this very part of Pierre, who has form'd the true rule by which to proportion the due ftrength of voice to every part of that noble character, fo as not to let us perceive a want of force any where, and yet to keep a referve to fupport himself in the most violent fcenes, with a power and energy, that the rest of the great performers of the time muft allow us to fay, no body ever did, or perhaps ever will, come up to. |

How exquifite is the management of this player, in giving a ftrength that fcarce any body befides himself ever gave to any thing, to that scene where he braves the rest of the confpirators, and in the midst of all their threatnings against Jaffeir asks them,

Who talks of killing ?Who's he'll shed the blood

That's dear to me? is't you? or you? or you, fir? What not one speak? how you ftand gaping all! On your grave oracle, your wooden god there.

And continues,

One fuch word more, by heavens I'll to the fenate,
And hang you all like dogs in clusters.
Why peep your coward fwords half out their shells?
Why do you not all brandifh them like mine?
You fear to die, yet you dare talk of killing.

We remember Walker's ftraining till he was quite hoarfe at this scene, and incapacitating himself for any thing of confequence that was to follow, and we have feen fomething not unlike it in fome later players of very great merit; but how are we furpriz'd to find in Mr. Quin, that all the

fire he throws into this part of his character, is but of a fubordinate kind, when we fee him under greater provocations, and before a greater affembly, rifing upon us to a much nobler height; and telling the trembling fenate of Venice, with a majefty, that it is eafy to admire, impoffible to imitate,

You my lords and fathers

(As you are pleas'd to call your felves) of Venice, If you fit here to guide the course of justice, Why thefe difgraceful chains upon the limbs That have fo often labour'd in your fervice? Are these the wreaths of triumph you bestow On thofe, who bring you conqueft home and honours?

Are these the trophies I've deferv'd for fighting
Your battles with confederated powers?
When winds and feas confpir'd to overthrow you,
And brought the fleets of Spain to your own
harbours:

When your great Duke shrunk trembling in your palace,

And faw your wife, the Adriatick plow'd

Like a leud whore, by bolder prows than yours.
Step'd not I forth, and taught your loofe Venetians
The task of honour, and the way to greatness;
Rais'd you from your capitulating fears
To ftipulate the terms of fu'd for peace?
And this my recompence! If I'm a traitor,
Produce my charge-

Shew me the wretch that's bafe enough,
And brave enough, to tell me I'm a traitor.

After admiring the fuperior force and dignity with which this inimitable player has rais'd the vehemence of this part of his character fo highly

beyond

beyond every thing we had before admir'd; how are we at length, on the appearance of Jaffeir, and his fuing to him for a reconciliation, aftonifh'd to find that even this alfo was but a force of a fubordinate kind, and to fee that he has yet reserved an infinitely greater store of it, for that keenest of all refentments which is due to a violated friendship. Even the vehemence of that execration with which he leaves the fenate,

Curs'd be your fenate! curs'd your conftitution, The curfe of growing factions and divifions Still vex your councils, fhake your publick fafety, And make the robes of government you wear Hateful to you, as these base chains to me.

Is nothing when compar'd to that with which he tells the friend who had betray'd him,

Haft thou not wrong'd me? dar'ft thou call thyself That once lov'd valu'd friend of mine,

And fwear thou haft not wrong'd me? Whence thefe chains,

Whence this vile death that I may meet this moment,

Whence this dishonour, but from thee, thou bafe one!

And wou'dft thou have me live on terms like thine,

Bafe as thou'rt falfe?

Leave me-Nay then thus, thus I throw thee

from me;

And curfes great as is thy falfehood catch thee.

Whoever has heard thefe and the rest of the keen and disdainful reproaches which Pierre juftly throws on his friend, utter'd from the mouth of Mr. Quin, will agree with us, that the whole compafs of the English ftage affords nothing greater; and yet thefe in this judicious performer, are but the fequel of a whole part, and that a long one, kept up throughout with due dignity and fpirit.

Whether it wou'd be to the Advantage of all Players to be of a diftinguished Figure?

TH

Thefe

HERE are a great many people that frequent the playhouses, who are lefs apt to be affected with those objects which are form'd to entertain the understanding, than with those deftin'd to act principally on the fenfes. gentlemen are oftener drawn to the theatres by the names of the actreffes, than by thofe of the characters which they are there to perform; and as they are capable of judging of no perfections but those of figure and perfon, they are always difpofed to take an amiable face for a very great talent in a performer; and wou'd have even a Mistress Amlet or a Lady Bountiful, have a regular fet of features, a fnowy neck, or an elegant perfon.

Tell these people that there is a new actress to appear upon the stage fuch a night, the firft queftion they afk is, Is fhe handsome?' And 'tis ten to one, but they forget to enquire at all whether the has any merit in the profeffion.

The

The women pretend indeed that the figure of a performer of the other fex, is the article they leaft of all regard in him as an actor; but the player who has not fome perfonal charms about him, will always find it extremely difficult to get their good opinion. The criticisms that one hears among this part of an audience, always run - more upon the imperfections or blemishes in the face or figure of the actor, than on those of his performance; and almoft on every occafion of this kind, we fhall find that the elegant or difagreeable mien of the player is what has moft taken up their attention.

Whoever therefore wou'd propose to himself to acquire fame on the ftage, in the eye of the polite world, and to become the favourite of a numerous party, must remember that a graceful figure and an engaging afpect are almoft abfolutely neceffry to it. We have had very few inftances in England, in which an actor has been able to make his way to applaufe in the higher characters without perfonal charms; and in France it is an allow'd truth, that no man ever did or ever will be a favourite in this capacity without them,

'Tis only the herd of an audience however that fall into this fort of abfurdity in their opinions; the better judges defpife fuch prejudices. They agree, that there are indeed fome charac ters, in which we find, by the conduct of the fcene, that the actor is out of nature if he have not something amiable about him. They do not deny that even in most other parts a good perfon in the actor, is far from being indifferent; but they affert with great truth and juftice, that our nicety in requiring a good face and well propor