The School for Husbands | Page 3

his "Diary," [Footnote: See Pepys' Diary, October 23, 1668.] wrote _The Mulberry Garden_, of which Langbaine, in his "An Account of the Dramatick Poets," states "I dare not say that the character of Sir John Everyoung and Sir Samuel Forecast are copies of Sganarelle and Ariste in Moli��re's _l'��cole des Maris_; but I may say, that there is some resemblance, though whoever understands both languages will readily and with justice give our English wit the preference; and Sir Charles is not to learn to copy Nature from the French." This comedy, which was played by his Majesty's servants at the Theatre Royal, 1688, is dedicated to the Duchess of Richmond and Lennox, a lady who has "'scap'd (prefaces) very well hitherto," but, says Sir Charles, "Madam, your time is come, and you must bear it patiently. All the favour I can show you is that of a good executioner, which is, not to prolong your pain." This play has two girls like Isabella, called Althea and Diana, two like Leonor, Victoria and Olivia, and four lovers, as well as a rather intricate plot. The Epilogue is amusing, and we give the beginning of it:--
Poets of all men have the hardest game, Their best Endeavours can no Favours claim. The Lawyer if o'erthrown, though by the Laws, He quits himself, and lays it on your Cause. The Soldier is esteem'd a Man of War, And Honour gains, if he but bravely dare. The grave Physician, if his Patient dye, He shakes his head, and blames Mortality. Only poor Poets their own faults must bear; Therefore grave Judges be not too severe.
Flecknoe has also imitated several of the scenes of The School for Husbands in _The Damoiselles �� la Mode_, which is a medley of several of Moli��re's plays (see Introductory Notice to _The Pretentious Young Ladies_).
James Miller has likewise followed, in The Man of Taste (Act i., Scene 2). (see Introductory Notice to _The Pretentious Young Ladies_), one scene of the first act of Moli��re's The School for Husbands.
Murphy, in _The School for Guardians_, has borrowed from three plays of Moli��re. The main plot is taken from _The School for Wives_; some incidents of the second act are taken from The Blunderer (see Introductory Notice to _The Blunderer_), but the scenes in which Oldcastle and Lovibond state their intention of marrying their wards, and the way in which one of the wards, Harriet, makes her love known to Belford is taken from _The School for Husbands_, though Leonor does not betray in the French comedy, as she does in the English, the confidence placed in her. The French Isabella acts like Harriet, but then she has a foolish and jealous guardian.
Wycherley in _The Country Wife_, probably acted in 1672 or 1673, and which is partly an imitation of Moli��re's _School for Wives_, has borrowed from _The School for Husbands_, the letter which Isabella writes to Val��re (Act ii., Scene 8), and also the scene in which Isabella escapes disguised in her sister's clothes: but, of course, to give an additional zest to the English play, the author makes Pinchwife himself bring his wife to her lover, Horner. The scene hardly bears transcribing. He has also partly imitated in _The Gentleman Dancing-Master_, first performed in 1673, some scenes of The School for Husbands.
Otway, in _The Soldier's Fortune_ (see Introductory Notice to _Sganarelle, or The Self-Deceived Husband_), has borrowed from Moli��re's School for Husbands that part of his play in which Lady Dunse makes her husband the agent for conveying a ring and a letter to her lover.

DRAMATIS PERSON?.
SGANARELLE, [Footnote: This part was played by Moli��re himself. In the inventory taken after Moli��re's death, and given by M. Souli��, we find: "A dress for _The School for Husbands_, consisting of breeches, doublet, cloak, collar, purse and girdle, all of a kind of brown coloured (_couleur de muse_) satin."] } } brothers. ARISTE, )
VAL��RE, lover to Isabella.
ERGASTE, _servant to Val��re_.
A MAGISTRATE.
[Footnote: The original has _un Commissaire_, who in Moli��re's time, appears to have been a kind of inferior magistrate under the authority of the _Lieutenant-g��n��ral de la Police_. The Commissaires de Police were not established till 1699; and The School for Husbands was played for the first time in 1661.]
A NOTARY.
ISABELLA, ) ) sisters. L��ONOR, }
LISETTE, maid to Isabella.
Scene.--A PUBLIC PLACE IN PARIS.

THE SCHOOL FOR HUSBANDS.
(_L'ECOLE DES MARIS_).
* * * * *

ACT I.
SCENE I.--SGANARELLE, ARISTE.
SGAN. Pray, brother, let us talk less, and let each of us live as he likes. Though you have the advantage of me in years, and are old enough to be wise, yet I tell you that I mean to receive none of your reproofs; that my fancy is the only counsellor I shall follow, and that I am quite satisfied with my way of living.
AR. But every one condemns