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The World's Greatest Books [Volumes 1-15, 17-20]
- Автор: Gutenberg
- Год: 1910
- Язык: английский
- Жанр: Культурология
Электронная книга - «The World's Greatest Books [Volumes 1-15, 17-20]». Краткое содержание книги:
The World's Greatest Books — Volume 01 — Fiction от Неизвестный
The World's Greatest Books — Volume 02 — Fiction от Неизвестный
The World's Greatest Books — Volume 03 — Fiction от Неизвестный
The World's Greatest Books — Volume 04 — Fiction от Неизвестный
The World's Greatest Books — Volume 05 — Fiction от Неизвестный
The World's Greatest Books — Volume 06 — Fiction от Неизвестный
The World's Greatest Books — Volume 07 — Fiction от Неизвестный
The World's Greatest Books — Volume 08 — Fiction от Неизвестный
The World's Greatest Books — Volume 09 — Lives and Letters от Неизвестный
The World's Greatest Books — Volume 10 — Lives and Letters от Неизвестный
The World's Greatest Books — Volume 11 — Ancient and Mediæval History от Неизвестный
The World's Greatest Books — Volume 12 — Modern History от Неизвестный
The World's Greatest Books — Volume 13 — Religion and Philosophy от Неизвестный
The World's Greatest Books — Volume 14 — Philosophy and Economics от Неизвестный
The World's Greatest Books — Volume 15 — Science от Неизвестный
The World's Greatest Books — Volume 17 — Poetry and Drama от Неизвестный
The world's greatest books от Mee, Arthur, 1875-1943, joint editor & Hammerton, John Alexander, Sir, 1871-1949, joint editor & McClure, S. S. (Samuel Sidney), 1857-1949, joint editor
The World's Greatest Books — Volume 19 — Travel and Adventure от Неизвестный
The World's Greatest Books — Volume 20 — Miscellaneous Literature and Index от Неизвестный
Strange truth; a dying seer of dark oppression's hell.
13 The Princes, and the Priests, were pale with terror; That monstrous faith wherewith they ruled mankind, Fell, like a shaft loosed by the bowman's error,
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Percy Bysshe Shelley
On their own hearts : they sought and they could find No refuge—'twas the blind who led the blind! So, through the desolate streets to the high fane, The many-tongued and endless armies wind In sad procession: each among the train To his own idol lifts his supplications vain.
At this point an Iberian priest, the most fanatical of his tribe, proposed that, to appease the wrath of the gods whom they all worshipped—though under varying forms—Laon and Cythna should be offered to him as a burnt offering. Laon, however, anticipating this proposal, surrendered himself on condition that Cythna should be allowed to go to America, the land of the free. This condition the Tyrant and the priests swore by a most solemn oath to fulfill, but, Cythna, too, surrendering herself, the oath was broken, and the two champions of liberty were burnt alive on an enormous bier, only to pass by this brief and fiery ordeal into a happier and more beautiful world.
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RICHARD BRINSLEY SHERIDAN
The School for Scandal
Persons in the Play
Sir Peter Teazle
Sir Oliver Surface
Sir Benjamin Backbite
Charles Surface) »r ., <-•/•->,• c /■
T o > Nephews to Sir Oliver Surface
Joseph Surface )
Snake, m Me />oy of Lady Sncerwell
Moses, a Jewish moneylender
Lady Teazle
Lady Sneerwell
Mrs. Candour
Maria, ward to Sir Peter
The scene is laid in London.
Introductory
Sir Peter Teazle, an old bachelor of fifty, has married a young wife, the daughter of a country squire, and seven months after marriage finds several reasons to regret his temerity; for Lady Teazle has become in every respect the equal of any town-bred woman of fashion. She is as accomplished a scandal-monger and gossiper as Sir
Richard Brinsley Sheridan was born at Dublin in September, 1751. He gave nc promise as a boy of the brilliance he afterwards displayed as a man, and he does not seem to have been brought up to any regular employment. In 1773 he eloped with a Miss Linley, a public singer of great beauty and accomplishment, and at that time, as a means of livelihood, he betook himself to literature. In 1775 his first comedy, " The Rivals," was produced, and in 1777 " The School for Scandal." This later work, his greatest, leaped into an instant popularity which it has
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Benjamin Backbite, Mrs. Candour, or Lady Sneerwell. She will never lose her temper when her husband reproaches her. Moreover, Sir Peter suspects her of a growing attachment to Charles Surface, a careless young scapegrace and rake, to whom the worthy knight has acted in the capacity of guardian. As a matter of fact, Charles is really attached to Maria, Sir Peter's young ward, and it is Joseph, the model young man, the utterer of noble sentiments, to whom Lady Teazle has been lending a too willing ear; though Joseph, it must be admitted, at the early stage of the acquaintance, only courted the wife in order to further his suit to the ward, for whose money he has a very sincere affection. Sir Peter looks kindly on Joseph's passion for the young lady, but she herself detests Joseph, and loves and pities Charles.
