[Gratitude to Quick, for his able personation of Tony Lumpkin in "She Stoops to Conquer," induced Goldsmith to consent to alter Sir Charles Sedley's translation of Bruey's Comedy of "Le Grondeur" into a Farce for his benefit. The following is an outline of the plot. Sourby, an ill-tempered, discontented man, is the torment of his family, neighbors, and servants. In the opening of the piece his son is on the point of being married to Clarissa, the consent of Sourby being chiefly obtained by the lady, who believes he has a design upon her himself, relinquishing her naturally mild character for that of a termagant. The character thus assumed agrees however so well with his own, that, in defiance of previous arrangements, he determines to marry her himself, a design favored by her fortune being in his power. No other remedy occurs to the lovers to avoid his tyranny than further deception: the lady therefore assumes the character of an extravagant, giddy woman of fashion, who is determined to have "habits, feasts, fiddles, hautboys, masquerades, concerts, and especially a ball for fifteen days after their nuptials." Above all, her intended husband must learn to dance; and she will admit of no excuse on the plea of years. In a change of scene the dancing-master arrives; Sourby, as soon as he knows his errand, orders him off and threatens chastisement: but the former having his cue, declares he has positive orders from Clarissa to make him dance, and drawing his sword compels him to do so by force. In the midst of this scene Wentworth arrives, and Sourby, in a fit of rage, renounces the lady. The piece was represented at Covent Garden Theatre, on the 8th of May 1773, but was not repeated. As it has never been printed, a scene, from the MS. copy, in the possession of John Paine Collier, Esq., is here given. See Life, ch. xiii.] |