George Farquhar

Vivutur ingenio, that damn'd motto there
Seduced me first to me a wicked player.

Vivutur ingenio, that damn'd motto there
Seduced me first to me a wicked player.

Money is the sinews of love, as of war.

Money is the sinews of love, as of war.

I see you have a singing face--a heavy, dull, sonata face.

I see you have a singing face--a heavy, dull, sonata face.

Over the hills, and over the main,
To Flanders, Portugal, or Spain;
The Queen commands, and we'll read more

Over the hills, and over the main,
To Flanders, Portugal, or Spain;
The Queen commands, and we'll obey,
Over the hills and far away.

Like hungry guests, a sitting audience looks;
Plays are like suppers; poets are the cooks.
The founder's read more

Like hungry guests, a sitting audience looks;
Plays are like suppers; poets are the cooks.
The founder's you: the table is the place:
The carvers we: the prologue is the grace.
Each act, a course, each scene, a different dish,
Though we're in Lent, I doubt you're still for flesh.
Satire's the sauce, high-season'd, sharp and rough.
Kind masks and beaux, I hope you're pepperproof?
Wit is the wine; but 'tis so scarce the true
Poets, like vintners, balderdash and brew.
Your surly scenes, where rant and bloodshed join.
Are butcher's meat, a battle's sirloin:
Your scenes of love, so flowing, soft and chaste,
Are water-gruel without salt or taste.