EPILOGUE. Spoken by Mrs. Bulkley in the character of MISS HARDCASTLE. WELL, having stooped to conquer with success, Talks loud, coquets the guests, and scolds the waiters. Doats upon dancing, and in all her pride Swims round the room, the Heinel of Cheapside: 1 Goldsmith wrote two other Epilogues to this Comedy, neither of which how ever appear to have been spoken. See them at p. 127, and p. 131. Ogles and leers with artificial skill, Till, having lost in age the power to kill, She sits all night at cards, and ogles at spadille. EPILOGUE. To be spoken in the character of TONY LUMPKIN. WELL-now all's ended-and my comrades gone, Why should not I in the great world appear? In the fourth volume of A Collection of Prologues and Epilogues, 4 vols. 12mo, 1779, there is a characteristic full-length portrait of Mrs. Bulkley in the dress she wore when she spoke this epilogue. Mrs. Bulkley (originally Miss Wilford) died in 1792. She was famous as Lady Racket. 2 This came too late to be spoken.-GOLDSMITH. See Goldsmith's Letter to Cradock, in vol. iv. 3 Joseph Cradock, Esq., of Gumley in Leicestershire. He was among the last survivors of Goldsmith's circle, and is now favourably remembered by his Memoirs, 5 vols. 8vo, 1828. He died, 15th Dec., 1826, in his 85th year. To Sadler's-Well perhaps, or operas go, "The Grumbler" (a scene from which is here printed from the Licenser's MS. copy in the possession of John Payne Collier, Esq.) is an adaptation of Sir Charles Sedley's translation of Bruey's comedy of "Le Grondeur," and was played at Covent Garden Theatre on the 8th of May, 1773, for the benefit of Quick, the original Tony Lumpkin in "She Stoops to Conquer." It was only played once, and was never printed. It answered, however, the good-natured purpose for which Goldsmith wrote it. The following is an outline of the plot. Sourby, an ill-tempered, discontented man, is the torment of his family, neighbours, 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 favoured by her fortune being in his power. No other remedy occurs to the lovers to avoid his tyranny than further deception: the lady therefore assume 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. |