Publication Details | Synopsis | Secondary Commentary |Varieties & Dialects | Other
Publication details |
Author: Cumberland, Richard
Author dates: 1732-1811
Title: The Passive Husband
First played: 1798
First published: 1813, for G. and W. Nicol ... by W. Bulmer [etc.] 2 v.
C18th availability: Not available
Modern availability: Available from LION (1997)
http://lion.chadwyck.com/searchFulltext.do?id=Z000070116&divLevel=0&queryId=../session/1216321177_8828&trailId=11A97E5ADBB&area=Drama&forward=textsFT&warn=Yes&size=176Kb
Genre: Comedy
Character types: Classical; Irish; Scottish; Military
Synopsis |
Sir Toby Truckle escapes his wife's domination by ending their marriage. Starling, a leech on the Truckle household, is banished. Leonard, Lady Truckle's son from a previous marriage, renounces the hand of Truckle's daughter Matilda, who is in love with Clifton. Leonard becomes a soldier, and Clifton and Matilda are married.
Act I.
Sir Toby Truckle asks his only servant Patrick (an Irishman) where his wife has gone; she is out in the carriage. Patrick complains about Lady Truckle. Lord Glenandry and Mr. Clifton are to visit shortly. Sir Toby wants to take a ride on his horse, but Mr. Starling has taken out the already-saddled horse. This gentleman enters and announces that Sir Toby’s horse has fallen, has broken both his knees, and has cut his forehead; although Starling is quite unconcerned about this, Sir Toby is horrified as the horse will likely no longer be able to be ridden. Sir Toby encourages Starling to visit other friends of his; however, Starling insists on devoting all of his time to the Truckle family. Lady Truckle complains to Sir Toby about the lack of fashion on the estate. They discuss Leonard, Lady Truckle’s son; Starling suggests that his education was lacking at first. Lady Truckle tells her husband that Leonard should be married to Truckle’s daughter (by his first wife) so as to make peace in the household. Truckle does not agree to this and exits. Starling tells Lady Truckle that he has made love to Miss Truckle’s maid in order to find out more information about Miss Truckle’s love life. Lady Truckle orders Starling to cut all ties with the serving-maid. Lady Truckle screams at Starling, who leaves the room; Runic (Leonard’s tutor) enters, believing the screams to be directed at him. When their true object is identified, Runic tells Lady Truckle that Starling is like a cuckoo, as he intrudes into others’ homes; Lady Truckle reports that Starling says that Runic has no more education than a “way-post”. Runic refuses to teach Leonard. The latter enters; when his mother tells him to strive to be wise and happy, he talks back to her. Leonard says that Ovid has not taught him to make love in a way that will please Matilda; fortunately, Clifton will arrive that evening. Glenandry and Clifton are announced.
Act II.
Sir Toby exchanges pleasantries with the Scottish Lord Glenandry. Leonard joyfully welcomes Clifton. Matilda enters; Clifton is struck by her beauty. Leonard and his mother quarrel, and the latter says that she will leave the house until Sir Toby’s boorish companions are gone. The two older men go to talk together, and Leonard dismisses Runic with a clumsy apology, leaving the former with Clifton and Matilda. Leonard and Clifton agree that Lady Truckle treats her husband terribly. Leonard says that he knows that Clifton was taken with Matilda’s beauty, and reads a poem that he has written about her. Matilda asks the newcomer to read the poem; he changes the words to deepen their meaning, to Leonard’s annoyance. Matilda leaves the two men. Leonard tells Clifton that he plans to marry Matilda once he is of age, but that he does not want to be dependent on his stepfather; can Glenandry get him a place in the army? When Clifton asks what is to be done about Matilda in the meantime, Leonard suggests that Clifton stand in his place. Clifton says that it will be difficult not to fall in love with Matilda. He asks for one more interview with Matilda as a test.
Act III.
