Je me contenterai de quelques citations

The Love of Women moves even with their Lust,

Who therefore still are fond, but seldom just :

Their Love is Usury, while they prétend,

To gain the Pleasure double which they lend.

But a dear Boy's disinterested Flame

Gives Pleasure, and for meer Loves gathers pain;

In him alone Fondness sincère does prove,

And the kind tender Naked Boy is Love.

(Rochester, Yalentinian, acte II, se. 4.)

Beaugard : « Would the Lady of my Motion would make haste, and bc punctual ; the Wheels of my Nature move' so fast else, that the wcight wiii be down before she comes. » (Otway, The Atheisty acte II, se. 1.) Son père ui parle de « brawny-bum'd Whores » (acte III, se. 1).

Nemours. Let's try how our Lips fit.

Marguerite, Is that your filting?

Nem. 'Fore Heaven she's "«vond'rous quick; Nay, my Dear, and you go to that,

I can fit you every way — Marg. You are a notorious talker.

Nem. And a better doer ; prithee try. (Lee, The Princes» of Cleves , acte II ,

se. 3.) Et elle essaye.

Poltrot :,.. When you were litlle Girls of Seven, you were so wanton, yonr Mothers

ty'd your hands behind you — Blianora. Ail this we confess to be true, etc. (Id., acte IV, se. 1.)

Toute la pièce est dans ce ton, particulièrement le personnage de Nemours.

2. Voyez entre autres l'épilogue de Sir Courtly Nice, par Crown ; répilogue du Consiantine The Great de Lee, par Dryden ; le prologue (dit par une femme) et l'épilogue de The Loyal Brother, de Southerne, run et' l'autre par Dryden ; le prologue, également par Dryden, et l'épilogue de The Disappointment, de Southerne.

JOHN DRYDEN ET Là POLITIQUE. 203

tations*. Nous apprenons de Ravenscroft lui-même que les Cocus de Londres ne furent pas reçus sans réclamations*. La comédie a cessé tant soit peu d*être un rendez-vous de débauche ; la politique lui a enlevé bon nombre de ses clients

i. Of ail the things which at this Guilty time,

Hâve felt the honest Satyr's Wholsome fthime,

The Play-home has gcap't beat, bemg most forborn,

Though it, of ail thiiigs, most deserves our scorn...

Firat to the Middle-Gallery we'll go....

Wbere reeking Punks like Summer Insects swarm.

And stink like Pole-cats iwhen they are hunted warm :...

In the Side-box Moll H.,, n you may see,

Or Coquet Moll, who is as lewd as she :

That is their Throne; for there they best sunrey

Ail the sait Sots that fiulter to the Play.,.

As the New-River does, from ïslington,

Through several Pipes supply ev'n half the Town ;

So the Liixurious lewdness of the Stage ,

Drain'd off, feeds half the BrotheU of the Age,

Unless thèse ills, then, we could regulate,

rt ought not to be suffer'd in the State.

(The Play-House a Satyr... by Rob* Gould.)

Baudy the nicest Ladiea need not fear, The quickest fancy shall extract none hère. We wUl not make 'em bluih, by which ia shown How much their bought Red differs from their own.

(Sliadwell, The Squire of AUatia, prologue.)