About the Book
Excerpt from Plays Written by Mr. William Wycherley: Containing, the Plain Dealer, the Country Wife, Gentleman Dancing Master, Love in a Wood Quick-lighted civil Perfon Of 'em all, and can make as much of a double-meaning Saying as the befi of 'em yet would not, as fome do, make N onfenl'e of a Poet's Jefi, rather than not make it baudy: By which they ibew, they as little value Wit in a Play, as in alover, provid ed they can bring t'other Thing about. Their Seul'e in deed lies all one way, and therefore are only for (ihat in a Poet, which is moving, as they fay. But what do they mean by that word Moving Well, I muff not put 'em to the Blufh, fince I find I can do't. In ibort, Madam, you wou'd nor be one of thofe who ravifh a Poet's inno cent Words, and make 'em guilty of their own Nau hti nef's (as 'tis term'd) in fpite of his teeth; nay, boiling is ficure from the power of their Imaginations, no, not their Husbands, whom they cuckold with themfelves, by thinking of Other Men, and {0 make the lawfitl matri monial Embraces Adultery, wrong Husbands and Poets in Thought and Word to keep their own Reputations. But your Ladylhip's fiice, I know, wou'd thinka WO man's arraignmg an damning a Poet for her own Oh feenity, like her crying out a Rape and hanging a Man for giving her Pleafure, only that e might be thought nor to confent to't; and (o to vindicate her Honour, forfeits her Modefiy. But you, Madam, have too much Modefiy to pretend to't, tho you have as much to fay for your Modefiy as many a nicer She for you never Were feen at this Play, no, not the fiti't Day; and us no matter what Peoples Lives have been, they are nu quefiionahly modefi who frequent not this Play. For, as Mr. Bays fays of his, That it is the only Tomb/ions of jmens Wit and finderiianding; mine is, it reems, the only Touchfione of womensyirtue and Modeily. But hold, that Touchiione is equivocal, and, by the Strength of a Lady's Imagination, may become fomething that is not civriz But your Ladyfhip, I know, fcorns to mifap ply a Touchlione. 'and, Madam, tho you have not feen this Play, I h0pe (like Other nice Ladies) you wall the rather read it Yet, left the Chamber-maid or Page Ihou'd not be truiied, and their Indulgence cou'd gain no further Admittances for it, than to their Ladies Lobbies or outward Room, take it into your Care and Pretefiion for by your Recommendation and Procurement, it Lazy. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
