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THE INCONSTANT:

A COMEDY,

En Five Acts.

BY GEORGE FARQUHAR.

PRINTED FROM THE ACTING COPY, WITH REMARKS,
BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL, BY D--G.

To which are added,

A DESCRIPTION OF THE COSTUME, CAST OF THE CHARACTERS, ENTRANCES AND EXITS,-RELATIVE POSITIONS OF THE PERFORMERS ON THE STAGE, AND THE WHOLE OF THE STAGE BUSINESS.

As now performed at the

THEATRES ROYAL, LONDON.

EMBELLISHED WITH A FINE WOOD ENGRAVING,

By Mr. White, from a Drawing taken in the Theatre, by
Mr. R. Cruikshank.

LONDON:

JOHN CUMBERLAND, 19, LUDGATE HILL.

REMARKS.

The Inconstant.

THE plays of Farquhar are of a light, bustling, and humorous cast. They have less wit than those of Vanburgh, Congreve, and Wycherley; but they have less indelicacy, and are better adapted for representation, with the exception, perhaps, of "Love for Love." Farquhar had no deep insight into character-his design was to produce a lively sketch of every-day manners. His dialogue, however, is nei ther pert nor low, as Pope describes it, but easy and gay; and his plots are well conducted, and full of interest. The three first acts of The Recruiting-Officer are so charmingly written, that we should unhesitatingly pronounce it not only his best comedy, but one of the best comedies of its time, were not the two last so unequally written. As it is, we may give the preference to The Inconstant ; for the interest is maintained very ingeniously to the close.

The plot of this comedy, and some of the scenes, are borrowed from Beaumont and Fletcher's Wild-Goose Chase. The incident in the fifth act, upon which the denouement turns-viz., that of Oriana, disguised as a page, rescuing her lover in the courtesan's house, is said to be founded on a real circumstance, that happened to the au thor himself, when on military duty abroad. It is introduced with great propriety, and managed with skill, and gives a serious and moral tone to the conclusion. The scene is laid in Paris, and has a sufficient reference to French manners. Young Mirabel is a lover of singular whim; his passion must be taken by surprise; he must be cheated into bliss; he will not seize happiness when it courts his acceptance; it is only when it is gone by, and seemingly unattainable, that it has any charms for him; then, indeed, he regrets his indifference, and, like the spendthrift of time, exclaims

"But now it is past, and I sigh

And I grieve that I prized it no more."

Old Mirabel is an ancient reveller, somewhat too free in his conversation and manners, yet withal a reasonable man; for he can make allowance for his son's follies, which seem to be part of the young gentleman's patrimonial inheritance. Like Dr. Johnson, who would never suffer anybody to abuse Garrick--but kimself, Old Mi

sword; at length, ungrateful peace, has laid me down where welcome war first took me up-in poverty, and the dread of cruel creditors. Paternal affection brought me to my native land, in quest of an only child: I found her, as I thought, amiable as parental fondness could desire; but foul seduction has snatched her from me, and hither am I come, fraught with a father's anger, and a soldier's honour, to seek the seducer, and glut revenge.

Lady M. Pray, sir, who is your daughter? Mel. I blush to own her-but-Constantia. Eger. (L.) Is Constantia your daughter, sir? Mel. She is; and was the only comfort that nature, fortune, or my own extravagance, had left me.

Sir P. Guid traith, then, I fancy you will find but vary little comfort fra her; for she is nae better than she should be. She has had nae damage in this mansion. I am told she is with bairn; but you may gang till Hadley, till one farmer Hodge's, and there you may learn the whole story, and wha the father of the bairn is, fra a cheeld they call Melville.

Mel. Melville!

Sir P. Yes, sir, Melville.

Mel. O, would to heaven she had no crime to answer but her commerce with Melville! No, sir, he is not the man; it is your son, your Egerton, that has seduced her; and here, sir, are the evidence of his seduction. Eger. Of my seduction!

Mel. Of yours, sir, if your name be Egerton.

Eger. I am that man, sir; but pray what is your evidence?

Mel. These bills, and these gorgeous jewels, not to be had in her menial state, but at the price of chastity! Not an hour since she sent them, imprudently sent them, by a servant of this house: contagious infamy started from their touch.

Eger. Sir, do you but clear her conduct with Melville, and I will instantly satisfy your fears concerning the jewels and her virtue.

Mel. Sir, you give me new life; you are my better angel, I believe in your words-your looks. Know, then, I am that Melville.

Sir P. How, sir, you that Melville that was at farmer Hodge's?

Mel. The same, sir; it was he brought my Constan

:

tia to my arms; lodged and secreted me-once my lowly tenant, now my only friend. The fear of inexorable creditors made me change my name from Harrington to Melville, till I could see and consult some who once called themselves my friends.

Eger. (L.) Sir, suspend your fears and anger but for a few minutes; I will keep my word with you religiously, and bring your Constantia to your arms, as virtuous and as happy as you could wish her.

[Exit with LADY MAC. L. Sir P. (L.) The clearing up of this wench's virtue is damned unlucky; I am afraid it will ruin a' our affairs again; however, I have one stroke still in my head that will secure the bargain with my lord, let matters gang as they will.-[Aside.]-But I wonder, maister Melville, that you did nae pick up some little matter of siller in the Indies. Ah! there have been bonny fortunes snapt up there, of late years, by some of the military blades.

Mel. It is very true, sir; but it is an observation among soldiers, that there are some men who never meet with any thing in the service, but blows and ill-fortune. I was one of those, even to a proverb. Sir P. Ah! 'tis pity, sir, a great pity, now, that you did nae get a Mogul, or some sic an animal, intill your clutches. Ah! I should like to have the strangling of a nabob, the rummaging of his gold dust, his jewelcloset, and a' his magazines of bars and ingots. Ha, ha, ha! guid traith, naw, sic an a fellow would be a bonny cheeld to bring till this town, and to exhibit him riding on an elephant; upon honour, a man might raise a poll tax by him, that would gang near to pay the debts of the nation. [Retires back.

Enter EGERTON, CONSTANTIA, LADY MACSYCO-
PHANT, and SIDNEY, L.

Eger. Sir, I promised to satisfy your fears concerning your daughter's virtue; and my best proof is, that I have made her the partner of my heart, and the tender guardian of my earthly happiness for life.

Sir P. [Rushes forward.] How! married!

Eger. I know, sir, at present, we shall meet your anger; but time, reflection, and our dutiful conduct, we hope, will reconcile you to our happiness.

Sir P. Never, never; and, could I make you, her,

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