Lord Glenandry tells Sir Toby that his wife married him for his money; the disenchanted Sir Toby agrees wholeheartedly. Lord Glenandry tells Sir Toby to stop being passive and to assert himself in front of his wife. Patrick runs in, covered with blood; he asks Lord Glenandry to remember him from their American campaign, which Glenandry does. Lady Truckle has forbidden the servants to prepare the beds for the guests; when Patrick ordered the servants to work as usual, they scratched him. Starling enters; Sir Toby tries to ask him to help persuade Lady Truckle to stop causing havoc with the household, but Starling insists on first being presented to Lord Glenandry. This gentleman instructs Starling to speak with Lady Truckle. Starling denies that he will be able to achieve anything, but Glenandry insists that he try. Mrs. Lofty, a servant, defends Patrick’s loyalty to his master to Lady Truckle. Lady Truckle tells Mrs. Lofty to forget about Sir Toby’s perspective, as he has brought the Scottish gentlemen into the house to “snap the heiress” away from Leonard. Mrs. Lofty asks if Starling may be admitted; Lady Truckle agrees to see him, though she calls him a wretch. Starling tells Lady Truckle that he loves her and that he did not romance the serving-maid. Lady Truckle forgives him. She tells him that the Scottish gentlemen will be the cause of her loss of power within the household, and that Starling will lose a great deal if this occurs. He sees her point and agrees to help her. Clifton tells Leonard that he loves Matilda more than any other woman he has ever met. Clifton is asked to raise Leonard in Matilda’s esteem, which he agrees to do. Matilda tells Clifton that she can never love Leonard (despite his many virtues) because she will always see her father’s tormentor in him. Clifton is to ask Lord Glenandry to tell him the story of Matilda and Leonard’s engagement.
Act IV.
Runic tells Mrs. Lofty that he will have no truck with those who support Lady Truckle. Runic instructs Mrs. Lofty to follow what her conscience dictates. Starling enters; he derides the great classical scholars to irritate Runic. Runic accuses Starling of seeking to undermine the household of a man whom he claims to love. Starling denies this. Sir Toby enters and asks Starling for a report of his conversation with Lady Truckle. Starling tells Sir Toby that he has made peace with Lady Truckle for him. Runic departs, calling Starling a deceiver in Latin. Clifton tells Leonard that Cupid’s arrow remains in his heart, but that Matilda will fulfill her promise to marry Leonard. Matilda enters with a letter; she was to be betrothed to Clifton before the arrangement with Leonard. They are both devastated. Leonard has overheard their conversation and believes that Clifton has betrayed him; he goes to consult with his mother. Lady Truckle tells her husband that she will relinquish any hold she has on the house if Leonard and Matilda are married. Leonard takes the bond that seals the marriage from his mother, who only reluctantly permits him to read it over.
Act V.
Clifton tells Lord Glenandry that he loves Matilda and that she reciprocates his love. Runic tells Glenandry that Mrs. Lofty has given him ample proof of Lady Truckle’s bad character. Runic unveils a love letter from Lady Truckle to Starling. Lord Glenandry asks Starling to arrange a meeting with Lady Truckle for him. Glenandry asks Sir Toby if he would be pleased to be delivered for life from Lady Truckle’s tyranny; Sir Toby fervently assents. Leonard enters with the marriage deed and begs Clifton to come with him to see Matilda. A confused Clifton agrees to do so. Glenandry tells Lady Truckle that he is aware of her affair with Starling; Lady Truckle agrees to quit the house tomorrow. Starling tells Glenandry that the affair was never consummated and that he will renounce any dealings with Lady Truckle, who was seeking a separation anyway. Leonard tells Matilda that he wants to be a soldier and has altered the name in the marriage deed from his own to Clifton’s. However, he warns, if Matilda does not marry Clifton, he is next in line to her heart. He hotly denies being a “noble fellow” and exits hastily. Matilda accepts Clifton’s proposal of marriage. The Truckles happily agree to a separation. Leonard announces that Matilda and Clifton are to be married. Lady Truckle calls him a fool. Patrick enters smartly dressed; Clifton has given him a rose-coloured suit, which he flaunts happily. Sir Toby does not know whether he or Clifton is happier: one has lost a wife, and the other has gained one.
Secondary commentary |
None.
Varieties & Dialects |
Overview of varieties / dialects
Some characters (Starling, Runic) use Latin terms and refer to classical literature and mythology. Patrick and Lord Glenandry are Irish and Scottish respectively, but neither speaks in a particular dialect (except for one use of “lassie”). Clifton, a soldier, uses an elevated tone when praising his friend, switching from “you” to “thou”. Leonard, a would-be soldier forced to be a classical scholar, uses clichéd and idiomatic expression (“jumps for joy”). Lady Truckle says “you was”.
Varieties / dialectsVariety: Starling
a. Sample of dialect
[page 234]
Star.
A vile garron---a rank tumble-down. Ecce signum! roll'd me in the dirt---broke his knees and cut a star in his own forehead with a flint, that might have made a hole in mine. A filthy beast! never mount upon his back again, Sir Toby, whilst you have life.
--
[page 276]
Star.
