Part 1 (2/2)

Flecknoe has also imitated several of the scenes of _The School for Husbands_ in _The Damoiselles a la Mode_, which is a medley of several of Moliere's plays (see Introductory Notice to _The Pretentious Young Ladies_).

James Miller has likewise followed, in _The Man of Taste_ (Act i., Scene 2). (see Introductory Notice to _The Pretentious Young Ladies_), one scene of the first act of Moliere's _The School for Husbands_.

Murphy, in _The School for Guardians_, has borrowed from three plays of Moliere. The main plot is taken from _The School for Wives_; some incidents of the second act are taken from _The Blunderer_ (see Introductory Notice to _The Blunderer_), but the scenes in which Oldcastle and Lovibond state their intention of marrying their wards, and the way in which one of the wards, Harriet, makes her love known to Belford is taken from _The School for Husbands_, though Leonor does not betray in the French comedy, as she does in the English, the confidence placed in her. The French Isabella acts like Harriet, but then she has a foolish and jealous guardian.

Wycherley in _The Country Wife_, probably acted in 1672 or 1673, and which is partly an imitation of Moliere's _School for Wives_, has borrowed from _The School for Husbands_, the letter which Isabella writes to Valere (Act ii., Scene 8), and also the scene in which Isabella escapes disguised in her sister's clothes: but, of course, to give an additional zest to the English play, the author makes Pinchwife himself bring his wife to her lover, Horner. The scene hardly bears transcribing. He has also partly imitated in _The Gentleman Dancing-Master_, first performed in 1673, some scenes of _The School for Husbands_.

Otway, in _The Soldier's Fortune_ (see Introductory Notice to _Sganarelle, or The Self-Deceived Husband_), has borrowed from Moliere's _School for Husbands_ that part of his play in which Lady Dunse makes her husband the agent for conveying a ring and a letter to her lover.

DRAMATIS PERSONae.

SGANARELLE, [Footnote: This part was played by Moliere himself.

In the inventory taken after Moliere's death, and given by M. Soulie, we find: ”A dress for _The School for Husbands_, consisting of breeches, doublet, cloak, collar, purse and girdle, all of a kind of brown coloured (_couleur de muse_) satin.”]

} } _brothers_.

ARISTE, )

VALeRE, _lover to Isabella_.

ERGASTE, _servant to Valere_.

A MAGISTRATE.

[Footnote: The original has _un Commissaire_, who in Moliere's time, appears to have been a kind of inferior magistrate under the authority of the _Lieutenant-general de la Police_.

The _Commissaires de Police_ were not established till 1699; and _The School for Husbands_ was played for the first time in 1661.]

A NOTARY.

ISABELLA, ) ) _sisters_.

LeONOR, }

LISETTE, _maid to Isabella_.

_Scene_.--A PUBLIC PLACE IN PARIS.

THE SCHOOL FOR HUSBANDS.

(_L'ECOLE DES MARIS_).

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