The Relapse or Virtue in Danger is a play that was written in 1696 by John Vanbrugh.

This work
is a comedy about a supposedly reformed libertarian and his ever-patient wife. Some speculate
that the play was written as a response to the new puritanical ethos in England when William of
Orange replaced the dethroned King James II in 1688.

The play concerns a man name Loveless and his wife Amanda, who have been living peacefully
in the country. When they return to London, Loveless falls in love with Amanda's friend
Berinthia and tries to seduce her. Meanwhile, Berinthia's former beau Worthy takes it upon
himself woo Amanda by telling her what Worthy has been up to. Unfortunately for Berinthia,
Amanda remains steadfastly loyal to Loveless, despite his infidelities.
We also meet a young man named Lord Foppington who has just "bought" a noble position for
himself. Foppington—who is very handsome, but not terribly bright—is searching for rich lady
to become his wife. Meanwhile, Foppington's younger brother, a man named Tom Fashion, is
also without means and is also seeking a wealthy woman to marry. Fashion decides to
masquerade as his older brother, and—in this guise—secretly marries Hoyden, the daughter of a
man named Sir Tunbelly Clumsy. When the real Foppington appears and tries to seduce Hoyden,
Sir Tunbelly and his men believe Foppington to be an imposter and abuse him terribly.
Eventually the ruse is discovered, but, alas, it is too late, as Hoyden and Tom Fashion have
already married.

