James Worsdale [1735], A cure for a scold. A Ballad farce of Two acts. (Founded upon Shakespear's taming of a Shrew) As it is Acted by his Majesty's Company of Comedians at the Theatre Royal in Drury-Lane. By J. Worsdale, Portrait-Painter (Printed for L. Gilliver [etc.], London) [word count] [S32200].
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Introductory matter
To the Honourable Edward Walpole, Esq;
SIR,
If I have any Pleasure in
publishing the following
short Performance, it arises
from thinking that it gives
me an Opportunity of expressing my
Gratitude to you, for Favours of
which my present happy Condition
is the best Proof.
I know, to generous Minds, like
yours, even the Acknowledgment of
Benefactions is unacceptable; yet I
shou'd think it hard, to be depriv'd
of the Honour of declaring those
Obligations, which would be Ingratitude
-- --
to conceal; and which I can
never have any Prospect or Possibility
to return.
I shall think it a peculiar Felicity,
if this Attempt escapes with your
Approbation, who are as excellent a
Judge of Books, as of Men; and I
must depend upon that same Good-nature,
which hitherto has been so
often employ'd in my Interest, to
over-look the Imperfections both of
the Author and his Productions, and
to accept of this as an Instance of
that Duty and Respect which you
have a Right to demand from,
SIR,
Your most oblig'd,
and most devoted,
bumble Servant,
James Worsdale.
-- --
THE PREFACE.
A Young Author who ventures
into the World, especially
on the Stage, may very reasonably
expect Ill-nature,
Censure and Envy to rise up against,
and make him repent of his Undertaking;
but as I have prepar'd my
self to expect this Treatment, I shall
feel the less Uneasiness from its Attacks.
It is the Fate even of the best
Writers to be persecuted with Satire
and Malice, and if I find the ill-natur'd
Part of the World over liberal
of their Aspersions, it will make me
imagine, the following Performance
-- --
to be of more Consequence than as yet
I am by any Means inclin'd to believe.
There is one great Objection, I own,
against me, which is, that being by
Profession a Painter, I should attempt
any thing alluding to Wit or Humour;
I cannot indeed justify my Conduct in
this Particular by the present Practice
of most of my Brethren of the
Pencil, altho' Wit, Humour and
Learning were not so uncommon among
the Artists of Antiquity. The drawing
of Characters in human Life is
very near of King to that of painting
Resemblances; the first is a Picture
of the Soul, the latter (shou'd be)
of the Body and Mind together; so that
I cannot be said in the least to wander
from my Profession.
If the Publick are so kind to believe
that the Great Author, whose Work I
have attempted to abbreviate, is not
-- --
extreamly injur'd by this Undertaking,
my greatest Fear is over. I flatter
myself the good-natur'd Part of Mankind
will make some favourable Allowances
for this first Attempt, by which
generous Treatment I may perhaps be
encourag'd to offer something entirely
new and original.
-- --
PROLOGUE.
Long has our Stage with Foreign Wit been cloy'd,
And British Authors annually employ'd,
To alter, mend, transpose, translate and fit
Moliere's gay Scenes to please an English Pit,
Like Botching Taylors, whose whole Merit lies
In changing Suits to different Shapes and Size.
Our Fops and Stages shine, to our Disgrace,
Gay with French Wit, and gaudy with French Lace;
Britain in both an Excellence hath shown,
And boasts more rich Materials of her own.
To prove this true, see Shakespear's Shrew revive,
A Lesson, to instruct us how to wive:
If simple, from her Faults how best to shame her,
Or, if we catch a Fury, how to tame her.
'Tis Shakespear speaks, let ev'ry Ear attend,
The Good we're sure to please—the Bad may mend.
-- --
Dramatis Personæ.
MEN.
| Sir William Worthy | by Mr. Shepard. |
| Mr. Manly | by Mr. Mecklin. |
| Heartwell | by Mr. Este. |
| Gainlove | by Mr. Cross. |
| Archer | by Mr. Salway. |
| Physician | by Mr. Harper. |
| Barber | by Mr. Hallam. |
WOMEN.
| Peg | by Mrs. Clive. |
| Flora | by Mrs. Pritchard. |
| Lucy | by Mrs. Cross. |
[Peter], [Servants], [Splinter]
note
-- 1 --
A CURE for a SCOLD.
James Worsdale [1735], A cure for a scold. A Ballad farce of Two acts. (Founded upon Shakespear's taming of a Shrew) As it is Acted by his Majesty's Company of Comedians at the Theatre Royal in Drury-Lane. By J. Worsdale, Portrait-Painter (Printed for L. Gilliver [etc.], London) [word count] [S32200].
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