George Farquhar

Name: The Beaux-Stratagem: A comedy in five acts
Author: George Farquhar

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The theme of “George Farquhar” has been addressed by authors such as . It is often associated with terms like Farquharson, William, play, John and lady.

Quotes about “George Farquhar”

Edmund Gosse, Gossip in a Library

“ Captain George Farquhar, in 1702, was four-and-twenty years of age. He was a smart, soldier-like Irishman, of "a splenetic and amorous complexion," half an actor, a quarter a poet, and altogether a very honest and gallant gentleman. He had taken to the stage kindly enough, and at twenty-one had written Love and a Bottle. Since then, two other plays, The Constant Couple and Sir Harry Wildair, had proved that he had wit and fancy, and knew how to knit them together into a rattling comedy. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Andrew Lang, History of English Literature from "Beowulf" to Swinburne

“ George Farquhar with his gaiety, his gallantry, his happy military swagger, his heroes who are not lost to honour, his plots, so comprehensible, and sources of so many merry adventures, wins more sympathy and affection,—dying in the arms of Victory as he did, during the triumph of his last and best play,—than any of the other comic writers of the Restoration. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

George Farquhar, The Beaux' Stratagem

“ Look'ee, sir, I have nothing to say to your sea of truth, but, if a good parcel of land can entitle a man to a little truth, I have as much as any He in the country.
Bon. I never heard your worship, as the saying is, talk so much before.
Squire Sul. Because I never met with a man that I liked before.
Bon. Pray, sir, as the saying is, let me ask you one question: are not man and wife one flesh? [60]
Sir Chas. You and your wife, Mr. Guts, may be one flesh, because ye are nothing else; but rational creatures have minds that must be united. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

George Farquhar, The Beaux' Stratagem

“ Arch. Ha! ha! ha! now comes my turn to be ravished. —You see now, madam, you must use men one way or other; but take this by the way; good madam, that none but a fool will give you the benefit of his courage, unless you'll take his love along with it. —How are they armed, friend?
Scrub. With sword and pistol, sir.
Arch. Hush!—I see a dark lantern coming through the gallery—Madam, be assured I will protect you, or lose my life.
Mrs. Sul. Your life! no, sir, they can rob me of nothing that I value half so much; therefore now, sir, let me entreat you to be gone. ”

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Source: Wikisource

George Farquhar, The Inconstant

“ I overheard you:—Was not I two hours ago, the happy, gay, rejoicing Mirabel? How did I plume my hopes in a fair, coming prospect, of a long scene of years! Life courted me with all the charms of vigour, youth, and fortune; and to be torn away from all my promised joys, is more than death;—the manner too, by villains!—O my Oriana, this very moment might have blessed me in thy arms!—and my poor boy! the innocent boy! Confusion!—But hush, they come—I must dissemble still.—No news of my wine, gentlemen? ”

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Source: Gutenberg

George Farquhar, The Recruiting Officer

“ The captain has dishonourable designs upon my cousin Sylvia. Evils of this nature are more easily prevented than amended; and that you would immediately send my cousin into the country, is the advice of,
Sir, your humble servant,
Melinda.
Why, the devil's in the young fellows of this age; they are ten times worse than they were in my time: had he made my daughter a whore, and forswore it, like a gentleman, I could almost have pardoned it; but to tell tales beforehand is monstrous.—Hang it! I can fetch down a woodcock or a snipe, and why not a hat and cockade? ”

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Source: Gutenberg

George Farquhar, The Inconstant

“ Lookye, madam, as for my generosity, 'tis at your service, with all my heart: I'll keep you a coach and six horses, if you please, only permit me to keep my honour to myself. Consider, madam, you have no such thing among ye, and 'tis a main point of policy to keep no faith with reprobates—thou art a pretty little reprobate, and so get thee about thy business!
Oriana. Well, sir, even all this I will allow to the gaiety of your temper; your travels have improved your talent of talking, but they are not of force, I hope, to impair your morals. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