And honester---or woe betide us. Witness the master of them all, old Homer, who has been now convicted of having forg'd the siege of Troy upon us, for which your friend, that gave false evidence, merits the pillory.
b.1 Orthography
b.2 Grammar
b.3 Vocabulary: Latin: “Ecce signum”; “honester” (false comparative)
c. Nationality: English
d. Character profile: a leech on the household and Lady Truckle’s would-be lover
e. Consistency of representation: frequently makes classical references
Variety: Leonard
a. Sample of dialect
[page 246]
Leon.
My dear, dear friend---
[runs to Clifton and embraces him.]
Let me snatch you to my [50] heart, which jumps for joy to meet you.---My lord, I kiss your shoe-strings---there's a courtly phrase---Fire and faggot! Are you going to fight, that you're bedizen'd out in regimentals?
b.1 Orthography
b.2 Grammar: “Are you going to fight, that you’re…?”; “jumps for joy to meet you”
b.3 Vocabulary: “bedizen’d” (decked?); “Fire and faggot!” (interjection); “jumps for joy” (cliché)
c. Nationality: English
d. Character profile: Lady Truckle’s son; he is supposed to be a classical scholar, but hates reading and would prefer being a soldier
e. Consistency of representation: mostly StE
Variety: Runic
a. Sample of dialect
[page 247]
Run.
Fie, pupil, fie upon you! bona verba, puer, bona verba.
b.1 Orthography
b.2 Grammar
b.3 Vocabulary: Latin: “bona verba, puer, bona verba”
c. Nationality: English
d. Character profile: Classical tutor
e. Consistency of representation: consistent
Variety: Lord Glenandry
a. Sample of dialect
[page 248]
L. Glen.
Matilda, my sweet lassie, come to your god-father and take a blessing---Bless you, my child! be good as you are fair, and you will teach us how to guess at angels.
Mat.
My lord Glenandry ever is most kind, except when he forgets how very vain his [125] flattery must make me.
L. Glen.
Child, I can't flatter: here's your father knows I have been too plain a speaker all my days; therefore I am, as I have always been, a rough old Highlander with empty pockets.
b.1 Orthography
b.2 Grammar: “be good as you are fair”; “here’s your father knows”
b.3 Vocabulary: “sweet lassie”
c. Nationality: Scottish
d. Character profile: Scottish lord
e. Consistency of representation: inconsistent (this is the only 'Scottish' idiom)
Variety: Clifton
a. Sample of dialect
[page 257]
Clif.
Thou art a noble fellow, and thy honest heart shall never be wounded by me. Let me only have another interview with thy lovely mistress, and if I cannot serve thee, I promise, on my honour, I will not betray thee.
b.1 Orthography
b.2 Grammar: “thou”; “thy”; “thee”
b.3 Vocabulary
c. Nationality: English
d. Character profile: soldier
e. Consistency of representation: inconsistent; sudden switch to “thou” etc when praising his friend (purple patch)
Variety: Lady Truckle
a. Sample of dialect
[page 299]
L. Truc.
'Tis no matter, you was born a fool, and you will die a fool. Your father was one before you.
b.1 Orthography
b.2 Grammar: “you was”
b.3 Vocabulary
c. Nationality: English
d. Character profile: domineering wife
e. Consistency of representation: Mostly StE (“you was” fairly standard at the time)
Runic refuses to teach Leonard:
In short, madam, I shall no longer sacrifice my time, and your money, to the fruitless task of teaching Latin to a pupil, who has not yet been taught to speak his mother-tongue.
Other points of interest |
On the value of a classical education:
Run.
Neither does the scholar speak in such terms to his master. The Grecian youth were modest in the presence of their teachers.
Leon.
But we are wiser than the Greeks; didn't I tell you so? If age has made you wise, why shouldn't it make the world so? And if I am old enough to take a wife, don't you think I am able to walk without a leading string? Besides, it lowers me in the eyes of miss Matilda. What matters it for me to construe Ovid, if I can't find out the art of making love to please her? But here is one a-coming, who will teach me in an hour more than I can learn of this plaid night-gown in a twelvemonth.
--
Leon.
Bonus, bona, bonum---that's good, which you are not---puer, pueri, that's a boy, which I am not; so your Latin does not hit either of us, and is good for nothing---Oh, Clifton, do you know that I'm in Ovid; there's a liquorish poet for you; makes old Runic's mouth water. Mark, what a flashy coat the old boy has got on! There's a cut of Queen Anne for you! The coat is fresh and flourishing, but the botcher that cut it out is dust and ashes years ago.
©2009 Arden Hegele