The Works of Aphra Behn Volume Iii Part 54

My Lord, Your Lordships most Humble And most Obedient Servant A. Behn

PREFACE.

The little Obligation I have to some of the witty Sparks and Poets of the Town, has put me on a Vindication of this Comedy from those Censures that Malice, and ill Nature have thrown upon it, tho in vain: The Poets I heartily excuse, since there is a sort of Self-Interest in their Malice, which I shou'd rather call a witty Way they have in this Age, of Railing at every thing they find with pain successful, and never to shew good Nature and speak well of any thing; but when they are sure 'tis d.a.m.n'd, then they afford it that worse Scandal, their Pity. And nothing makes them so thorough-st.i.tcht an Enemy as a full Third Day, that's Crime enough to load it with all manner of Infamy; and when they can no other way prevail with the Town, they charge it with the old never failing Scandal--That 'tis not fit for the Ladys: As if (if it were as they falsly give it out) the Ladys were oblig'd to hear Indecencys only from their Pens and Plays and some of them have ventur'd to treat 'em as Coursely as 'twas possible, without the least Reproach from them; and in some of their most Celebrated Plays have entertained 'em with things, that if I should here strip from their Wit and Occasion that conducts 'em in and makes them proper, their fair Cheeks would perhaps wear a natural Colour at the reading them: yet are never taken Notice of, because a Man writ them, and they may hear that from them they blush at from a Woman--But I make a Challenge to any Person of common Sense and Reason--that is not wilfully bent on ill Nature, and will in spight of Sense wrest a double _Entendre_ from every thing, lying upon the Catch for a Jest or a Quibble, like a Rook for a Cully; but any unprejudic'd Person that knows not the Author, to read any of my Comedys and compare 'em with others of this Age, and if they find one Word that can offend the chastest Ear, I will submit to all their peevish Cavills; but Right or Wrong they must be Criminal because a Woman's; condemning them without having the Christian Charity, to examine whether it be guilty or not, with reading, comparing, or thinking; the Ladies taking up any Scandal on Trust from some conceited Sparks, who will in spight of Nature be Wits and _Beaus_; then scatter it for Authentick all over the Town and Court, poysoning of others Judgments with their false Notions, condemning it to worse than Death, Loss of Fame. And to fortifie their Detraction, charge me with all the Plays that have ever been offensive; though I wish with all their Faults I had been the Author of some of those they have honour'd me with. For the farther Justification of this Play; it being a Comedy of Intrigue Dr. _Davenant_ out of Respect to the Commands he had from Court, to take great Care that no Indecency should be in Plays, sent for it and nicely look't it over, putting out anything he but imagin'd the Criticks would play with. After that, Sir Roger _L'Estrange_ read it and licens'd it, and found no such Faults as 'tis charg'd with: Then Mr. _Killigrew_, who more severe than any, from the strict Order he had, perus'd it with great Circ.u.mspection; and lastly the Master Players, who you will I hope in some Measure esteem Judges of Decency and their own Interest, having been so many Years Prentice to the Trade of Judging.

I say, after all these Supervisors the Ladys may be convinc'd, they left nothing that could offend, and the Men of their unjust Reflections on so many Judges of Wit and Decencys. When it happens that I challenge any one, to point me out the least Expression of what some have made their Discourse, they cry, _That Mr_. Leigh _opens his Night Gown, when he comes into the Bride-chamber_; if he do, which is a Jest of his own making, and which I never saw, I hope he has his Cloaths on underneath?