Summary

In the country Loveless and Amanda led a quiet life after a stormy period of marriage troubles.
Because Loveless had to go to London rather frequently and because she had reason to doubt his
fidelity, Amanda was apprehensive. But Loveless assured her he was temptation-proof; going to
London provided a test of his reform.
Young Fashion and his servant Lory called on Sir Novelty Fashion, the new Lord Foppington,
young Fashion’s elder brother. Lord Foppington had recently bought a title. Since he was the
eldest son, he had plenty of money, although he spent too much as it was. Young Fashion, on the
contrary, was destitute. He was minded to join the army as a last resort, but at Lory’s suggestion
he resolved to humble himself to ask the new lord to pay his debts. But Lord Foppington was
busy with the tailor and the shoemaker and hardly spared his brother a word. Although Lord
Foppington was on the point of going out, he did invite his brother to stay and have a home
dinner by himself.
Angered by his brother’s attitude, young Fashion determined on revenge. Coupler, a matchmaker
who providentially came in, had a plan. Coupler had arranged a marriage between Lord
Foppington and Miss Hoyden, wealthy daughter of Sir Tunbelly Clumsey. Lord Foppington was
to pay the matchmaker two thousand pounds, but he was afraid the new lord would evade the
money agreement. It was decided that young Fashion was to go to Sir Tunbelly’s house and,
pretending to be his brother, marry Miss Hoyden. Coupler, in turn, was to receive a fee of five
thousand pounds. Young Fashion agreed to the plan, after a hard time fighting off Coupler’s
amorous advances.
Loveless and Amanda were installed in their London lodgings and Loveless had already been to
the theater. In a confidential mood he told his wife of seeing a beautiful woman in the audience, a
woman so handsome he had been unable to keep his eyes off her. Amanda was alarmed, but he
told her he admired the woman only in an aesthetic way. Berinthia, Amanda’s widowed friend,
came to call. To Loveless’ surprise, she was the woman he had admired in the theater. Because he
pretended to be indifferent to Berinthia’s charms, Amanda invited her to stay with them while
they were in London.
Lord Foppington also came to call and was quite smitten with Amanda’s beauty. Resolving to
make a conquest at once, he drew her aside and declared his love. Amanda slapped his face.
Loveless, seeing the fracas, wounded Lord Foppington with his sword. Although the wound was
not serious, the surgeon pretended that it was, in order to increase his fee. As Lord Foppington
was being carried out, Worthy entered and was also attracted by Amanda’s charms. After the men
had all left, Berinthia had a long talk with Amanda about men and love.
Young Fashion determined to make one more attempt before taking revenge on his brother. Once
again he told Lord Foppington of his debts and asked for money to settle them. Lord Foppington
refused haughtily, and in the ensuing quarrel young Fashion tried to fight a duel with his brother.
Lord Foppington contemptuously refused to fight and left. Resolved to do his worst, young
Fashion set out for Coupler’s house.
Loveless made love to Berinthia and finally seized her. He left, however, when they were
interrupted by Worthy’s arrival. Worthy was in love with Amanda. Because Berinthia had once
been his mistress, he asked her help in his suit. Berinthia’s plan was to let Amanda become
jealous of her erring husband; in her anger she would be an easier prey. When Amanda returned,
Berinthia told her that Loveless was pursuing a strange woman.
Armed with a letter from Coupler, young Fashion called at Sir Tunbelly’s house. When he
knocked, Sir Tunbelly quickly locked Miss Hoyden in her room with her old nurse and sent
armed peasants to the gate. Young Fashion was cordially received, however, when he explained
that he was Lord Foppington. Miss Hoyden, ripely nubile, was all atwitter.
Although the nurse was supposed to be a chaperone, she was an indulgent one, and she allowed
young Fashion to talk privately with Miss Hoyden. Sir Tunbelly wanted to defer the wedding for
a while to allow time to invite the guests, but young Fashion did not dare wait so long. For a
small bribe, since Miss Hoyden was more than willing, the nurse made arrangements for Bull,
the chaplain, to marry them secretly in the morning. And, since they were to be married so soon,
she saw no harm in their staying together that night. The following morning the complaisant Bull
performed the ceremony.
When Berinthia and Amanda again discussed the subject of love, Berinthia skillfully played on
Amanda’s doubts of Loveless’ fidelity. According to plan, Worthy then arrived to say that
Loveless would be out until very late, and that while waiting for Loveless he would play cards
with the ladies. Artful Berinthia withdrew to her chamber and left Worthy and Amanda alone. In
her bedroom, meanwhile, Berinthia received the erring Loveless. Putting out the candles, he
seized Berinthia and dragged her into the closet. She shouted for help, but she was careful to
scream very softly.
Lord Foppington arrived at Sir Tunbelly’s house to claim his bride. Taken for an impostor, he
was set upon and bound, and young Fashion declared he had never seen the man before. A
neighbor identified Foppington, however, and young Fashion fled precipitately. Miss Hoyden
decided to keep still about her marriage to young Fashion and to marry again, this time the real
Lord Foppington.
Back in London, Coupler showed young Fashion a letter. Lord Foppington had married Miss
Hoyden but would wait until they returned to Lord Foppington’s own bed to consummate the
marriage. Young Fashion had to wait until the couple came to town to regain his Miss Hoyden.
Fortunately, the parson of Fat-goose Living had just died and young Fashion had the disposition
of the post. By promising the living to Bull, young Fashion persuaded him that he should tell the
truth about the secret marriage.
Meanwhile Berinthia, trying to arouse Amanda’s jealousy to the point where she would accept
Worthy as a lover, arranged to have Amanda present at a masquerade. Loveless was there in the
company of Berinthia, who was masked. Convinced that her husband had a mistress, Amanda
received Worthy in her home, but in spite of his best efforts she retained her virtue.
Lord Foppington invited the whole company to come and honor his new bride. Young Fashion
appeared also and declared that Miss Hoyden was married to him. Sir Tunbelly was
thunderstruck and Lord Foppington was contemptuous of his younger brother’s story. True to
their agreement, the nurse and Bull backed him up. When it was learned that young Fashion was
Lord Foppington’s brother, Sir Tunbelly withdrew his opposition and accepted his son-in-law.
Lord Foppington met the new turn of events as gracefully as he could. Miss Hoyden, having
learned that her first husband was Lord Foppington’s brother, had no complaint to make, just so
long as she was married to someone.