Carlo Goldoni, Rare Original Libretto I MORBINOSI, Comedy of 5 Acts in Verse, 1759

THE MORBINOUS

Comedy in 5 Acts in Verse.

First performed in Venice during the Carnival of 1759.


Charles Goldoni


5 engravings by the engraver G.Zuliani


AT ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY

GOOD GUYS

AND GOOD FRIENDS


To you, Most Honored Gentlemen and Cordial Friends, I dedicate this Comedy of mine, since you yourselves have given me the idea, and from your amiable Company I have drawn its principal subject. Remember that happy day, when having gathered together the number of one hundred and nineteen Companions, you did me the honor of completing the one hundred and twenty; and having gathered at the Giudecca, all at one table, to the sound of trumpets and drums, we gave a solemn meal. It is not so ordinary a thing to gather together in one day so vast a number of guests. It would be easy to have them, if someone with generosity invited them, but it seems a little difficult to find one hundred and twenty who will pay their share. It takes a man at the head, known, loved and esteemed; experienced in such games; skilled in direction, and armed with courteous patience. We have found him, you know, and we were perfectly content. With what harmony, with what tranquility such a beautiful, such a joyful day was spent! Let it be said to the glory of our nation, one hundred and twenty persons, two thirds at least of the most brilliant youth, to observe so exactly the most rigorous moderation is a thing worthy of praise, and the very amusement becomes a merit, and a good example. It is true that there were no Women. If there had been such beautiful uplifters of our spirit, I do not know if the harmony, if the concord would have been maintained among us. I would not have doubted their prudence, but ours.


In order to form this Comedy I had to introduce Women. Observe, however, that I did not introduce them to the table. Bacchus is too friendly with Venus. I too have lived in this World; I am not yet among the dead, and I know what effect the table can produce between people of the different sexes. I do not speak of intemperance, not of those who, altered by wine, lose their reason, and act like mere animals. I understand a certain tender confidence, a certain freedom that the table inspires, the comfortable proximity to the object, the refinements that are changed and permitted, the attentions at the right time, the allegorical jokes inspired by gaiety, the effect of food, the sweetness of liquors, humanity in trial. There is where the ugly seem less ugly, and the beautiful more beautiful; where the witty shine; where the foolish surrender more easily; where the heart is committed, and the occasion is pondered. Woe if jealousy is mixed in! Woe if the lover begins to suspect the friend! Woe if the Wife eyes the Husband! Woe if the feet, which have no eyes, are deceived! What horror, what confusion among a hundred and twenty people! Thank Heaven, we have been like so many little angels, and I remember that you wanted to place me at the head of the table, so that I could be within reach of seeing everything, and collecting everything that seemed appropriate for a Comedy. But you have conducted yourselves with such moderation and bearing, that I have had reason to edify myself, and if I wanted to satisfy the excitement that you have given me to write a Comedy, I have had to invent Episodes, completely foreign to the truth of our conversation. Be that as it may, the Comedy is done; however, in the title it belongs to you, and to you I dedicate and consecrate it.



Your Most Humble Servant and Friend


Charles Goldoni


["All the Works", by Carlo Goldoni; edited by Giuseppe Ortolani.]