| Citation |
BG.726.007
11-18 Jul 1726:11,12 (346)
Paris, April 1. The Play-House is so throng'd of late since
the representation of the new play call'd Oedipus, that the
best places are taken up betimes, insomuch, that somedays
ago the Duke de Villars coming there too late, could not get
into any of the boxes, but was obliged to sit in the pit:
But his Dutchess and the Dutchess of Berwick, coming later,
fared worse still; for they could be admitted no where but
in the upper gallery, which is here call'd paradiso, where a
gentleman not knowing who they were, spoke with them more
familiar than he would have done, had he known their rank;
and at last invited them to a collation, to which they
promised to go: But for them, the forward gentleman was not
a little surpriz'd to see the Duke de Villars, who received
one of the ladies as his wife, and gave the other her proper
title. The gentleman began immediately to be pardon of the
Duke for his temerity, and endeavoured to excuse the action
by a jest, saying, that seeing himself in Paradise, he laid
aside all ceremonies, thinking there was no distinction of
persons there. The Duke was so pleased with that pun, that
he made the gentleman sup at his table that night, and has
since presented him with a lieutenant's commission.
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