The Beaux-Stratagem

"The Beaux-Stratagem" by George Farquhar is a comedy first produced in 1707. Two fashionable gentlemen, Aimwell and Archer, have fallen on hard times and devise a scheme to travel through small towns seeking wealthy heiresses to marry. Arriving in Lichfield, they take turns playing master and servant to deceive the locals. Aimwell pursues the beautiful Dorinda while Archer befriends her unhappily married sister-in-law, Kate Sullen. Their plans grow complicated as genuine feelings emerge and a band of thieves threatens the household.

Summary written by Project Gutenberg, by machine.