in the costume of Mezzetin, detail from ''L'amour au Théâtre Italien'', engraved by
Charles-Nicolas Cochin after a painting by Antoine Watteau In one French play, Mezzetin attempts to flirt with the
innamorata Isabelle. He tells her how in 6 years of marriage he and his first wife never had one fight, until she tried to stop him from sneezing, for which act he murdered her. When Isabelle tries to send him away by pointing out that she is herself already married, he points out that so is he, and that "five sous' worth of rat poison will do the trick" to solve that.
Marjorie Bowen, writing as George R Preedy, cast Mezzetin as a character in
Homage to the Unknown (Omaggio a la Incognita). This play is included in her work
Bagatelle and some other Diversions. In the play Mezzetin remarks, "...We give to the old memories, to the young hopes, to all another illusion either in the past or the future, and if our benefits are not very substantial we never destroy anything, not even the tenderest, sweetest falsehood. Perhaps you want to know who we are? We do not know ourselves. We have a thousand shapes, a thousand names." ==See also==