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What Person Monsieur De la Rappiniere was.
MOnsieur De la Rappiniere was, at that time the Jester, Drole or Buffoon of the City o•• Manse. It is not one alone that can serve turn in Paris; for they have one at least in every Ward. I my self, that now Write, might hav•• had the dignity for the quarter I dwell in; Bu•• I have long since renounced all the Vanities o••
this world, as those that know me well can ju∣stifie. To return to Monsieur De la Rappiniere, he soon renewed the conversation, which the scuffle had interrupted, and asked our young Player if their company were composed but of Mad. Cave Monsieur, Rancour, and himself? Our company, replied he, is as full and compleat, as the Prince of Orange's, or the Duke of Esper∣nons: But by a disgrace which hapned to us at Tours, where one of our hair-brain'd door-keep∣ers kill'd one of our Governours Guard, we were forced to pack away in all hast, with one shoe off another on, in the equipage you see us. Those Soldiers have done as much at La Flesche, said La Rappiniere, St. Anthony's fire consume them, said the good woman, they are the cause we can have no Play Acted. That should be no hinderance replied the old Commedian, had we but the keys of our Chests to come at our Cloaths; for we could undertake to please the Gentlemen of this Town four or five days, be∣fore we go to Alenzon, where the rest of our com∣pany is to Rendezvous. This answer made e∣very one prick up his ears, La Rappiniere prof∣fer'd an old gown of his Wives to Cave, and the Tennis Court woman two or three sutes of Cloaths she had in pawn to Destiny, and Ran∣cour. But said one that was present, there are but three of you; Puh! says Rancour, I have Acted a Play my self alone, and have persona∣ted at the same time the King, the Queen, and the Ambassadour; I spake very shrill and small when I acted the Queen, when I Acted the Am∣bassadour,
I spake thorow the Nose, turning my self towards a Chair where I had placed my Crown; and when I came to the Kings part, I ascended my Throne, put on my Crown, and assumed a kind of Gravity, with a bigger and more manly voice: and least you should doubt this, if you will but satisfie our Carter, and de∣tray our charge, in our Inn; furnish us but with your cloaths, you shall see us act before night yet; or else we will go drink, by your leave, or fell our selves a little, because we have traveled a great journey this day already. The propo∣sition pleased the company, but that Devil De la Rappiniere who was ever studying to do mis∣chief, said, they needed no other habits; but two suits belonging to a couple of young Citi∣zens that were playing a se•• at Tennis, since Madam Caves dress would serve for any person in a Play. No sooner said, but as soon done; in less then half a quarter of an hour, the Players had drunk every one a dish or two, were Tra∣vesty'd and the company which was ere this en∣creased, having taken their places in an upper room, from behind a foul sheet, which was drawn aside, appears the Player Destiny, lying on a bed-mat, with a wicker basket for a Crown upon his head, rubbing his drowsie eyes, like one that is newly waked, and repeating Herod; part in a sad tone, which begins thus;
Injurious Ghost that troublest my Repose.
The Plaister which cover'd the one half of his
face, did not hinder him from approving him∣self a most excellent Actor; Madam Cave did wonderfully well in Mariana's, and Salomes parts; and Rancour gave every one very great satisfa∣ction in what he undertook, so that the Play went exceeding well, when the Devil who never sleeps, plaid his part too, and made the Tra∣gedy end, not with the death of Mariana and Herods dispair; but with a thousand sound blows, as many buffets, kicks beyond number, and infinite Oaths, and at last a good account of all taken upon examination by La Rappiniere, the most expert of mankind in such affairs.