Читать книгу The Wonder: A Woman keeps a Secret - Susanna Centlivre - Страница 4
ОглавлениеPROLOGUE
Spoken by Mr. MILLS.
Our Author fears the Criticks of the Stage, Who, like Barbarians, spare nor Sex, nor Age; She trembles at those Censors in the Pit, Who think good Nature shews a Want of Wit: Such Malice, O! what Muse can undergo it? To save themselves, they always damn the Poet. Our Author flies from such a partial Jury, As wary Lovers from the Nymphs of Drury: To the few candid Judges for a Smile, She humbly sues to recompense her Toil. To the bright Circle of the Fair, she next Commits her Cause, with anxious Doubts perplext. Where can she with such Hopes of Favour kneel, As to those Judges, who her Frailties feel? A few Mistakes, her Sex may well excuse, And such a Plea, No Woman shou'd refuse: If she succeeds, a Woman gains Applause, What Female but must favour such a Cause? Her Faults,—whate'er they are—e'en pass 'em by And only on her Beauties fix your Eye. In Plays, like Vessels floating on the Sea, There's none so wise to know their Destiny. In this, howe'er, the Pilot's Skill appears, While by the Stars his constant Course he steers: Rightly our Author does her Judgment shew, That for her Safety she relies on You. Your Approbation, Fair ones, can't but move, Those stubborn Hearts, which first you taught to love: The Men must all applaud this Play of Ours, For who dares see with other Eyes, than Yours.
Dramatis Personæ.
MEN.
Don Lopez, a Grandee of Portugal. Mr. Norris. Don Felix his Son, in Love with Violante. Mr. Wilks. Frederick, A Merchant. Mr. Bickerstaff. Don Pedro, Father to Violante. Mr. Bullock, Jun. Col. Britton, A Scotchman. Mr. Mills. Gibby, His Footman. Mr. Bullock, Sen. Lissardo, Servant to Felix. Mr. Pack. WOMEN. Donna Violante, Designed for a Nun by her Father, in Love with Felix. Mrs. Oldfield. Donna Isabella, Sister to Felix. Miss Santlow. Inis, Her Maid. Mrs. Cox. Flora, Maid to Violante. Mrs. Saunders. Alguazil, Attendants, Servants, &c. SCENE, Lisbon.
