Gamester-Edward Moore

ACT I. it having been objected to this tragedy that its language is prose and its catastrophe too horrible i shall entreat the reader's patience for a minute that i may say a word or two to these objections the play of the gamester was intended to be a natural picture of that kind of life of which all men are judges and as it struck at a vice so universally prevailing it was thought proper to adapt its language to the capacities and feelings of every part of the audience that as some of its characters were of no higher rank than sharpers it was imagined that whatever good company they may find admittance to in the world their speaking blank verse upon the stage would be unnatural if not ridiculous but though the more elevated characters also speak prose the judicious reader will observe that it is a species of prose which differs very little from verse in many of the most animated scenes i can truly say that i often found it a much greater difficulty to avoid than to write measure i shall only add in answer to this objection that i hoped to be more interesting by being more natural and the event as far as i have been a witness of it has more than answered my expectations As to the other objection, the horror of its catastrophe, if it be considered simply what that catastrophe is, and compared with those other tragedies, I should humbly presume that the working it up to any uncommon degree of horror is the merit of the play, and not its reproach.

Nor should so prevailing and destructive a vice as gaming be attacked upon the theatre.

without impressing upon the imagination all the horrors that may attend it i shall detain the reader no longer than to inform him that i am indebted for many of the most popular passages in this play to the inimitable performer who in the character of the gamester exceeded every idea i had conceived of it in the writing prologue

like famed la mancha's knight who lance in hand mounted his steed to free the enchanted land our coyote bard sets forth a monster taming armed at all points to fight that hydra gaming aloft on pegasus he waves his pen and hurls defiance at the caitiff's den the first on fancied giants spent his rage but this has more than windmills to engage he combats passion rooted in the soul whose powers at once delight ye and control whose magic bondage each lost slave enjoys nor wishes freedom though the spell destroys to save our land from this magician's charms and rescue maids and matrons from his arms our knight poetic comes and oh ye fair this black enchanter's wicked arts beware his subtle poison dims the brightest eyes and at his touch each grace and beauty dies love gentleness and joy to rage give way and the soft dove becomes a bird of prey may this our bold adventurer break the spell and drive the demon to his native hell ye slaves of passion and ye dupes of chance wake all your powers from this destructive trance shake off the shackles of this tyrant vice hear other calls than those of cards and dice be learned in nobler arts than arts of play and other debts than those of honor pay no longer live insensible to shame lost to your country families and fame could our romantic muse this work achieve would there one honest heart in britain grieve the attempt though wild would not in vain be made if every honest hand would lend its aid

dramatis person men

beverley read by todd

lucen read by t j

burns stukely read by thomas peter

jarvis read by allan mapstone bates

read by joseph tabler

dawson read by son of the exiles

waiter read by nemo

women mrs beverley read by linda olsen charlotte read by eva davis

lucy read by sonia

narrated by rob board scene london the gamester a tragedy act i scene i enter mrs beverley and charlotte