John O’Keeffe, The World in a Village: A Comedy, in Five Acts

An excerpt from O’Keeffe’s play, in which the characters Mr. and Mrs. Allbut argue about Mr. Allbut’s skill at poetry and improvisation.

Performer Name:
 
Performance Venue:
 
Performance Date:
 
Author:
O’Keeffe, John
Date Written:
 
Language:
English
Publication Title:
The World in a Village: A Comedy, in Five Acts
Article Title:
 
Page Numbers:
11
Additional Info:
 
Publisher:
 
Place of Publication:
London
Date Published:
1793

Text:

All. Oh! you unreasonable woman! when it was you that set me on, and made me even lay out six shillings at the stall at the corner of Chancery-lane, for Bushe's Art of Poetry, and only to get myself ready at versifications.

Mrs. A. Yes! but, Mr. Allbut, having travell'd all over Italy in the first circles of fashion, I had hopes you might turn out a poet of nature—to run extempore with a string of beautiful verses on every occasion, as it may offer, like the charming Italian Improvisatore.

All. Well, I'm the great English Improvisitory.

Mrs. A. I have heard the harmonious Metastasio, the Pastor Fido, the Goldoni—

All. On his poney.

Notes:

From Act I, scene ii; includes the characters Mr. Allbut and Mrs. Allbut.

Collected by:
DP