St. Patrick's Day; Or, The Scheming Lieutenant

By Richard Brinsley Sheridan

Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751-1816) was a man with many roles. He was not only a playwright and poet, he was also a Whig Member of the British House of Commons and owner of the London Theatre Royal on Drury Lane. Though born in Ireland, Sheridan and his family moved outside of London when he was seven. Both of his parents were theatrical influences for him, as his mother was a playwright and novelist, and his father was at one time an actor. In 1722, the character of Sheridan's intended fiancé was challenged by Captain Thomas Mathews. The result was two duels, the first left both parties unscathed, while the second resulted in bloodshed, though Sheridan was the resounding winner. "St. Patrick's Day, or The Scheming Lieutenant" was first acted in May 1775 and was written for a charitable cause.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Digireads.com Publishing
• Release date: Jan 1, 2011
• ISBN: 9781420942149

Richard Brinsley Sheridan

In need of funds, Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751-1816) turned to the only craft that could gain him the remuneration he desired in a short time: he began writing a play. He had over the years written and published essays and poems, and among his papers were humorous unfinished plays, essays and political tracts, but never had he undertaken such an ambitious project as this. In a short time, however, he completed The Rivals. He was 23 years old.

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ST. PATRICK'S DAY;

OR, THE SCHEMING LIEUTENANT

A FARCE

BY RICHARD BRINSLEY SHERIDAN

A Digireads.com Book

Digireads.com Publishing

Print ISBN 13: 978-1-4209-4137-1

Ebook ISBN 13: 978-1-4209-4214-9

This edition copyright © 2012

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CONTENTS

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ

ACT I.

SCENE I.—Lieutenant O'Connor's Lodgings.

SCENE II.—A Room in Justice Credulous' House.

ACT II.

SCENE I.—A Street.

SCENE II.—A Garden.

SCENE III.—A Walk.

SCENE IV.—A Room in Justice Credulous' House.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ

LIEUTENANT O'CONNOR

DR. ROSY

JUSTICE CREDULOUS

SERGEANT TROUNCE

CORPORAL FLINT

LAURETTA

MRS. BRIDGET CREDULOUS

DRUMMER, SOLDIERS, COUNTRYMEN, and SERVANT.

SCENE—A town in England.

ACT I.

SCENE I.—Lieutenant O'Connor's Lodgings.

[Enter Sergeant Trounce, Corporal Flint, and four Soldiers.]

1 SOLDIER. I say you are wrong; we should all speak together, each for himself, and all at once, that we may be heard the better.

2 SOLDIER. Right, Jack, we'll argue in platoons.

3 SOLDIER. Ay, ay, let him have our grievances in a volley, and if we be to have a spokesman, there's the corporal is the lieutenant's countryman, and knows his humour.

FLINT. Let me alone for that. I served three years, within a bit, under his honour, in the Royal Inniskillions, and I never will see a sweeter tempered gentleman, nor one more free with his purse. I put a great shammock in his hat this morning, and I'll be bound for him he'll wear it, was it as big as Steven's Green.

4 SOLDIER. I say again then you talk like youngsters, like militia striplings: there's a discipline, look'ee in all things, whereof the sergeant must be our guide; he's a gentleman of words; he understands your foreign lingo, your figures, and such like auxiliaries in scoring. Confess now for a reckoning, whether in chalk or writing, ben't he your only man?

FLINT. Why the sergeant is a scholar to be sure, and has the gift of reading.

TROUNCE. Good soldiers, and fellow-gentlemen, if you make me your spokesman, you will show the more judgment; and let me alone for the argument. I'll be as loud as a drum, and point blank from the purpose.

ALL. Agreed, agreed.

FLINT. Oh, faith!