451 3. The Princess; or Love at first Sight: a TragiComedy. Written in Naples. 4. The Parson's Wedding: a Comedy. Written at Basil, in Switzerland. 5. The Pilgrim: a Tragedy. Written in Paris. 6. The First Part of Cicilia and Clorinda; or Love in Arms: a Tragi-Comedy. Written in Turin. 7. The Second Part of Cicilia and Clorinda; or Love in Arms: a Tragi-Comedy. Written in Florence. 8. Thomaso; or the Wanderer: a Comedy. Written in Madrid. 9. The Second Part of Thomaso; or the Wanderer. Written in Madrid. 10. The First Part of Bellamira, her Dream; or the Love of Shadows: a Tragi-Comedy. Written in Venice. 11. The Second Part of Bellamira, her Dream; or the Love of Shadows: a Tragi-Comedy. Written in Venice. [All the above plays were printed together in one volume, folio. 1664.1 Thomas Killegrew had two brothers, both dramatic writers, viz. Sir William Killegrew*, author of Ormasdes, Pandora, Selindra, and The Siege of Urbin ;† and Dr. Henry Killegrew, a clergyman, author of a play called The Conspiracy, printed in 4to. 1638, and afterwards altered, and printed in folio, 1653, under the title of Pallantus and Eudona. Dr. Henry Killegrew was father to Mrs. Anne Killegrew, a young lady celebrated for her wit, beauty, and virtue, and who was the writer of several poems, very highly esteemed by Mr. Dryden. *An account of Sir W. Killegrew will be found in Restituta II.. 130. The three first of his plays here mentioned were published together in 8vo. in 1664 or 1665, for the title pages bear both these dates. Pandora was "not approved upon the stage as a Tragedy," and therefore the author turned it into a Comedy, and Waller wrote some lines upon the change. C. A play called The Imperial Tragedy, has also been assigned to him upou no adequate authority. C. DRAMATIS PERSONE. Mr. CARELESS, a gentleman, and a wit. PARSON, a wit also, but over-reached by the Captain, and his wanton. Mr. CONSTANT, two dull suitors to the lady Widow, Mr. SAD, and Mrs. Pleasant. } CROP, the Brownist, a Scrivener. Lady WILD, a rich (and somewhat youthful) widow. Mrs. PLEASANT, a handsome young gentlewoman, of a good fortune. Mrs. SECRET, her (indifferent honest) woman. Mrs. WANTON, the Captain's livery punk, married to the Parson by confederacy. Bawds, Servants, Drawers, Fiddlers. THE PARSON'S WEDDING." ACT I. SCENE I. Enter the CAPTAIN in choler, and WANTON. Captain. No more; I'll sooner be reconcil'd to want or sickness, than that rascal: a thing, that my charity made sociable; one, that when I smil'd would fawn upon me, and wag his stern, like starv'd dogs; so nasty, the company cried foh upon him; he stunk so of poverty, ale, and bawdry. So poor and despicable, when I reliev'd him, he could not avow his calling for want of a cassock, but stood at corners of streets and whisper'd gentlemen in the ear, as they pass'd, and so deliver'd his wants like a message; which being done, the rogue vanished, and would dive at Westminster like a dabchick, and rise again at Temple-gate. The ingenuity of the rascal, his wit being snuft by want, burnt clear then, and furnish'd him with a bawdy jest or two, to take the company; but now the rogue shall find he has lost a patron. Wanton. As I live, if I had thought you would have been in such a fury, you should never have known it. Captain. Treacherous rogue! he has always rail'd See This play was originally represented wholly by women. Dialogue on plays and players, Vol. I. See Granger's Hist. Engl. iv. On this occasion a Prologue and Epilogue were spoken by Mrs. Marshall (of whom see Memoires de Grammont, p. 202. Edit. 4to. Strawberry Hill) which are printed in Covent Garden Drollery, p. 3. 8vo. 1672. O. G. VOL. XI. A A against thee to me, as a danger his friendship ought to give me warning of, and nightly cried, Yet look back, and hunt not, with good-nature and the beauties of thy youth, that false woman; but hear thy friend, that speaks from sad experience. Wanton. Did he say this? Captain. Yes, and swears ye are as unsatiate as the sea, as covetous, and as ungrateful; that you have your tempests too, and calms, more dangerous than it. Wanton. Was the slave so eloquent in his malice? Captain. Yes, faith, and urg'd, you (for your part) were never particular, and seldom sound. Wanton. Not sound! why, he offer'd to marry me, and swore he thought I was chaste, I was so particular; and prov'd it, that consent was full marriage, by the first institution, and those that love, and lie together, and tell, have fulfilled all ceremonies now. Captain. Did he offer to marry thee? Wanton. Yes, yes. Captain. If ever then I deserv'd from thee, or if thou be'st dear to thyself, as thou hast any thing thou hop'st shall be safe or sound about thee, I conjure thee, take my counsel; marry him, to afflict him. Wanton. Marry him? Captain. If I have any power I shall prevail. Thou know'st he has a fat benefice, and leave me to plague him, till he give it me to be rid of thee. Wanton. Will you not keep me then? Captain. I keep thee! pr'ythee, wilt thou keep me ? I know not why men are such fools to pay: we bring as much to the sport as women. Keep thee! I'd marry thee as soon; why, that's wedding sin: no, no keeping I that you are not your own, is all that prefers you before wives. Wanton. I hope this is not real. Captain. Art thou such a stranger to my humour? why, I tell thee, I should hate thee if I could call thee mine, for I loath all women within my knowledge; and 'tis six to four, if I knew thy sign, I'd come there no more; a strange mistress makes every night a-new, and these are your pleasing sins. I had as lieve be good, as sin by course. Wanton. Then I am miserable. Captain. Not so, if you'll be instructed, and let me pass like a stranger when you meet me. Wanton. But have you these humours? Captain. Yes, faith; yet if you will observe them, though you marry him, I may perchance be your friend: but you must be sure to be coy, for to me the hunting is more pleasant than the quarry, Wanton. But, if I observe this, will you be my friend hereafter? Captain. Firm as the day. Hark, I hear him; [The Parson calls within] I knew he would follow me, I gave him a small touch that waken'd his guilt. Resolve to indear yourself to him, which you may easily do, by taking his part when I have vex'd him. No dispute; resolve it, or as I live here I disclaim thee for ever. Wanton. 'Tis well; something I'll do. [Exit. Wanton. Captain. Open the door, I say, and let me in your favourite and his tithes shall come no more here. Enter PARSON. Parson. Yes, but he shall; 'tis not you, nor your brac'd drum, shall fright me hence, who can command the souls of men. I have read divine Seneca; thou know'st nothing but the earthly part, and canst cry to that, Faces about 7. Captain. Thou read Seneca! thou steal'st his cover, Quarry.] i. e. The Game. Quarry is a term both of Hunting and Falconry. The allusion here is to the former. Quarrie (as referring to the latter) according to Latham's explanation, "is ta"ken for the fowle which is flowne at, and slaine at any time, especially when young hawks are flowne thereunto." Faces about.] So in Every Man in his Humour, A. 3. S. 1. "Good captain, faces about." Scornful Lady, A. 5. "Cutting Morecraft faces about." And in The Knight of the Burning Pestle, Ralph, exercising his men, says, "Double your files: as you were; faces about." |