George Farquhar, The Constant Couple; Or, A Trip to the Jubilee…

“ Sir H. Why, then, madam, the wine has got into my head, and the Cupids into my heart; and unless, by quenching quick my flame, you kindly ease the smart, I'm a lost man, madam.
Ang. Drunkenness, Sir Harry, is the worst pretence a gentleman can make for rudeness; for the excuse is as scandalous as the fault. Therefore, pray consider who you are so free with, sir; a woman of condition, that can call half a dozen footmen upon occasion.
Sir H. Nay, madam, if you have a mind to toss me in a blanket, half a dozen chambermaids would do better service. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

George Farquhar, The Recruiting Officer

“ Plume. Lookye, young spark, say but one word more, and I'll build a horse for you as high as the cieling, and make you ride the most tiresome journey that ever you made in your life.
Syl. You have made a fine speech, good Captain Huff-cap! but you had better be quiet; I shall find a way to cool your courage.
Plume. Pray, gentlemen, don't mind him, he's distracted.
Syl. 'Tis false! I am descended of as good a family as any in your county; my father is as good a man as any upon your bench, and I am heir to twelve hundred pounds a-year. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

George Farquhar, The Constant Couple; Or, A Trip to the Jubilee…

“ Oh, my angry dear! turn thy eyes on me—behold thy beau in buskins.
Ang. Behold me, sir; view me with a sober thought, free from those fumes of wine that throw a mist before your sight, and you shall find that every glance from my reproaching eyes is armed with sharp resentment, and with a virtuous pride that looks dishonour dead.
Sir H. This is the first whore in heroics that I have met with. [Aside.] Lookye, madam, as to that slender particular of your virtue, we sha'n't quarrel about it; you may be as virtuous as any woman in England, if you please. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

George Farquhar, The Recruiting Officer

“ To Sylvia.
Syl. Captain Pinch: I cock my hat with a pinch, I take snuff with a pinch, pay my whores with a pinch; in short, I can do any thing at a pinch but fight.
Bal. And pray, sir, what brought you into Shropshire?
Syl. A pinch, sir: I know you country gentlemen want wit, and you know that we town gentlemen want money, and so——
Bal. I understand you, sir—Here, constable——
Enter Constable.
Take this gentleman into custody, till further orders.
Rose. Pray, your worship, don't be uncivil to him, for he did me no hurt; he's the most harmless man in the world, for all he talks so. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

George Farquhar, The Recruiting Officer

“ No, madam; the affairs of women are so irregular, that nothing less than the devil can give any account of them. Now to convince you of your incredulity, I'll show you a trial of my skill. Here, you Cacodemo del Plumo, exert your power, draw me this lady's name, the word Melinda, in proper letters and characters of her own hand-writing—do it at three motions—one—two—three—'tis done—Now, madam, will you please to send your maid to fetch it?
Lucy. I fetch it! the devil fetch me if I do.
Mel. My name, in my own hand-writing! that would be convincing indeed!
Kite. Seeing is believing. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

George Farquhar, The Beaux' Stratagem

“ Count Bel. Ah, begar, and so must I.
Squire Sul. Look'ee, madam, don't think that my anger proceeds from any concern I have for your honour, but for my own, and if you can contrive any way of being a whore without making me a cuckold, do it and welcome.
Mrs. Sul. Sir, I thank you kindly, you would allow me the sin but rob me of the pleasure. No, no, I'm resolved never to venture upon the crime without the satisfaction of seeing you punished for't.
Squire Sul. Then will you grant me this, my dear? Let anybody else do you the favour but that Frenchman, for I mortally hate his whole generation. ”

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Source: Wikisource

George Farquhar, The Recruiting Officer

“ So pressing to be gone, sir?—I find her fortune will give her the same airs with Melinda, and then Plume and I may laugh at one another.
Bal. Like enough; women are as subject to pride as men are; and why mayn't great women as well as great men forget their old acquaintance? But come, where's this young fellow? I love him so well, it would break the heart of me to think him a rascal.—I am glad my daughter's gone fairly off though.— [Aside.] Where does the captain quarter? ”

