The Way of the World

The Way of the World by William Congreve

The Way of the World is a play premiering in 1700 widely regarded as being one of the best Restoration comedies written and is still performed sporadically to this day. — Excerpted from The Way of the World on Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Facsimile of the original title page of The Way of the World

THE

WAY OF THE WORLD,
A
COMEDY.

As it is ACTED
AT THE
Theater in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields,
BY

His Majeſty's Servants.

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Written by: MR. CONGREVE

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Audire est operae pretium, prcedere recte
Qui maechis non vultis—	—HOR. Sat. i. 2, 37.
—Metuat doti deprenſa.—	—Ibid.

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LONDON:
Printed for Jacob Tonſon, within Gray's-Inn-Gate next
Gray's-Inn-Lane. 1700.

Contents

• Preface directed to Ralph, Earl of Montague
• Prologue, spoken by Thomas Betterton
• Dramatis Personæ

The Way of the World

• ACT I.
• ACT II.
• ACT III.
• ACT IV.
• ACT V.

• Epilogue, spoken by Anne Bracegirdle

This work published before January 1, 1923 is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.