WORK S OF Mr. George Farquhar. VOL. II. CONTAINING, I. The INCONSTANT: Or, The Way II. The TWIN-RIVALS. III. The RECRUITING-OFFICER. IV. The BEAUX-STRATAGEM. The EIGHTH EDITION. LONDON: Printed for J. and P. KNAPTON, G. STRAHAN, · то Richard Tighe, Esq; SIR, Edications are the only Fashions in the World that are more diflik'd for being univerfal; and the Reafon is, that they very feldom fit the Perfons they were made for: But I hope to avoid the common Obliquy in this Addrefs, by laying afide the Poet in every thing but the Dramatick Decorum of fuiting my Character to the Perfon. From the Part of Mirabel in this Play, and another Character in one of my former, People are willing to complement my Performance in drawing a gay, splendid, generous, eafy, fine young Gentleman. My Genius, I muft confefs, has a bent to that kind of Description; and my Veneration for you, Sir, may pass for unquestionable, fince in all thefe happy Accomplishments you come so near to my darling Character, abating his Inconftancy. What an unspeakable Bleffing is Youth and Fortune, when a happy Understanding comes in, to moderate the Defires of the firft, and to refine upon the Advantages of the latter; when a Gentleman is Mafter of all Pleasures, but a Slave to none; who has travell'd, not for the Curiofity of the Sight, but for the Improvement of the Mind's Eye; and who returns full of every thing but himself? — An Author might say a great deal more, but a Friend, Sir, nay, an Enemy must allow this. you Ifball here, Sir, meet with two Obftacles, your Modefy, and your Senfe; the firft, as a Cenfor upon the Subject, the Jecond, as a Critick upon the Style: But I am obftinate in my Purpose, and will maintain what I fay to the laft drop of my Pen; which I may the more boldly under A 3 take, |