaggerated way played the parts of Judges, Princes, and Kings.] or any other upon the Stage, ridiculously act the Judge, the Prince, or King; so the true _Pr��cieuses_ would be in the wrong to be angry, when the pretentious Ones are exposed, who imitate them awkwardly. In a Word, as I said, I am not allowed breathing time; Mr. de Luyne is going to bind me up this Instant: ... let it be so, since the Fates so ordain it.
In the third volume of the "Select Comedies of M. de Moli��re," this comedy is called "The Conceited Ladies." It is dedicated to Miss Le Bas in the following words:---
MADAM, Addresses of this Nature are usually fill'd with Flattery: And it is become so general and known a Practice for Authors of every kind to bedeck with all Perfections Those to whom they present their Writings, that Dedications are, by most People, at Present, interpreted like Dreams, directly backwards. I dare not, therefore, attempt Your Character, lest even Truth itself should be suspected--Thus far, however, I'll venture to declare, that if sprightly blooming Youth, endearing sweet Good-nature, flowing gentile Wit, and an easy unaffected Conversation, maybe reckon'd Charms,--Miss LE BAS is exquisitely charming.
The following COMEDY of Monsieur MOLIERE, that celebrated Dramatick Writer, was, by him, intended to reprove a vain, fantastical, conceited and preposterous Humour, which about that time prevailed very much in France. It had the desir'd good Effect, and conduced a great deal towards rooting out a Taste so unreasonable and ridiculous.---As Pride, Conceit, Vanity, and Affectation, are Foibles so often found amongst the Fair Sex at present, I have attempted this Translation, in hopes of doing service to my pretty Country-Women.--And, certainly, it must have a double efficacy, under the Patronage of one who is so bright an Example of the contrary fine Accomplishments, which a large Fortune makes her not the less careful to improve.
I am not so presumptuous to imagine that my English can do sufficient Justice to the sense of this admir'd AUTHOR; and, therefore, have caused the ORIGINAL to be placed against it Page for Page, hoping that, both together, may prove an agreeable and useful Entertainment.----But I have detain'd you too long already, and shall only add, that I am, with much respect, and every good Wish, MADAM, _Your most Obedient Humble Servant_, THE TRANSLATOR.
The _Pr��cieuses Ridicules_ have been partly imitated in "_The Damoiselles �� la Mode_, Compos'd and Written by Richard Flecknoe. London: Printed for the Author, 1667. To their graces the Duke and Duchess of Newcastle, the Author dedicates this his comedy more humbly than by way of epistle." This gentleman, who was "so distinguished as a wretched poet, that his name had almost become proverbial," and who gave the title to Dryden's _Mac-Flecknoe_, is said to have been originally a Jesuit. Langbaine states "that his acquaintance with the nobility was more than with the Muses." In the preface our author says: "This Comedy is taken out of several excellent pieces of _Moli��re_. The main plot out of his _Pretieusee's Ridiculee's_; the Counterplot of Sganarelle out of his _Escole des Femmes_, and out of the _Escole des Marys_, the two _Naturals_; all which, like so many Pretieuse stones, I have brought out of _France_; and as a Lapidary set in one Jewel to adorn our English stage."
This motley play was never acted; at least the author says: "for the Acting it, those who have the Governing of the Stage, have their Humours, and wou'd be intreated; and I have mine and won't intreat them; and were all Dramatick Writers of my mind, they shou'd wear their old Playes Thred-bare e're they shou'd have any _New_, till they better understood their own Interest, and how to distinguish betwixt good and bad."
The "Prologue intended for the overture of the Theater 1666," opens thus:--
"In these sad Times our Author has been long Studying to give you some diversion; And he has ta'en the way to do't, which he Thought most diverting, mirth and Comedy; And now he knows there are inough i' the Town At name of mirth and Comedy will frown, And sighing say, the times are bad; what then? Will their being sad and heavy better them?"
[Footnote: In 1665 the plague broke out in London, and in the succeeding year the great fire took place; only at Christmas 1666 theatrical performances began again.]
According to the list of "The Representers, as they were first design'd." I see that Nell Gwyn should have played the part of "_Lysette_, the _Damoiselle's_ waiting Woman."
James Miller, a well-known