Synopses & Reviews
CONTENTS OF VOL. 11. PAGE THETWIN-RIVALS . . . . . . . I . THE RECRUITING OFFICER . . . 115 fTHEBEAUX-STRATAGEM. . . . 237 THE TWIN-RIVALS. 1 Qrnebg. Sic vos non vobk-VIRGIL VOL. 11. This comedy was produced at Drury Lane on Decembm 14, I N is the mst accurate of all Farquhars roduchons. The plot improbable, is well constructed and sustained, the dial0-e lively and entertaining, whilst tlre characters of the Younger Wuuldbe, Mrs. MandraRe, and Teafue are so naturally drawn as to applar real personages, dewdent little upon the art of the actor or the imagination of the author for th creation. We have also here ss of that pert mu dialogue of which Pope complained. The play was, however, not a success, and was swn withdrawn. The original cast was -Blab Wouldbe, WILKS Younget-Wouldbe, CIBBER Richmore, HUSBAND Trueman, MILLS Subtleman, PINKETHMA N B alderdash and Al mman, JOHN O N C araccount, FAIRBANK Teague, B o w e Comtance, Mrs ROGERS Aurelia, Mrs. HOOK Mrs. Ckaraccount, Mrs. MOOR Mrs. Mandrake, Mr. BULLOCK. THE Commons of England have a right of petitioning and since by your place in the senate you are obliged to hear and redress thc subject. I presume upon the privilege of the people to give you the following trouble. As prologues introduce plays on the stage, so dedications usher them into the great theatre of the world and as we choose some stanch actor to address the audience, so we pitch upon some gentle man of undisputed ingenuity to recommend us to the reader. Books, like metals, require to be stamped with some valuable cfigies before they become popular and current. To escape the critics, I resoIved to take sanctuary with one of the best one who differs from the fraternity inthis, that his good nature is ever predominant, can discover an authofs smallest fault, and pardon the greatest. Your generous approbation, Sir, has done this play service, but has injured the author for it has made him insu Ferably vain, and he thinks himself authorised to stand up for the merit of his per formance, when so great a master of wit has declared in its favour. The muses are the most coquettish of their sex, fond of being admired, and always putting on their best airs to the finest gentleman but alas. Sir l their addresses are stale, and their fine things but repetition for there is nothing new in wit, but what is found in your own conversation. Could write by the help of study, as you talk without it, 1 would venture to say something in the usual strain of dedication but as you have too much nit to suffer it, and I too little to undertake it, I hope the world will excuse my deficiency, and you will pardon the presumption of. Sir, your most obliged, and most humble servant, G. FARQUHAR. De tslrb 23, 1 702. Colonel Erett, who marriedthe divorced Countess of Macclesfield. He -as a great theatre-layer, and was for some time a sharer in the Urury Lane Patent. See Gibbers ApoIogy, THE success and countenance that debauchery has met with in plays, was the most severe and reasanable charge against their authors in Mr...
Synopsis
Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.