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Source: Gutenberg

George Farquhar, The Beaux' Stratagem

“ Chamberlain! maid! Cherry! daughter Cherry! all asleep? all dead?
Enter Cherry running.
Cher. Here, here! why d'ye bawl so, father? d'ye think we have no ears?
Bon. You deserve to have none, you young minx! The company of the Warrington coach has stood in the hall this hour, and nobody to show them to their chambers.
Cher. And let 'em wait farther; there's neither red-coat in the coach, nor footman behind it.
Bon. But they threaten to go to another inn to-night.
Cher. That they dare not, for fear the coachman should overturn them to-morrow.—Coming! coming!— Here's the London coach arrived. ”

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Source: Wikisource

George Farquhar, The Beaux' Stratagem

“ Sir, you shall deliver her—in short, sir, we have saved you and your family; and if you are not civil, we'll unbind the rogues, join with 'em, and set fire to your house. What does the man mean? not part with his wife!
Count Bel. Ay, garzoon, de man no understan common justice.
Mrs. Sul. Hold, gentlemen, all things here must move by consent, compulsion would spoil us; let my dear and I talk the matter over, and you shall judge it between us.
Squire Sul. Let me know first who are to be our judges. Pray, sir, who are you?
Sir Chas. I am Sir Charles Freeman, come to take away your wife. ”

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Source: Wikisource

George Farquhar, The Inconstant

“ Lookye, friend, you may persuade me out of my designs, but I'll command you out of yours; and, though you may convince my reason that you are in the right, yet there is an old attendant of sixty-three, called positiveness, which you, nor all the wits in Italy, shall ever be able to shake: so, sir, you're a wit, and I'm a father: you may talk, but I'll be obeyed.
Y. Mir. This it is to have the son a finer gentleman than the father; they first give us breeding, that they don't understand; then they turn us out of doors, because we are wiser than themselves. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

George Farquhar, The Recruiting Officer

“ Sir, I have served twenty campaigns — But, sir, you talk well, and I must own that you are a man, every inch of you; a pretty young sprightly fellow. — I love a fellow with a spirit; but I scorn to coax; 'tis base. — Tho' I must say that never in my life have I seen a man better built. How firm and strong he treads! He steps like a castle — but I scorn to wheedle any man. ”

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Source: Wikisource

George Farquhar, The Constant Couple; Or, A Trip to the Jubilee…

“ Sir H. I have no mind to meddle in state affairs; but these women will make me a parliament-man in spite of my teeth, on purpose to bring in a bill against their extortion. She tramples under foot that deity which all the world adores—Oh, the blooming pride of beautiful eighteen!—Pshaw!—I'll talk to her no longer; I'll make my market with the old gentlewoman; she knows business better—— [Goes to the Door.] —Here, you, friend: pray, desire the old lady to walk in——Harkye, 'egad, madam, I'll tell your mother.
Enter Lady Darling.
Lady D. Well, Sir Harry, and how d'ye like my daughter, pray? ”

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Source: Gutenberg

George Farquhar, The Beaux' Stratagem

“ Sir, I'm a bold Briton, and will spill the last drop of my blood to keep out popery and slavery.
Foi. Master Scrub, you would put me down in politics, and so I would be speaking with Mrs. Shipsy.
Scrub. Good Mr. Priest, you can't speak with her; she's sick, sir, she's gone abroad, sir, she's—-dead two months ago, sir.
Re-enter Gipsy.
Gip. How now, impudence! how dare you talk so saucily to the doctor?—Pray, sir, don't take it ill; for the common people of England are not so civil to strangers, as—
Scrub. You lie! you lie! 'tis the common people that are civilest to strangers. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Charles P. Daly, First Theater in America (1896)

“ It was written by George Farquhar, one of four dramatists—Wycherley, Congreve, Vanbrugh, and himself—who are generally referred to as the leading comic dramatists of the Restoration; and of [Pg 36] the four, this production of Farquhar was the one that continued the longest upon the stage. Leigh Hunt, a very competent critic, considered “The Recruiting Officer” one of the very best of Farquhar’s plays. Every character, he says, of any importance, is a genuine transcript from nature ”

