The Love-Tiff

The Love-Tiff

The Love-tiff (Le Dpit-amoureux) is composed of two pieces joined together. The first and longest is a comparatively modest imitation of a very coarse and indecent Italian comedy, L'Interesse, by Signer Nicolo Secchi; its intrigue depends chiefly on the substitution of a female for a male child, a change which forms the groundwork of many plays and novels, and of which Shakespeare has also made use. The second and best part of the Love-tiff belongs to Molire alone, and is composed chiefly of the whole of the first act, the first six verses of the third scene, and the whole of the fourth scene of the second act; these, with a few alterations and a few. lines added, form, the comedy which the Thtre Franaise plays at the present time. It was first represented at Bziers towards the end of 1656, when the States General of Languedoc were assembled in that town, and met with great success; a success which continued when it was played in Paris at the Thtre du Petit-Bourbon in 1658. Why in some of the former English translations of Molire the servant Gros-Ren is called "Gros-Renard" we are unable to understand, for both names are thoroughly French. Mr. Ozell, in his translation, gives him the unmistakably English, but not very euphonious name of "punch-gutted Ben, alias Renier," whilst Foote calls him "Hugh." The incidents of the Love-tiff are arranged artistically, though in the Spanish taste; the plot is too complicated, and the ending very unnatural. But the characters are well delineated, and fathers, lovers, mistresses, and servants all move about amidst a complication of errors from which there is no visible disentangling. The conversation between Valre and Ascanio in man's clothes, the mutual begging pardon of Albert and Polydore, the natural astonishment of Lucile, accused in the presence of her father, and the stratagem of raste to get the truth from his servants, are all described in a masterly manner, whilst the tiff between raste and Lucile, which gives the title to the piece, as well as their reconciliation, are considered among the best scenes of this play. ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 6564
Author: Molière, 1622-1673
Release Date: Sep 1, 2004
Format: eBook
Language: English