Play on Words

full length · drama

The Old Bachelor: A Comedy

by William Congreve

16 roles (0M / 0F / 16 any) · approx 131–182 minutes · 5 acts

Royalty-free Public domain — free to read, perform, and adapt. No licence needed.

Characters

Bell lead 152 speeches
Sharp supporting 119 speeches
Sir Jo supporting 89 speeches
Vain supporting 66 speeches
Heart supporting 64 speeches
Belin supporting 64 speeches
Fond supporting 61 speeches
Læt supporting 61 speeches
Aram supporting 58 speeches
Bluff supporting 52 speeches
Lucy minor 46 speeches
Set minor 31 speeches
Silv minor 28 speeches
Setter minor 24 speeches
Bar minor 6 speeches
Foot minor 5 speeches

Read the play

SCENE: _A chamber in Fondlewife’s house_.

LÆTITIA and BELLMOUR, his cloak, hat, etc., lying loose about the chamber.

Bell. Here’s nobody, nor no noise—’twas nothing but your fears.

Læt. I durst have sworn I had heard my monster’s voice. I swear I was heartily frightened; feel how my heart beats.

Bell. ’Tis an alarm to love—come in again, and let us—

Fond. [_Without_.] Cocky, Cocky, where are you, Cocky? I’m come home.

Læt. Ah! There he is. Make haste, gather up your things.

Fond. Cocky, Cocky, open the door.

Bell. Pox choke him, would his horns were in his throat. My patch, my patch. [_Looking about_, _and gathering up his things_.]

Læt. My jewel, art thou there?—No matter for your patch.—You s’an’t tum in, Nykin—run into my chamber, quickly, quickly—You s’an’t tum in.

Fond. Nay, prithee, dear, i’feck I’m in haste.

Læt. Then I’ll let you in. [_Opens the door_.]

Monologues from this play