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Source: Gutenberg

George Farquhar, The Beaux' Stratagem

“ I 'm glad on't.
Mrs. Sul. What is the reason, sir, that you use me thus inhumanly?
Squire Sul. Scrub!
Scrub. Sir!
Squire Sul. Get things ready to shave my head. [Exit.
Mrs. Sul. Have a care of coming near his temples, Scrub, for fear you meet something there that may turn the edge of your razor.— [Exit Scrub.] Inveterate stupidity I did you ever know so hard, so obstinate a spleen as his? O sister, sister! I shall never ha' good of the beast till I get him to town; London, dear London, is the place for managing and breaking a husband. ”

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Source: Wikisource

George Farquhar, The Inconstant

“ Oriana. Whither, sir?
Dur. To the Academy, child—'tis the fashion with men of quality, to teach their pages their exercises—go.
Oriana. Won't you go with him too, sir? That woman may do him some harm, I don't like her.
Dur. Why, how now, Mr. Page, do you start up, to give laws of a sudden? Do you pretend to rise at court, and disapprove the pleasure of your betters?—Lookye, sirrah, if ever you would rise by a great man, be sure to be with him in his little actions; and, as a step to your advancement, follow your master immediately, and make it your hope, that he goes to a bagnio. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

George Farquhar, The Beaux-Stratagem: A comedy in five acts

“ If I go a step beyond the bounds of honour, leave me; till then, I expect you should go along with me in every thing; while I trust my honour in your hands, you may trust your brother's in mine—The Count is to dine here to-day.
Dor. 'Tis a strange thing, sister, that I can't like that man.
Mrs. Sul. You like nothing; your time is not come; love and death have their fatalities, and strike home one time or other:—You'll pay for all one day, I warrant ye—But come, my lady's tea is ready, and 'tis almost church time. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

George Farquhar, The Beaux' Stratagem

“ What a rogue is my father! My father! I deny it. My mother was a good, generous, free-hearted woman, and I can't tell how far her good nature might have extended for the good of her children. This landlord of mine, for I think I can call him no more, would betray his guest, and debauch his daughter into the bargain—by a footman too!
Re-enter Archer.
Arch. What footman, pray, mistress, is so happy as to be the subject of your contemplation? [355]
[19] Cher. Whoever he is, friend, he'll be but little the better for't. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

George Farquhar, The Beaux' Stratagem

“ I come, sir, I come.
Scrub. But you forget the other guinea, brother Martin.
Arch. Here, I give it with all my heart.
Scrub. And I take it with all my soul.— [Exit Archer.] Ecod, I 'll spoil your plotting, Mrs. Gipsy! and if you should set the captain upon me, these two guineas will buy me off. [Exit.
Re-enter Mrs. Sullen and Dorinda, meeting.
Mrs. Sul. Well, sister!
Dor. And well, sister! [430]
Mrs. Sul. What's become of my lord?
Dor. What's become of his servant?
Mrs. Sul. Servant! he's a prettier fellow, and a finer gentleman by fifty degrees, than his master. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

George Farquhar, The Beaux' Stratagem

“ Now, Mr. Sullen, there wants only my sister's fortune to make us easy.
Squire Sul. Sir Charles, you love your sister, and I love her fortune; every one to his fancy.
Arch. Then you won't refund?
Squire Sul. Not a stiver.
Arch. Then I find, madam, you must e'en go to your prison again.
Count Bel. What is the portion?
Sir Chas. Ten thousand pounds, sir.
Count Bel. Garzoon, I 'll pay it, and she shall go home wid me.
Arch. Ha! ha! ha! French all over.— Do you know, sir, what ten thousand pounds English is?
Count Bel. No, begar, not justement.
Arch. Why, sir, 'tis a hundred thousand livres. ”

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Source: Wikisource

George Farquhar, The Recruiting Officer

“ You lie, sirrah, you lie; an please your worship, he's the best natured pains-taking'st man in the parish, witness my five poor children.
Scrup. A wife and five children? you constable, you rogue, how durst you impress a man that has a wife and five children?
Scale. Discharge him, discharge him.
Bal. Hold, gentlemen. Harkye, friend, how do you maintain your wife and five children?
Plume. They live upon wild-fowl and venison, sir; the husband keeps a gun, and kills all the hares and partridges within five miles round.
Bal. A gun! nay if he be so good at gunning, he shall have enough on't. ”

George Farquhar

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