The story of the play, however, does not concern us so much as the author's artistic purposes and the methods by which he sought to achieve them.

In the addresses to the reader prefixed to his scores Vecchi states some of his artistic beliefs.

He says: "The gross jests, which are found in the comedies of our time, and which are their meat rather than the spice, are the reasons why he who says 'Comedy' seems to speak of a buffoon's pastime.

They wrong themselves who give to such gracious poesy a sense so unworthy.

True comedy, properly regarded, has for its object the representation in divers personages of almost all the actions of familiar life.