George Farquhar

Verse

'Courage, the highest gift, that scorns to bend'

First published, as part of the dedicatory epistle to Peregrine Osborne, Marquess of Carmarthen and later second Duke of Leeds, in Love and a Bottle (London, 1699). Stonehill, I, 7. Kenny, I, 25.

FrG 1

Copy.

In: A quarto miscellany of verse and prose, chiefly in one cursive hand, written from both ends, 271 leaves (including numerous blanks), in contemporary vellum boards. c.1700.
An Epigram, on the Riding-House in Dublin, made into a Chappel
('A Chappel of the Riding-House is made')

First published in Love & Business (London, 1702). Stonehill, II, 283.

FrG 2

Copy.

In: A quarto composite volume of four MSS, in English and Latin, iii + 187 leaves, in vellum boards.

Part B (ff. 16d-86v): A quarto miscellany of poems and letters, in several hands, compiled by William Elyott (a nephew of Sir Simonds D'Ewes). c.1640-55.

Part C (ff. 86 bis-120r): A quarto verse miscellany compiled by Thomas Axton, M.A. (b.1699/1700), of Trinity College, Cambridge. c.1718-22.

Part C sold at the Thomas Rawlinson sale in March 1733/4, lot 289.

FrG 3
In: A folio composite volume of verse and some prose, in various hands, v + 179 leaves, in early 18th-century half-calf.

With a few additions in Rawlinson's hand.

On the Death of General Schomberg kill'd at the Boyn. A Pinadrick
('What dismal Damp has overspread the War?')

First published in Love & Business (London, 1702). Stonehill, II, 279-82.

FrG 4

Copy, under a general heading Poems By Mr Farquhar.

In: A folio composite volume of verse and some prose, in various hands, v + 179 leaves, in early 18th-century half-calf.

With a few additions in Rawlinson's hand.

To the Ingenious Lady, Author of the Fatal Friendship, design'd for a Recommendatory Copy to her Play
('Let others call the sacred Nine to Aid')

First published in Love & Business (London, 1702). Stonehill, II, 282-3.

FrG 5
In: A folio composite volume of verse and some prose, in various hands, v + 179 leaves, in early 18th-century half-calf.

With a few additions in Rawlinson's hand.

Written on Orinda's Poem's, lent to a Lady, in imitation of Ovid
('Me Damon sends his amorous Cause to plead')

First published in Love & Business (London, 1702). Stonehill, II, 282.

FrG 6
In: A folio composite volume of verse and some prose, in various hands, v + 179 leaves, in early 18th-century half-calf.

With a few additions in Rawlinson's hand.

Dramatic Works

The Beaux Stratagem, Act III, scene iii. Song
('A Trifling Song you shall hear')

First published in London, 1707. Stonehill, II, 113-92 (pp. 154-5). Kenny, II, 159-243 (pp. 197-8).

FrG 7

Copy of Archer's song, headed The Triffle, on a single folio leaf, the verso containing recipes and the note Mr. Cheney at the backside of St Thos. Apostles Key Court near Choue Land. Early 18th century.

In: A guardbook of miscellaneous separate papers, chiefly folio, 218 leaves. Early 18th century.

Chiefly collected by W.H. Black. Subsequently bought from Miss N.T. Harrison, 1947.

FrG 7.5

Copy of the song, untitled, on the first two pages of a pair of conjugate quarto leaves (the second leaf blank).

In: An unbound folder of verse MSS, in various hands and paper sizes, 138 leaves.

Volume CCXXXVI of the Trumbull Papers, of the Trumbull family, including chiefly William Trumbull (1576/80?-1635), diplomat and government official. Later belonging to the Marquess of Downshire, of Easthampstead Park. Formerly Berkshire Record Office Trumbull Add 17 and 18.

Sotheby's sale catalogue, The Trumbull Papers (14 December 1989), part of lot 39.

FrG 8

Copy, headed Nonsensical Folkes, &c - a Song.

In: A verse miscellany, in English and Latin, 83 leaves.

Compiled by William Parry, vicar of Shipton-on-Stow, Warwickshire.

c.1741.

Once owned by one Anne Bromage. P.J. & A.E. Dobell, sale catalogue No. 73 (1928), item 487.

FrG 9

Copy, headed The Trifle.

In: An octavo miscellany of poems, many on affairs of state and with Jacobite sympathies, in a single hand, with an index, iv + 182 pages, in vellum boards. c.1742.

Owned in 1742 by John Conyers, of Copt Hall, Essex. Pickering & Chatto, sale catalogue No. 353 (1953), item 490.

FrG 10

Copy, headed The Trifle By Mr Farquhuar.

In: A folio miscellany of chiefly verse, in a single hand, entitled The Famous Miscellany, 248 leaves, in 19th-century half-calf.

Compiled by Ashley Cowper, Clerk of the Parliaments (signed, f. 1v, Ashley Cowper 1747).

c.1747.
FrG 11

Copy, headed The Trifle A Song by Mr: Farquar 1703 To the Tune of old Simon the King.

In: A large folio composite miscellany of poems generally on affairs of state, in one or more professional hands, 289 leaves, in half crushed morocco on marbled boards. c.1730.
FrG 11.5

Copy of the song, headed A Song on a Trifle, subscribed Andover 17. Aug. 1730.

In: An octavo verse miscellany, predominantly in a single hand, written from both ends, the contents collected over a period but not entered in chronological order, 171 leaves, in contemporary panelled calf.

Inscribed (f. 1r) Benj: Coles At Great Forster's. near Egham. In Surrey. owns this book MDCCXXXII and the miscellany evidently compiled by Coles. A similar inscription on f. 31r rev. dated 3d. Jany 1740/1.

c.1729-41.

Inscribed (f. iiv) purchased by R Brown, for a valuable consideration of Benjamin Coles Anno 1754. August 8th. Later owned by James Langlands and, in 1965, by Mrs V.J. Dawson, of Southan, Gloucestershire.

The Constant Couple, Act IV, scene ii. Song
('Thus Damon knock'd at Celia's Door')

First published in London, 1699. Kenny, I, 149-233 (p. 203).

FrG 12

Copy of the song, headed in ye Iubilly and here beginning Poor Damon knockt at Celeias door.

In: A folio formal verse miscellany, comprising c.406 poems, many of them song lyrics, in various neat hands, compiled probably over a period, 8 blank leaves (pp. [i-xvi]) + 10 unnumbered pages of poems (pp. [xvii-xxvi]) + 9 numbered pages (pp. 1-9) + ff. [9v]-151v + 12 leaves at the end blank but for a poem on the penultimate page (f. [11v]), in contemporary calf gilt.

Once erroneously associated with Thomas Killigrew (1612-83), whose hand does not appear in the volume.

Mid-17th century-c.1702.

Inscribed (f. [ir]) Sr Robert Killigrew / 1702. Later in the library of Sir Thomas Phillipps, Bt (1792-1872), book and manuscript collector: Phillipps MS 9070. Sotheby's, 19 May 1897, lot 455.

Discussed, with a facsimile example, in Nancy Cutbirth, Thomas Killigrew's Commonplace Book?, Library Chronicle of the University of Texas at Austin, NS No. 13 (1980), 31-8.