Matters being in this train, Sir Oliver Surface, a rich nabob, who has sent both his orphan nephews large sums from India, returns to London, and is told what a wicked prodigal Charles is, and what a worth}- young man Joseph must be considered. But he has his doubts about either young gentleman's reputation, and in order to test Charles he readily falls in with a suggestion of Sir Peter's that, being personally unknown to both his nephews, he should go round to Charles's house in the company of Moses, a Jewish moneylender, and there pose as one Premium, a broker who is prepared to lend the young spendthrift money at an exorbitant rate of interest. Sir Oliver accordingly visits Charles in this character, with the result that he buys for a song the whole of the Surface family portraits, save a picture of himself, which the grateful Charles resolutely refuses to sell on any terms whatever. On the whole, Sir Oliver is pretty well satisfied with the interview.
ever since retained. His comedies are witty and sprightly, and in fact, reveal the nature of the dramatist himself. Always the most reckless and improvident of mortals. Sheridan in his later years was engaged in a vain struggle with debt, dissipation, and failing health. He died in London on July 7, 1S16.
22J
Meantime, a clandestine visit which Lady Teazle pays to Joseph's library is the means of placing the man of sentiment in a situation of considerable embarrassment. Lady Teazle has called partly in a spirit of adventure, partly to complain to Joseph of Sir Peter's unfounded jealousy of Charles.
Lady Teazle: I am sure I wish he would let Maria marry him, and then perhaps he would be convinced; don't you, Mr. Surface?
Joseph Surface (aside) : Indeed I do not— (Aloud) Oh, certainly I do! for then my dear Lady Teazle would also be convinced how wrong her suspicions were of my having any design on the silly girl.
Lady Teazle : Well, well, I'm inclined to believe you. But isn't it provoking to have the most ill-natured things said of one, without any foundation?
Joseph Surface: There's the mortification indeed; for when a scandalous story is believed against one, there certainly is no comfort like the consciousness of having deserved it.
Lady Teazle: Then, Sir Peter, too—to have him so peevish and suspicious!
Joseph Surface : But, my dear Lady Teazle, 'tis your own fault if you suffer it. When a husband entertains a groundless suspicion of his wife, she owes it to the honour of her sex to endeavour to outwit him.
Lady Teazle : Indeed! So that if he suspects me without cause, it follows that the best way of curing his jealousy is to give him reason for't.
Joseph Surface: Undoubtedly; for your husband should never be deceived in you, and in that case it becomes you to be frail in compliment to his discernment.
Lady Teazle : What you say is very reasonable, and when the consciousness of my innocence
Joseph Surface: Oh, my dear madam, there is the great mistake! 'Tis this very conscious innocence that is of the greatest prejudice to you. What is it makes
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you negligent of forms and careless of the world's opinion? Why, the consciousness of your own innocence.
Lady Teazle : Tis very true!
Joseph Surface : Now, my dear Lady Teazle, if you would but once make a trifling faux pas, you can't conceive how cautious you would grow, and how ready to humour and agree with your husband.
Lady Teazle: Do you think so?
Joseph Surface : I am sure on't. Your character at present is like a person in a plethora, absolutely dying from too much health.
Lady Teazle : Your prescription, then, is that I must sin in my own defence, and part with my virtue to preserve my reputation.
Joseph Surface: Exactly so, upon my credit, ma'am.
Lady Teazle: Well, certainly this is the oddest doctrine, and the newest receipt for avoiding calumny!
Joseph Surface: An infallible one, believe me. Prudence, like experience, must be paid for.
Lady Teazle: Why, if my understanding were once convinced
Joseph Surface: Yes, yes—Heaven forbid I should persuade you to do anything you thought wrong. No, no; I have too much honour to desire it.
Lady Teazle : Don't you think we may as well leave honour out of the argument? (Rises.)
Joseph Surface: Then, by this hand, which—(taking her hand) (Re-enter servant)—'sdeath, you blockhead! what do you want?
Servant: I beg your pardon, sir, but I thought you would not choose Sir Peter to come up without announcing him.