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THE DOUBLE…DEALERA COMEDY
THE DOUBLE…
DEALERA COMEDY
by William Congreve
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THE DOUBLE…DEALERA COMEDY
TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE CHARLES
MONTAGUE； ONE OF THE LORDS OF THE
TREASURY。
Sir；I heartily wish this play were as perfect as I intended it； that it
might be more worthy your acceptance； and that my dedication of it to you
might be more becoming that honour and esteem which I； with everybody
who is so fortunate as to know you； have for you。 It had your
countenance when yet unknown； and now it is made public； it wants your
protection。 I would not have anybody imagine that I think this play
without its faults； for I am conscious of several。 I confess I designed
（whatever vanity or ambition occasioned that design） to have written a
true and regular comedy； but I found it an undertaking which put me in
mind of SUDET MULTUM； FRUSTRAQUE LABORET AUSUS IDEM。
And now； to make amends for the vanity of such a design； I do confess
both the attempt and the imperfect performance。 Yet I must take the
boldness to say I have not miscarried in the whole； for the mechanical part
of it is regular。 That I may say with as little vanity as a builder may say
he has built a house according to the model laid down before him； or a
gardener that he has set his flowers in a knot of such or such a figure。 I
designed the moral first； and to that moral I invented the fable； and do not
know that I have borrowed one hint of it anywhere。 I made the plot as
strong as I could because it was single； and I made it single because I
would avoid confusion； and was resolved to preserve the three unities of
the drama。 Sir； this discourse is very impertinent to you； whose judgment
much better can discern the faults than I can excuse them； and whose good
nature； like that of a lover； will find out those hidden beauties （if there are
any such） which it would be great immodesty for me to discover。 I think
I don't speak improperly when I call you a LOVER of poetry； for it is very
well known she has been a very kind mistress to you： she has not denied
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THE DOUBLE…DEALERA COMEDY
you the last favour； and she has been fruitful to you in a most beautiful
issue。 If I break off abruptly here； I hope everybody will understand that
it is to avoid a commendation which； as it is your due； would be most easy
for me to pay； and too troublesome for you to receive。
I have since the acting of this play harkened after the objections which
have been made to it； for I was conscious where a true critic might have
put me upon my defence。 I was prepared for the attack； and am pretty
confident I could have vindicated some parts and excused others； and
where there were any plain miscarriages； I would most ingenuously have
confessed 'em。 But I have not heard anything said sufficient to provoke
an answer。 That which looks most like an objection does not relate in
particular to this play； but to all or most that ever have been written； and
that is soliloquy。 Therefore I will answer it； not only for my own sake；
but to save others the trouble； to whom it may hereafter be objected。
I grant that for a man to talk to himself appears absurd and unnatural；
and indeed it is so in most cases； but the circumstances which may attend
the occasion make great alteration。 It oftentimes happens to a man to
have designs which require him to himself； and in their nature cannot
admit of a confidant。 Such for certain is all villainy； and other less
mischievous intentions may be very improper to be communicated to a
second person。 In such a case； therefore； the audience must observe
whether the person upon the stage takes any notice of them at all or no。
For if he supposes any one to be by when he talks to himself； it is
monstrous and ridiculous to the last degree。 Nay； not only in this case；
but in any part of a play； if there is expressed any knowledge of an
audience； it is insufferable。 But otherwise； when a man in soliloquy
reasons with himself； and PRO'S and CON'S； and weighs all his designs；
we ought not to imagine that this man either talks to us or to himself； he is
only thinking； and thinking such matter as were inexcusable folly in him
to speak。 But because we are concealed spectators of the plot in agitation；
and the poet finds it necessary to let us know the whole mystery of his
contrivance； he is willing to inform us of this person's thoughts； and to that
end is forced to make use of the expedient of speech； no other better way
being yet invented for the communication of thought。
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THE DOUBLE…DEALERA COMEDY
Another very wrong objection has been made by some who have not
taken leisure to distinguish the characters。 The hero of the play； as they
are pleased to call him （meaning Mellefont）； is a gull； and made a fool；
and cheated。 Is every man a gull and a fool that is deceived？ At that
rate I'm afraid the two classes of men will be reduced to one； and the
knaves themselves be at a loss to justify their title。 But if an open…
hearted honest man； who has an entire confidence in one whom he takes to
be his friend； and whom he has obliged to be so； and who； to confirm him
in his opinion； in all appearance and upon several trials has been so： if
this man be deceived by the treachery of the other； must he of necessity
commence fool immediately； only because the other has proved a villain？
Ay； but there was caution given to Mellefont in the first act by his friend
Careless。 Of what nature was that caution？ Only to give the audience
some light into the character of Maskwell before his appearance； and not
to convince Mellefont of his treachery； for that was more than Careless
was then able to do： he never knew Maskwell guilty of any villainy； he
was only a sort of man which he did not like。