A Shakesperean Scene, as performed by the Brighton Company on a late occasion, to which was added the agreeable entertainment of the Mistake, William Dent, 1786

Beneath the title is etched: 'as performed by the brighton company on a late occasion, to which was added the agreeable entertainment of the mistake. ['the mistake', comedy by vanbrugh from molière's 'le dépit amoureux'] dramatis personae, 1 the prince, new drest,. . By the p------. 2 falstaff. . . . Mr f------ 3 doll tear-sheet. . . Mrs fitz------ 4 pistol. . . . Col. H------ the parts of 5 shallow and the 6 page restored (by desire) to his grace and johnny. 7 silence. . . . His grace of d------ 8 bardolph. . . . Mr s------ 9 davy, the serving-man. . . Mr w----- see the 2d part of king henry 4th act 5th scene 3d power would not have been displeasing to them however they might have abhorred the unhappy means that gave it. ' fox as falstaff, '2', is seated in the centre of a panelled room with small casement windows. He and weltje, the serving-man, are on a larger scale than the other figures. In his right hand is a large covered flagon, on which is a royal crown, his left is on his breast; he looks with pleased astonishment at hanger, '4', who runs forward from the right holding out a riding-whip, and saying: "sir john, i am thy pistol and thy friend, and helter-skelter have i rode to thee; and tidings do i bring, and lucky joys, and golden times, and rare unlook'd for news - sir john, thy tender lambkin now is king -" in the background the prince of wales, '1', stands holding a handkerchief and saying: "thy due, from me, is tears, and heavy sorrows of the blood, which nature, love and filial tenderness, shall, o dear father, pay thee plenteously: see act 4th scene 4" on the left of the design, on falstaff's right hand, are crowded the other characters. Doll, '3' (mrs. Fitzherbert), looks down smiling; the others, also smiling, look towards pistol. Weltje, '9', stands on the extreme left with a napkin under his arm. Next him is sheridan, '8', as bardolph. Silence, '7', the duke of devonshire, leans forward eagerly, his head concealed by shallow, '5', the duke of portland, who stands in profile. Behind him (left) is 'johnny', '6', lord john cavendish, the size of a small boy, but with an adult's head. All are in quasi-elizabethan dress, except that hanger wears his enormous kevenhuller hat. The background is a panelled wall with deeply recessed casement windows; between these are (1) 'a placard, augt 3d by the brighton company the second part of king henry the fourth', and (2) a crucifix indicating the faith of mrs. Fitzherbert. 7 august 1786 etching with hand-colouring. Date: 1786. Dimensions: Height: 248 mm; Width: 349 mm. Medium: paper. Depicted People: William Shakespeare. Collection: British Museum. A Shakesperean Scene, as performed by the Brighton Company on a late occasion, to which was added the agreeable entertainment of the Mistake (BM 1868,0808.5559)