Steele, Sir Richard (1672-1729)

The Conscious Lovers

London

Printed for J. Tonson

1722

"Such an Author consulted in a Morning, sets the Spirit for the Vicissitudes of the Day, better than the Glass does a Man's Person"

Bev. jun. These Moral Writers practise Virtue after Death: This charming Vision of Mirza! Such an Author consulted in a Morning, sets the Spirit for the Vicissitudes of the Day, better than the Glass does a Man's Person: But what a Day have I to go thro'! to put on an Easy Look with an Aking Heart. ---If this Lady my Father urges me to marry should not refuse me, my Dilemma is insupportable. But why should I fear it? is not she in equal Distress with me? has not the Letter, I have sent her this Morning, confest my Inclination to another? Nay, have I not moral Assurances of her Engagements too, to my Friend Myrtle? It's impossible but she must give in to it: For, sure to be deny'd is a Favour any Man may pretend to. It must be so---Well then, with the Assurance of being rejected, I think I may confidently say to my Father, I am ready to marry her---Then let me resolve upon (what I am not very good at, tho' it is) an honest Dissimulation.
(I.iii, p. 13)

Optics::Glass::Mirror

Pointed out to me by John O'Brien

First performed November, 1722. At least 87 entries in ESTC (1722, 1723, 1724, 1725, 1729, 1730, 1732, 1733, 1735, 1736, 1740, 1741, 1743, 1744, 1746, 1747, 1751, 1755, 1757, 1759, 1760, 1761, 1764, 1767, 1768, 1770, 1771, 1774, 1776, 1777, 1778, 1780, 1782, 1785, 1789, 1791, 1793, 1794).

Text from The Conscious Lovers. A Comedy. As It Is Acted at the Theatre Royal in Drury-Lane, by His Majesty's Servants. Written by Richard Steele (London: Printed for J. Tonson, 1723).

Reading in Scott McMillin's Restoration and Eighteenth-Century Comedy. Norton Critical Edition. (New York: Norton, 1973).

08/01/2014