DRAMATIS PERSONÆ. Mr. SEVERN, a Barrister, Lover of Miss Dolly. Mr. HUMBER, his Friend. Mr. PINCERS, an old wealthy Country Attorney, Guardian to Dolly. RALPH, his Man. Mr. DOTTERELL, Mr. SPIDER, Mr GWILLYN, BUSKIN, TRAGEDIAN, GENERAL, Candidates for the Mrs. PINCERS. Miss DOLLY, Ward to Pincers. MARGERY, her Maid. Mrs. UMBRAGE, an Actress. Mrs. FENNELL. Her Daughter, a Candidate for the Stage. Barber, Constable, Waiter, Servants, Rabble, &c. (3) THE SCHOOL OF ACTION: A COMEDY. ACT I. Enter Mr. SEVERN and Mr. HUMBER. Severn. THE world is much more easily imposed upon, than you studious and modest men imagine. Humber. Dear Severn, if such superficial qualifications as you talk of will accomplish gentlemen and ladies, I own to you, hard has been our fate, in having suffered pains and penalties (fit only for malefactors) in great Schools, and been immured in College the best years of life, to acquire learning and attain to sciences, that are all useless when we come into the world. Severn. Pardon me, dear Humber, I did not say useless; I only argue, that you had better, to make your fortune, have ordinary qualifications, such as a good mien, common understanding, and an easy address, than great faculties and talents, under the oppression of bashfulness, rusticity, orHumber. Or knowledge. Severn. It shall be, or knowledge, if you please -if you mean knowledge kept to a man's self, or in a man's keeping that is afraid or ashamed to exert it. Humber. Well, be it as you propose; go on. Severn. I say, then, your taste for books and fine writing, your judgment in the faculties of the soul, my town education, and skill in the airs, motions, graces, and abilities of the body, will enable us to carry on this our design of supporting a new Playhouse, and keeping a SCHOOL OF ACTION. Humber. Well-if we break, I can go down again to my fellowship at Oxford, and laugh and be laughed at, among a parcel of worthy and ingenious men, whom I will entertain with my adventures; and I think the undertaking cannot but introduce at least matter of humour and mirth: if it does not advance our fortunes, it will heighten our conversation. But to your SCHOOL OF ACTION. Severn. As all that reside in Inns of Court, and Universities, though they do not enter into any of the learned professions, are yet better accomplished for any other ways of life, by having the same education with those who go into them; so will all whe who come to our SCHOOL OF ACTION be better qualified in their own characters, by being instructed among Players, who are taught to become any part which shall be imposed upon them. Humber. Thou art a rare sanguine fellow, to think this will do. But I have observed, confidence in a man's self that he shall perform a thing, helps him forward better than any other quality about him.- Well-hang it-in order to make this experiment, I will be as enterprizing and confident as you, Severn. Let me, then, observe one thing, for fear of your relapsing into your academic shyness; that you must beware of standing as if you were a thinking statue, a case for a spirit to reflect in, and not a mind and body acting together. You improve the soul only in your Colleges-you neglect the body. Humber. Thou art in the right: I have studied eloquence till I am dumb. Severn. I am glad you see your want and infirmity. If you will speak, I know you will talk well. I know when you are unreservedly familiar you talk very well, as you did t'other night concerning the principles of motion and rest. Suppose, as you are resolved to talk, you would resolve also to move, and practise a little local motion. Give me leave to shew you how you perform it-Go to the other |