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THE Old Bachelor, the first of Congreve's plays, was produced in
1693, at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, though the date when
it was written is not exactly known. The plot, never a strong
feature in any of Congreve's comedies, is not marked by striking
originality or novelty of combination. Still, if the piece is stageworn,
the setting is bold and brilliant. The dialogue coruscates
with wit of the highest order, and in every scene we are surprised
by reflections and remarks so tersely and humorously
turned as to appear like a fresh revelation. In common with all
the comedies of Congreve, the language here is polished till it
admits of no further improvement; the satire bites and sparkles,
whilst the foibles and fashions of the hour—and we have no
keener exponent of the social life of his day than this author—
impregnate the whole like the aroma of a delicate yet penetrating
wine. Of morality there is less than none, for throughout the
comedy vice is always draped in the more attractive garb.
It is of this piece that Addison thus speaks in his Taller, No.
9: "In the character which gives name to this play there is excellently
represented the reluctance of a battered debauchee to
come into the trammels of order and decency; he neither languishes
nor burns, but frets for love. The gentlemen of more
regular behaviour are drawn with much spirit and wit, and the
drama introduced by the dialogue of the first scene with uncommon
yet natural conversation. The part of Fondlewife is a
lively image of the unseasonable fondness of age and impotence."
The Old Bachelor was acted as late as 1789.
The writer of the following commendatory verses was the
Captain Southerne who, in conjunction with Dryden, revised the
play so as to fit it for the stage.
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