1 DE M. Will all great Neptune's ocean wash this blood The Chorus, in the Coœphore of Æfchylus, breathes fentiments not unlike this of Macbeth: Were all the ftreams, that wind Their mazy progrefs to the main, To cleanse this odious ftain, in one combin'd, Potter's Æfchylus. I DE M. To know my deed 'twere beft not know myself. • Whilst I am confcious of having committed this murder, I cannot but be miferable; I have no remedy but in the total forgetfulness of the deed, or, to speak more plainly, in the lofs of pa my fenfes.' The merit of this scene tranfcends all negyric. Amongst the many discourses, which, from the earliest time to the present hour, have been compofed on the subject of murder, it will be difficult to find fo powerful a diffuafive or dehortation from that dreadful crime as the tragedy of Macbeth exhibits. In drawing the principal character of the play, the author has deviated fomewhat from hiftory; but, by abating the fierceness of Macbeth's disposition, he has rendered him a fitter fubject for the drama. The rational' and fevere delight, which the fpectator feels from the representation of this piece, proceeds, in a great measure, from the fenfibility of the murderer, from his remorfe and agonies, and from the torments he fuffers in the midst of his successful villany. The representation of this terrible part of the play, by Garrick and Mrs. Pritchard, can no more be described than I believe it can be equalled. I will not feparate these performers, for the merits of both were transcendent. His diftraction of mind and agonizing horrors were finely contrasted by her feeming apathy, tranquillity, and confidence. The beginning of the fcene after the the murder was conducted in terri fying whispers. Their looks and action supplied the place of words. You heard what they spoke, but you learned more from the agitation of mind displayed in their action and deportment. The poet heregives only an outline to the confummate actor.I have done the deed! noife? When? Didst thou not hear a -Did you not speak? The dark colouring, given by the actor to these abrupt speeches, makes the scene awful and tremendous to the auditors! The wonderful expreffion of heartful horror, which Garrick felt when he fhewed his bloody hands, can only be conceived and described by those who saw him! The expreffion of forry fight!' is certainly not happy now. Words, which were highly expreffive and energetic above one hundred and fifty years fince, have, by length of time, loft their importance. Davenant, fifty years after, altered forry to difmal; but perhaps a better word than that might still be substi tuted, K 3 PORTER. - PORTE R. Who's there? Here's an English tailor, come hither for ftealing out of a French hose. The archness of the joke, fays Dr. Warburton, confifts in the French hose being very short and strait, for that tailor must be master of his trade who could steal any thing thence. Mr. Steevens declares freely, that Dr. Warburton made this objection at random, and quotes an old pamphlet of Stubbs to prove, the Gallick hofen are made very large and wide, reaching down to their knees.' Dr. Farmer, in favour of Dr. Warburton, obferves, that Mr. Steevens had forgotten the uncertainty of French fashions, and quotes from an old book a paffage to prove that French hose anfwered in length to their shortfkirted doublets. As a farther proof that our neighbours, the French, in the reign of Louis IV. were fond of fhort doublets, I fhall prefent the reader with a ftage-anecdote from honeft Downs, the theatrical historian, who relates, < relates, That, when King Charles II. and all his court, met his fifter, the Duchess of Orleans, at Dover, the comedy of Sir Solomon Single, acted before both courts, pleased her grace and all the spectators extremely. The French wore, at the fame time, fhort laced coats, fome scarlet, fome blue, adorned with broad waist-belts. Nokes had on, in the part of Sir Arthur Addle, one shorter than the reft; the Duke of Monmouth gave him his fword and belt from his fide, and buckled it on himself, on purpose to mimic the French. Nokes looked more like a dreffed-up ape than a man; fo that, on his first entrance upon the stage, he put the king and the whole court into an excesfive fit of laughter; at which, the French were very chagrined to see themselves aped by fuch a fool as Sir Arthur. Mr. Nokes kept the duke's sword to his dying day.' |