And if so, where is the Indecency? I have seen in that admirable Play of _Oedipus_, the Gown open'd wide, and the Man shown, in his Drawers and Waist coat, and never thought it an Offence before. Another crys, _Why we know not what they mean, when the Man takes a Woman off the Stage, and another is thereby cuckolded_; is that any more than you see in the most Celebrated of your Plays? as the _City Politicks_, the _Lady Mayoress_, and the _Old Lawyers Wife_, who goes with a Man she never saw before, and comes out again the joyfull'st Woman alive, for having made her Husband a Cuckold with such Dexterity, and yet I see nothing unnatural nor obscene: 'tis proper for the Characters. So in that lucky Play of the _London Cuckolds_, not to recite Particulars. And in that good Comedy of _Sir Courtly Nice_, the _Taylor to the young Lady_--in the fam'd Sir _Fopling Dorimont and Bellinda_, see the very Words--in _Valentinian_, see the Scene between the _Court Bawds_. And _Valentinian_ all loose and ruffld a Moment after the Rape, and all this you see without Scandal, and a thousand others The _Moor of Venice_ in many places. The _Maids Tragedy_--see the Scene of undressing the Bride, and between the _King_ and _Amintor_, and after between the _King_ and _Evadne_--All these I Name as some of the best Plays I know; If I should repeat the Words exprest in these Scenes I mention, I might justly be charg'd with course ill Manners, and very little Modesty, and yet they so naturally fall into the places they are designed for, and so are proper for the Business, that there is not the least Fault to be found with them; though I say those things in any of mine wou'd d.a.m.n the whole Peice, and alarm the Town. Had I a Day or two's time, as I have scarce so many Hours to write this in (the Play, being all printed off and the Press waiting,) I would sum up all your Beloved Plays, and all the Things in them that are past with such Silence by; because written by Men: such Masculine Strokes in me, must not be allow'd. I must conclude those Women (if there be any such) greater Critics in that sort of Conversation than my self, who find any of that sort in mine, or any thing that can justly be reproach't. But 'tis in vain by dint of Reason or Comparison to convince the obstinate Criticks, whose Business is to find Fault, if not by a loose and gross Imagination to create them, for they must either find the Jest, or make it; and those of this sort fall to my share, they find Faults of another kind for the Men Writers. And this one thing I will venture to say, though against my Nature, because it has a Vanity in it: That had the Plays I have writ come forth under any Mans Name, and never known to have been mine; I appeal to all unbyast Judges of Sense, if they had not said that Person had made as many good Comedies, as any one Man that has writ in our Age; but a Devil on't the Woman d.a.m.ns the Poet.

Ladies, for its further Justification to you, be pleas'd to know, that the first Copy of this Play was read by several Ladys of very great Quality, and unquestioned Fame, and received their most favourable Opinion, not one charging it with the Crime, that some have been pleas'd to find in the Acting. Other Ladys who saw it more than once, whose Quality and Vertue can sufficiently justifie any thing they design to favour, were pleas'd to say, they found an Entertainment in it very far from scandalous; and for the Generality of the Town, I found by my Receipts it was not thought so Criminal. However, that shall not be an Incouragement to me to trouble the Criticks with new Occasion of affronting me, for endeavouring at least to divert; and at this rate, both the few Poets that are left, and the Players who toil in vain will be weary of their Trade.

I cannot omit to tell you, that a Wit of the Town, a Friend of mine at Wills Coffee House, the first Night of the Play, cry'd it down as much as in him lay, who before had read it and a.s.sured me he never 'saw a prettier Comedy. So complaisant one pestilent Wit will be to another, and in the full Cry make his Noise too; but since 'tis to the witty Few I speak, I hope the better Judges will take no Offence, to whom I am oblig'd for better Judgments; and those I hope will be so kind to me, knowing my Conversation not at all addicted to the Indecencys alledged, that I would much less practice it in a Play, that must stand the Test of the censoring World. And I must want common Sense, and all the Degrees of good Manners, renouncing my Fame, all Modesty and Interest for a silly Sawcy fruitless Jest, to make Fools laugh, and Women blush, and wise Men asham'd; My self all the while, if I had been guilty of this Crime charg'd to me, remaining the only stupid, insensible. Is this likely, is this reasonable to be believ'd by any body, but the wilfully blind? All I ask, is the Priviledge for my Masculine Part the Poet in me, (if any such you will allow me) to tread in those successful Paths my Predecessors have so long thriv'd in, to take those Measures that both the Ancient and Modern Writers have set me, and by which they have pleas'd the World so well: If I must not, because of my s.e.x, have this Freedom, but that you will usurp all to your selves; I lay down my Quill, and you shall hear no more of me, no not so much as to make Comparisons, because I will be kinder to my Brothers of the Pen, than they have been to a defenceless Woman; for I am not content to write for a Third day only. I value Fame as much as if I had been born a _Hero_; and if you rob me of that, I can retire from the ungrateful World, and scorn its fickle Favours.

THE LUCKY CHANCE;

or, An Alderman's Bargain.

PROLOGUE,

Spoken by Mr. _Jevon_.

_Since with old Plays you have so long been cloy'd, As with a Mistress many years enjoy'd, How briskly dear Variety you pursue; Nay, though for worse ye change, ye will have New.

Widows take heed some of you in fresh Youth Have been the unpitied Martyrs of this Youth.

When for a drunken Sot, that had kind hours, And taking their own freedoms, left you yours; 'Twas your delib'rate choice your days to pa.s.s With a d.a.m.n'd, sober, self-admiring a.s.s, Who thinks good usage for the s.e.x unfit, And slights ye out of Sparkishness and Wit.

