Remarks upon the Relapse.
The Relapse shall follow Don Quixot; upon the account of some Alliance between them. And because this Author swaggers so much in his Preface, and seems to look big upon his Performance, I shall spend a few more thoughts than ordinary upon his Play, and examine it briefly in the Fable, the Moral, the Characters, &c. The Fable I take to be as follows.
Fashion a Lewd, Prodigal, younger Brother; is reduced to extremity: Upon his arrival from his Travels, he meets with Coupler, an old sharping Match-maker; This Man puts him upon a project of cheating his Elder Brother Lord Foplington, of a rich Fortune. Young Fashion being refused a Summ of Money by his Brother, goes into Couplers Plot, bubbles Sir Tunbelly of his Daughter, and makes himself Master of a fair Estate.
From the Form and Constitution of the Fable, I observe
1st. That there is a Misnommer in the Title. The Play should not have been call'd the Relapse, or Virtue in Danger: Lovelace, and Amanda, from whose Characters these Names are drawn, are Persons of Inferiour Consideration. Lovelace sinks in the middle of the Fourth Act, and we hear no more of him till towards the End of the Fifth, where he enters once more, but then 'tis as Cato did the Senate house, only to go out again. And as for Amanda she has nothing to do but to stand a shock of Courtship, and carry off her Virtue. This I confess is a great task in the Play-house, but no main matter in the Play.
The Intrigue, and the Discovery, the great Revolution and success, turns upon Young Fashion. He without Competition, is the Principal Person in the Comedy. And therefore the Younger Brother, or the Fortunate Cheat, had been much a more proper Name. Now when a Poet can't rig out a Title Page, 'tis but a bad sign of his holding out to the Epilogue.
2ly. I observe the Moral is vitious: It points the wrong way, and puts the Prize into the wrong Hand. It seems to make Lewdness the reason of Desert, and gives Young Fashion a second Fortune, only for Debauching away his First. A short view of his Character, will make good this Reflection. To begin with him: He confesses himself a Rake, swears, and Blasphemes, Curses, and Challenges his Elder Brother, cheats him of his Mistress, and gets him laid by the Heels in a Dog-Kennel. And what was the ground of all this unnatural quarrelling and outrage? Why the main of it was only because Lord Foplington refused to supply his Luxury, and make good his Extravagance. This Young Fashion after all, is the Poets Man of Merit. He provides, a Plot and a Fortune, on purpose for him. To speak freely, A Lewd Character seldom wants good Luck in Comedy. So that when ever you see a thorough Libertine, you may almost swear he is in a rising way, and that the Poet intends to make him a great Man. In short; This Play perverts the End of Comedy: Which as Monsieur Rapin observes ought to regard Reformation, and publick Improvement. But the Relapser had a more fashionable Fancy in his Head.Reflect, &c. p. 131.[402] His Moral holds forth this notable Instruction.
1st. That all Younger Brothers should be careful to run out their Circumstances as Fast, and as Ill as they can. And when they have put their Affairs in this posture of Advantage, they may conclude themselves in the high Road to Wealth, and Success. For as Fashion Blasphemously applies it, Providence takes care of Men of Merit.Relapse. p. 19[403]
2ly. That when a Man is press'd, his business is not to be govern'd by Scruples, or formalize upon Conscience and Honesty. The quickest Expedients are the best; For in such cases the Occasion justifies the Means, and a Knight of the Post, is as good as one of the Garter. In the
3d. Place it may not be improper to look a little into the Plot. Here the Poet ought to play the Politician if ever. This part should have some stroaks, of Conduct, and strains of Invention more then ordinary. There should be something that is admirable, and unexpected to surprize the Audience. And all this Finess must work by gentle degrees, by a due preparation of Incidents, and by Instruments which are probable.Reflect. p. 133.[404] 'Tis Mr. Rapins remark, that without probability every Thing is lame and Faulty. Where there is no pretence to Miracle and Machine, matters must not exceed the force of Beleif. To produce effects without proportion; and likelyhood in the Cause, is Farce, and Magick, and looks more like Conjuring than Conduct. Let us examine the Relapser by these Rules. To discover his Plot, we must lay open somewhat more of the Fable.