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The Double…Dealer
by William Congreve
Interdum tamen et vocem Comoedia tollit。HOR。 Ar。 Po。
Huic equidem consilio palmam do： hic me magnifice
effero； qui vim tantam in me et potestatem habeam
tantae astutiae； vera dicendo ut eos ambos fallam。
SYR。 in TERENT。 Heaut。
TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE CHARLES MONTAGUE；
ONE OF THE LORDS OF THE TREASURY。
Sir；I heartily wish this play were as perfect as I intended it；
that it might be more worthy your acceptance； and that my dedication
of it to you might be more becoming that honour and esteem which I；
with everybody who is so fortunate as to know you； have for you。 It
had your countenance when yet unknown； and now it is made public； it
wants your protection。
I would not have anybody imagine that I think this play without its
faults； for I am conscious of several。 I confess I designed
（whatever vanity or ambition occasioned that design） to have written
a true and regular comedy； but I found it an undertaking which put
me in mind of SUDET MULTUM； FRUSTRAQUE LABORET AUSUS IDEM。 And now；
to make amends for the vanity of such a design； I do confess both
the attempt and the imperfect performance。 Yet I must take the
boldness to say I have not miscarried in the whole； for the
mechanical part of it is regular。 That I may say with as little
vanity as a builder may say he has built a house according to the
model laid down before him； or a gardener that he has set his
flowers in a knot of such or such a figure。 I designed the moral
first； and to that moral I invented the fable； and do not know that
I have borrowed one hint of it anywhere。 I made the plot as strong
as I could because it was single； and I made it single because I
would avoid confusion； and was resolved to preserve the three
unities of the drama。 Sir； this discourse is very impertinent to
you； whose judgment much better can discern the faults than I can
excuse them； and whose good nature； like that of a lover； will find
out those hidden beauties （if there are any such） which it would be
great immodesty for me to discover。 I think I don't speak
improperly when I call you a LOVER of poetry； for it is very well
known she has been a very kind mistress to you： she has not denied
you the last favour； and she has been fruitful to you in a most
beautiful issue。 If I break off abruptly here； I hope everybody
will understand that it is to avoid a commendation which； as it is
your due； would be most easy for me to pay； and too troublesome for
you to receive。
I have since the acting of this play harkened after the objections
which have been made to it； for I was conscious where a true critic
might have put me upon my defence。 I was prepared for the attack；
and am pretty confident I could have vindicated some parts and
excused others； and where there were any plain miscarriages； I would
most ingenuously have confessed 'em。 But I have not heard anything
said sufficient to provoke an answer。 That which looks most like an
objection does not relate in particular to this play； but to all or
most that ever have been written； and that is soliloquy。 Therefore
I will answer it； not only for my own sake； but to save others the
trouble； to whom it may hereafter be objected。
I grant that for a man to talk to himself appears absurd and
unnatural； and indeed it is so in most cases； but the circumstances
which may attend the occasion make great alteration。 It oftentimes
happens to a man to have designs which require him to himself； and
in their nature cannot admit of a confidant。 Such for certain is
all villainy； and other less mischievous intentions may be very
improper to be communicated to a second person。 In such a case；
therefore； the audience must observe whether the person upon the
stage takes any notice of them at all or no。 For if he supposes any
one to be by when he talks to himself； it is monstrous and
ridiculous to the last degree。 Nay； not only in this case； but in
any part of a play； if there is expressed any knowledge of an
audience； it is insufferable。 But otherwise； when a man in
soliloquy reasons with himself； and PRO'S and CON'S； and weighs all
his designs； we ought not to imagine that this man either talks to
us or to himself； he is only thinking； and thinking such matter as
were inexcusable folly in him to speak。 But because we are
concealed spectators of the plot in agitation； and the poet finds it
necessary to let us know the whole mystery of his contrivance； he is
willing to inform us of this person's thoughts； and to that end is
forced to make use of the expedient of speech； no other better way
being yet invented for the communication of thought。
Another very wrong objection has been made by some who have not
taken leisure to distinguish the characters。 The hero of the play；
as they are pleased to call him （meaning Mellefont）； is a gull； and
made a fool； and cheated。 Is every man a gull and a fool that is
deceived？ At that rate I'm afraid the two classes of men will be
reduced to one； and the knaves themselves be at a loss to justify
their title。 But if an open…hearted honest man； who has an entire
confidence in one whom he takes to be his friend； and whom he has
obliged to be so； and who； to confirm him in his opinion； in all
appearance and upon several trials has been so： if this man be
deceived by the treachery of the other； must he of necessity
commence fool immediately； only because the other has proved a
villain？ Ay； but there was caution given to Mellefont in the first
act by his friend Careless。 Of what nature was that caution？ Only
to give the audience some light into the character of Maskwell
before his appearance； and not to convince Mellefont of his
treachery； for that was more than Careless was then able to do： he
never knew Maskwell guilty of any villainy； he was only a sort of
man which he did not like。 As for his suspecting his familiarity
with my Lady Touchwood； let 'em examine the answer that Mellefont
makes him； and compare it with the conduct of Maskwell's character
through the play。
I would beg 'em again to look into the character of Maskwell before
they accuse Mellefont of weakness for being deceived by him。 For
upon summing up the enquiry into this objection； it may be found
they have mistaken cunning in one character for folly in another。
But there is one thing at which I am more concerned than all the
false criticisms that are made upon me； and that is； some of the
ladies are offended。 I am heartily sorry for it； for I declare I
would rather disoblige all the critics in the world than one of the
fair sex。 They are concerned that I have represented some women
vicious and affected。 How can I help it？ It is the business of a
comic poet to paint the vices and follies of humankind； and there
are but two sexes； male and female； MEN and WOMEN； which have a
title to humanity； and if I leave one half of them out； the work
will be imperfect。 I should be very glad of an opportunity to make
my compliment to those ladies who are offended； but they can no more
expect it in a comedy than to be tickled by a surgeon when he's
letting 'em blood。 They who are virtuous or discreet should not be
offended； for such characters as these distinguish THEM； and make
their beauties more shining and observed； and they who are of the
other kind may nevertheless pass for such； by seeming not to be
displeased or touched with the satire of this COMEDY。 Thus have
they also wrongfully accused me of doing them a prejudice； when I
have in reality done them a service。
You will pardon me； sir； for the freedom I take of making answers to
other people in an epistle which ought wholly to be sacred to you；
but since I intend the play to be so too； I hope I may take the more
liberty of justifying it where it is in the right。
I must now； sir； declare to the world how kind you have been to my
endeavours； for in regard of what was well meant； you have excused
what was ill performed。 I beg you would continue the same method in
your acceptance of this dedication。 I know no other way of making a
return to that humanity you shewed； in protecting an infant； but by
enrolling it in your service； now that it is of age and come into
the world。 Therefore be pleased to accept of this as an
acknowledgment of the favour you have shewn me； and an earnest of
the real service and gratitude of；
Sir； your most obliged； humble servant；
WILLIAM CONGREVE。
TO MY DEAR FRIEND MR。 CONGREVE；
ON HIS COMEDY CALLED THE DOUBLE…DEALER。
Well then； the promised hour is come at last；
The present age of wit obscures the past。
Strong were our sires； and as they fought they writ；
Conqu'ring with force of arms and dint of wit。
Theirs was the giant race； before the flood；
And thus； when Charles returned； our empire stood。
Like Janus