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LADY TEAZLE. Lud1! Sir Peter I hope you haven't been quarrelling with Maria? It isn't
using me well to be ill humoured when I am not by - !
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SIR PETER. Ah! Lady Teazle you might have the Power to make me good humoured at all
times -
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LADY TEAZLE. I am sure I wish I had; for I want you to be in a charming sweet temper at
this moment. Do be good humoured now, and let me have two hundred pounds will you?
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SIR PETER. Two hundred pounds! What an't2 I to be in a good humour without paying for it!
But speak to me thus, and i’faith3 there's nothing I could refuse you. You shall have it […].
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LADY TEAZLE. I assure you, Sir Peter, good nature becomes you. You look now as you did
before we were married, when you used to walk with me under the elms4, and tell me stories
of what a gallant you were in your youth, and chuck me under the chin5 you would; and ask
me if I thought I could love an old fellow, who would deny me nothing—didn't you?
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SIR PETER. Yes, yes, and you were as kind and attentive -
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LADY TEAZLE. Ay6, so I was, and would always take your part, when my acquaintance
used to abuse you7, and turn you into ridicule.
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SIR PETER. Indeed!
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LADY TEAZLE. Ay, and when my cousin Sophy has called you a stiff, peevish8 old
bachelor9 and laughed at me for thinking of marrying one who might be my father, I have
always defended you, and said I didn't think you so ugly by any means, and that you'd make a
very good sort of a husband.
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SIR PETER. And you prophesied right; and we shall certainly now be the happiest couple—
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LADY TEAZLE. And never differ again?
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SIR PETER. No never - though at the same time, indeed, my dear Lady Teazle, you must
watch your temper very seriously; for in all our little quarrels, my dear, if you recollect, my
love, you always began first.
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LADY TEAZLE. I beg your Pardon, my dear Sir Peter; indeed, you always gave the
provocation.
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SIR PETER. Now, see, my angel! Take care - contradicting isn't the way to keep friends.
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LADY TEAZLE. Then, don't you begin it, my love!
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SIR PETER. There, now! You – You are going on. You don't perceive my life, that you are
just doing the very thing which you know always makes me angry.
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LADY TEAZLE. Nay10, you know if you will be angry without any reason, my dear -
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SIR PETER. There! Now you want to quarrel again.
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LADY TEAZLE. No, I am sure I don't; but, if you will be so peevish -
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SIR PETER. There now! Who begins first?
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LADY TEAZLE. Why you, to be sure. I said nothing - but there's no bearing your temper.
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SIR PETER. No, no, madam: the fault's in your own temper.
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LADY TEAZLE. Ay, you are just what my cousin Sophy said you would be.
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SIR PETER. Your cousin Sophy is a forward, impertinent gipsy11.
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LADY TEAZLE. You are a great bear, I am sure, to abuse my relations12.
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SIR PETER. Now may all the plagues of marriage be doubled on me, if ever I try to be
friends with you any more!
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LADY TEAZLE. So much the better.
Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The School for Scandal, 1777.
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Comprehension:
1) What is this text?
2) What social class do you think Sir Peter and Lady Teazle belong to? Justify.
3) Here is a list of characteristics. Which ones apply to Sir Peter and Lady Teazle?
You may not use all the words in the list and you can use some twice. Justify.
Old/Young/Rich/Poor/Generous/Loving/Calculating/Quarrelsome
4) What do you think were Sir Peter and Lady Teazle’s reasons for marrying each
other?
5) Line 6. What device (procédé) has been used by the playwright to reveal that
Lady Teazle is interested in Sir Peter’s money?
6) Lady Teazle says: “I want you to be in a charming sweet temper at this moment.”
What does “at this moment” reveals?
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7) Lines 9-12. What message does Lady Teazle want to convey through this
supposedly sentimental evocation of the past?
8) Lines 14-15. What does Lady Teazle remind her husband of? What do you think is
her motive?
9) At what precise moment do Sir Peter and Lady Teazle resume (= reprendre) their
quarrelling? Quote the phrase which triggers off (= déclencher) a new tiff (=
querelle).
10)What is both paradoxical and amusing in the way they address each other as they
are beginning to quarrel again?
11)What other devices are used by the playwright to make the audience laugh?
12)Lines 11-12. The modal “would” occurs twice. Does it express the same notion?