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Read Ebook: The Surrender of Calais: A Play in Three Acts by Colman George Inchbald Mrs Commentator
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Commentator: Mrs. Inchbald
THE SURRENDER OF CALAIS;
A PLAY, IN THREE ACTS;
AS PERFORMED AT THE THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET.
WITH REMARKS BY MRS. INCHBALD.
LONDON: PRINTED FOR LONGMAN, HURST, REES, AND ORNE, PATERNOSTER ROW.
WILLIAM SAVAGE, PRINTER, LONDON
REMARKS.
In this drama are comprised tragedy, comedy, opera, and some degree of farce--yet so happily is the variety blended, that one scene never diminishes the interest of another, but they all combine to produce a most valuable composition.
In the rank of excellence, the tragic parts are to be accounted foremost; and, among these, the original and admirable character of Eustache de St. Pierre stands first.
Other characters, of the author's invention, are likewise so prominent, that Edward, our renowned conqueror of Calais, is made, perhaps, the least interesting, as well as the least amiable, warrior in this whole dramatic field of glory: and yet, such is the equitable, the unbiassed judgment of the vanquished, they profess a just, a noble, an heroic reverence, for the bravery, and other qualities, of their triumphant enemies.
The exception to this general rule of patriotic courage in the French, is most skilfully displayed in one short speech, by a feeble and fearful citizen of the besieged town; in whom extreme terror of the besiegers is so naturally converted into malignant abhorrence, that the man who, in all Calais, is most ready to die for his king and country, is, by the aid of certain political logic from this alarmist, openly accused of disloyalty, because he will not slander, as well as fight, his foe. This speech, with some others, no less founded on the true disposition of lordly man, subdued by the humiliation of fear, would falsely imply--that the play of "The Surrender of Calais" was of a later date than fifteen or sixteen years past, before which period the author must have had much less knowledge of the influence of apprehension in the time of war, than experience, or rather observation, has since had the means to bestow upon him.
It may be said, that Mr. Colman gave the virtues of justice and benignity to the valiant part of the French, merely as instruments to resound the praise of the English.--Whatever were the author's views, the virtues remain the same, and honour the possessors of them, even more than their eulogiums can do honour to the British.
DRAMATIS PERSONAE.
ENGLISH.
FRENCH.
THE SURRENDER OF CALAIS.
ACT THE FIRST.
O, Heaven!
But, father, cheer up! Mum! If, after the distribution, an odd sly barrel of mine--you take me--rammed down with good powdered beef, that will stand the working of half a dozen pair of jaws for a month, should be found in an odd corner of my father's house, why--hum!
Heaven bless thee, my poor Madelon! May a woman never tumble into the mire of distress; and, if she is in, ill befall him that won't help her clean out again. --Dost love me the better for this feast, now, Madelon?
--and they do guard a treasure Well worth a king's acceptance; for they yield A golden opportunity to mightiness Of comforting the wretched. Take but these, And turn our ponderous portals on the hinge, And you will find, in every street, a document, A lesson, at each step, for iron power To feel for fellow men:--Our wasted soldiers Dropping upon their watch; the dying mother Wailing her famish'd child; the meagre son Grasping his father's hand in agony, Till their sunk eyes exchange a feeble gleam Of love and blessing, and they both expire.
GRAND CHORUS.
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