Rule a Wife and Have a Wife

Rule a Wife and Have a Wife is a late Jacobean stage play, a comedy written by John Fletcher. It was first performed in 1624 and first published in 1640.

The play was licensed for performance by Sir Henry Herbert, the Master of the Revels, on Oct. 19, 1624. It was performed by the King's Men, who performed it at Court twice in that season. The 1640 quarto was printed at Oxford by Leonard Lichfield, the printer to the University of Oxford. It was later reprinted in the second Beaumont and Fletcher folio of 1679. It was revived in the Restoration era in an adaptation, like many of Fletcher's plays; the revised version was printed in 1697 and repeatedly thereafter, and proved to be among the dramatist's most popular works.

External evidence, including Herbert's entry in his records and the 1640 quarto, assigns the play to Fletcher alone. The play's internal evicence of style and textual preferences confirms Fletcher's solo authorship: "Fletcher's sole responsibility for it has never been questioned."

Scene I: Perez and Juan are discussing the state of the regiment looking for recruitment. There is mention of Don Leon as a soldier of little experience and good, happy disposition. There is also mention of Donna Margaretta, of how good a match she would make for any man, especially for Perez. Two women walk in. Both are veiled and one, Clara, takes Juan aside and asks him to send a letter to a fellow soldier at the front. Her companion, Estefania, stays to entertain Perez. Piquing his curiosity, he begs her to take off her veil. She does not comply. She leaves but tells Perez to let his servant follow her in order that Perez can visit her.

Scene II: Sancho and Alonzo, two soldiers, discuss about returning to the front. Alonzo is not very motivated to return, as he prefers the company of women. There is mention of Donna Margarita, of a house that she bought in Seville.

Scene III: The servant arrives at Estifania's house and marvels at the luxury of it.

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