| “Other Fish to fry, and other Fruit to sell,” |
beside supplying refreshment to the young gallants of the day.
In Douglas Jerrold’s comedy of “Nell Gwynne,” which was first represented at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket, 9th of January, 1833, with the following cast of characters:—
| King Charles the Second | Mr. Jones. | |
| Sir Charles Berkeley | Mr. Forrester. | |
| Charles Hart, Major Mohun, Managers of the King’s Theatre, Drury lane, 1667 | Mr. Duruset. | |
| Betterton, Manager of the Duke’s Theatre, Lincoln’s-inn | Mr. Diddear. | |
| Joe Haynes | Mr. Meadows. | |
| Counsellor Crowsfoot | Mr. Blanchard. | |
| Stockfish | Mr. F. Matthews. | |
| Boy | Master Macdonald. | |
| Nell Gwynne | Miss Taylor. | |
| Orange Moll | Mrs. Keeley. | |
| Mrs. Snowdrop | Mrs. Daly. |
There is the following scene and song:—
Enter NELL GWYNNE, as orange girl, with orange basket. She carries a mask.
Nell. (Sings.) “Buy oranges!” Ladies and cavaliers, vouchsafe to look at my basket! Maidens, ripen my fruit with your glances; buy my oranges, as bright as hope and as sweet as courtship.—Though they look as hard as gold, they’ll melt in the mouth like a lover’s promise.—Their juice is syrup, and their coats as thin as a poet’s. Buy, gentlemen; or I’ll vow that, being jealous, you hate yellow even in an orange.
Betterton. (Aside.) It is—I’d swear to her face—the very girl!
Charles. (Coming down with Nelly.) And have your oranges really all these virtues?
Nell. (Aside.) So, my gallant mercer. All, and a thousand more;—there’s nothing good that may not be said of the orange. It sets special examples to elder brothers, misers, and young travellers.