the way of the world(如此世道)-第2节
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merit from his past behaviour。 To build on that might prove a vain
presumption； Should grants to poets made admit resumption； And in
Parnassus he must lose his seat； If that be found a forfeited estate。
He owns； with toil he wrought the following scenes； But if they're
naught ne'er spare him for his pains： Damn him the more； have no
commiseration For dulness on mature deliberation。 He swears he'll not
resent one hissed…off scene； Nor； like those peevish wits； his play maintain；
Who； to assert their sense； your taste arraign。 Some plot we think he has；
and some new thought； Some humour too； no farcebut that's a fault。
Satire； he thinks； you ought not to expect； For so reformed a town who
dares correct？ To please； this time； has been his sole pretence； He'll not
instruct； lest it should give offence。 Should he by chance a knave or fool
expose； That hurts none here； sure here are none of those。 In short； our
play shall （with your leave to show it） Give you one instance of a passive
poet； Who to your judgments yields all resignation： So save or damn； after
your own discretion。
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The Way of the World
DRAMATIS PERSONAE。
MEN。
FAINALL； in love with Mrs。 Marwood；Mr。 Betterton MIRABELL；
in love with Mrs。 Millamant；Mr。 Verbruggen WITWOUD； follower of
Mrs。 Millamant；Mr。 Bowen PETULANT； follower of Mrs。 Millamant；
Mr。 Bowman SIR WILFULL WITWOUD； half brother to Witwoud； and
nephew to Lady Wishfort；Mr。 Underhill WAITWELL； servant to
Mirabell；Mr。 Bright
WOMEN。
LADY WISHFORT； enemy to Mirabell； for having falsely pretended
love to her；Mrs。 Leigh MRS。 MILLAMANT； a fine lady； niece to Lady
Wishfort； and loves Mirabell；Mrs。 Bracegirdle MRS。 MARWOOD；
friend to Mr。 Fainall； and likes Mirabell；Mrs。 Barry MRS。 FAINALL；
daughter to Lady Wishfort； and wife to Fainall； formerly friend to
Mirabell；Mrs。 Bowman FOIBLE； woman to Lady Wishfort；Mrs。 Willis
MINCING； woman to Mrs。 Millamant；Mrs。 Prince DANCERS；
FOOTMEN； ATTENDANTS。
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The Way of the World
SCENE： London。
The time equal to that of the presentation。
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The Way of the World
ACT I。
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The Way of the World
SCENE I。
A Chocolate…house。
MIRABELL and FAINALL rising from cards。 BETTY waiting。
MIRA。 You are a fortunate man； Mr。 Fainall。
FAIN。 Have we done？
MIRA。 What you please。 I'll play on to entertain you。
FAIN。 No； I'll give you your revenge another time； when you are not
so indifferent； you are thinking of something else now； and play too
negligently： the coldness of a losing gamester lessens the pleasure of the
winner。 I'd no more play with a man that slighted his ill fortune than I'd
make love to a woman who undervalued the loss of her reputation。
MIRA。 You have a taste extremely delicate； and are for refining on
your pleasures。
FAIN。 Prithee； why so reserved？ Something has put you out of
humour。
MIRA。 Not at all： I happen to be grave to…day； and you are gay； that's
all。
FAIN。 Confess； Millamant and you quarrelled last night； after I left
you； my fair cousin has some humours that would tempt the patience of a
Stoic。 What； some coxcomb came in； and was well received by her； while
you were by？
MIRA。 Witwoud and Petulant； and what was worse； her aunt； your
wife's mother； my evil geniusor to sum up all in her own name； my old
Lady Wishfort came in。
FAIN。 Oh； there it is then： she has a lasting passion for you； and with
reason。What； then my wife was there？
MIRA。 Yes； and Mrs。 Marwood and three or four more； whom I never
saw before； seeing me； they all put on their grave faces； whispered one
another； then complained aloud of the vapours； and after fell into a
profound silence。
FAIN。 They had a mind to be rid of you。
MIRA。 For which reason I resolved not to stir。 At last the good old
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The Way of the World
lady broke through her painful taciturnity with an invective against long
visits。 I would not have understood her； but Millamant joining in the
argument； I rose and with a constrained smile told her； I thought nothing
was so easy as to know when a visit began to be troublesome； she
reddened and I withdrew； without expecting her reply。
FAIN。 You were to blame to resent what she spoke only in compliance
with her aunt。
MIRA。 She is more mistress of herself than to be under the necessity
of such a resignation。
FAIN。 What？ though half her fortune depends upon her marrying with
my lady's approbation？
MIRA。 I was then in such a humour； that I should have been better
pleased if she had been less discreet。
FAIN。 Now I remember； I wonder not they were weary of you； last
night was one of their cabal…nights： they have 'em three times a week and
meet by turns at one another's apartments； where they come together like
the coroner's inquest； to sit upon the murdered reputations of the week。
You and I are excluded； and it was once proposed that all the male sex
should be excepted； but somebody moved that to avoid scandal there
might be one man of the community； upon which motion Witwoud and
Petulant were enrolled members。
MIRA。 And who may have been the foundress of this sect？ My Lady
Wishfort； I warrant； who publishes her detestation of mankind； and full of
the vigour of fifty…five； declares for a friend and ratafia； and let posterity
shift for itself； she'll breed no more。
FAIN。 The discovery of your sham addresses to her； to conceal your
love to her niece； has provoked this separation。 Had you dissembled better；
things might have continued in the state of nature。
MIRA。 I did as much as man could； with any reasonable conscience； I
proceeded to the very last act of flattery with her； and was guilty of a song
in her commendation。 Nay； I got a friend to put her into a lampoon； and
compliment her with the imputation of an affair with a young fellow；
which I carried so far； that I told her the malicious town took notice that
she was grown fat of a sudden； and when she lay in of a dropsy； persuaded
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her she was reported to be in labour。 The devil's in't； if an old woman is to
be flattered further； unless a man should endeavour downright personally
to debauch her： and that my virtue forbade me。 But for the discovery of
this amour； I am indebted to your friend； or your wife's friend； Mrs。
Marwood。
FAIN。 What should provoke her to be your enemy； unless she has
made you advances which you have slighted？ Women do not easily
forgive omissions of that nature。
MIRA。 She was always civil to me； till of late。 I confess I am not one
of those coxcombs who are apt to interpret a woman's good manners to her
prejudice； and think that she who does not refuse 'em everything can
refuse 'em nothing。
FAIN。 You are a gallant man； Mirabell； and though you may have
cruelty enough not to satisfy a lady's longing； you have too much
generosity not to be tender of her honour。 Yet you speak with an
indifference which seems to be affected； and confesses you are conscious
of a negligence。
MIRA。 You pursue the argument with a distrust that seems to be
unaffected； and confesses you are conscious of a concern for which the
lady is more indebted to you than is you