But you can fit him--Let a worse Fool come, If he neglect, to officiate in his room.

Vain amorous c.o.xcombs every where are found, Fops for all uses, but the Stage abound.

Though you shou'd change them oftener than your Fashions, There still wou'd be enough for your Occasions: But ours are not so easily supplied, All that cou'd e'er quit cost, we have already tried.

Nay, dear sometimes have bought the Frippery stuff. This, Widows, you--I mean the old and tough-- Will never think, be they but Fool enough.

Such will with any kind of Puppies play; But we must better know for what we pay: We must not purchase such dull Fools as they. Shou'd we shew each her own partic'lar Dear, What they admire at home, they wou'd loath here.

Thus, though the Mall, the Ring, the Pit is full, And every Coffee-House still swarms with Fool; Though still by Fools all other Callings live, Nay our own Women by fresh Cullies thrive, Though your Intrigues which no Lampoon can cure, Promise a long Succession to ensure; And all your Matches plenty do presage: Dire is the Dearth and Famine on the Stage.

Our Store's quite wasted, and our Credit's small, Not a Fool left to bless our selves withal.

We re forc't at last to rob, (which is great pity, Though 'tis a never-failing Bank) the City.

We show you one to day intirely new, And of all Jests, none relish like the true.

Let that the value of our Play inhance, Then it may prove indeed the_ Lucky Chance.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

MEN.

Sir _Feeble Fainwou'd_, an old Alderman to be married Mr. _Leigh_.

to _Leticia_, Sir _Cautious Fulbank_, an old Banker married to _Julia_, Mr. _Nokes_.

Mr. _Gayman_, a Spark of the Town, Lover of _Julia_, Mr. _Betterton_.

Mr. _Bellmour_. contracted to _Leticia_. disguis'd, and pa.s.ses for Sir _Feeble's_ Nephew, Mr. _Kynaston_.

Mr. _Bearjest_, Nephew to Sir _Cautious_, a Fop, Mr. _Jevon_.

Capt. _Noisey_, his Companion, Mr. _Harris_.

Mr. _Bredwel_, Prentice to Sir _Cautious_, and Brother to _Leticia_, in love with _Diana_, Mr. _Bowman_.

_Rag_, Footman to _Gayman_.

_Ralph_, Footman to Sir _Feeble_.

_d.i.c.k_, Footman to Sir _Cautious_.

_Gingle_, a Music Master.

A Post-man.

Two Porters.

A Servant.

WOMEN.

Lady _Fulbank_, in love with _Gayman_, honest and generous, Mrs. _Barry_.

_Leticia_. contracted to _Bellmour, married to Sir _Feeble_, young and virtuous, Mrs. _Cook_.

_Diana_, Daughter to Sir _Feeble_, in love with Bredwel; virtuous, Mrs. _Mountford_.

_Pert_, Lady _Fulbank's_ Woman.

Gammer _Grime_, Landlady to _Gayman_, a Smith's Wife in _Alsatia_, Mrs. _Powell_.

_Susan_, Servant to Sir _Feeble_.

_Phillis, Leticia's_ Woman.

A Parson, Fidlers, Dancers and Singers.

_The Scene_, LONDON.

ACT I.

SCENE I. _The Street, at break of Day_.

_Enter_ Bellmour _disguis'd in a travelling Habit_.

_Bel_. Sure 'tis the day that gleams in yonder East, The day that all but Lovers blest by Shade Pay chearful Homage to: Lovers! and those pursu'd like guilty me By rigid Laws, which put no difference 'Twixt fairly killing in my own Defence, And Murders bred by drunken Arguments, Wh.o.r.es, or the mean Revenges of a Coward.

--This is _Leticia's_ Father's House-- [_Looking about_.

And that the dear Balcony That has so oft been conscious of our Loves; From whence she has sent me down a thousand Sighs, A thousand looks of Love, a thousand Vows.

O thou dear witness of those charming Hours, How do I bless thee, how am I pleas'd to view thee After a tedious Age of Six Months Banishment.

_Enter Mr_. Gingle _and several with Musick_.

_Fid_. But hark ye, Mr. _Gingle_, is it proper to play before the Wedding?

_Gin_. Ever while you live, for many a time in playing after the first night, the Bride's sleepy, the Bridegroom tir'd, and both so out of humour, that perhaps they hate any thing that puts 'em in mind they are married.

[_They play and sing_.