Изображения страниц
PDF
EPUB

Those tears upon Cordelia's bosom shed, In doubt more touching than despair?

If 'twas reality he felt

Had Shakspeare's self amidst you been, Friends, he had seen you melt,

And triumph'd to have seen!

And there was many an hour
Of blended kindred fame,
When Siddons's auxiliar power
And Sister Magic came.

Together at the Muse's side

Her Tragic Paragons had grownThey were the children of her pride, The columns of her throne.

And undivided favour ran

From heart to heart in their applause

Save for the gallantry of Man,

In lovelier Woman's cause.

Fair as some classic dome

Robust and richly grac❜d,
Your Kemble's spirit was the home
Of Genius and of Taste-

Taste, like the silent dial's power,
That, when supernal light is giv'n,

Can measure inspiration's hour,
And tell its height in Heaven.

At once ennobled and correct,

His mind survey'd the Tragic page,
And what the Actor could effect,

The Scholar could presage.

These were his traits of worth

And must we lose them now ?

And shall the scene no more shew forth
His sternly pleasing brow?

Alas! the moral brings a tear-
'Tis all a transient hour below,
And we that would detain thee here,
Ourselves as fleetly go.

Yet shall our latest age

This parting scene review

Pride of the British Stage,

A long and last adieu !

After the recitation of the Ode, the four last lines, set to music by Mr. T. Cooke, were admirably sung.

COLMAN, AND ONE OF HIS COMEDIANS. AN actor of little consequence having been engaged at the Haymarket Theatre, during the reign of the elder Colman, had the part of one of the scholars in "The Padlock," sent him. “Sir (said he, addressing the manager,) I am astonished at getting this part, so much beneath me; besides, how can a man of my size and figure look like a scholar?" "Indeed, (replied Colman,) you seem better fed than taught."

DUFRESNE.

QUINAULT Dufresne, who was born in 1692, at an early age became an actor on the French Theatre, and was acknowledged to have been the most able, and judicious, as well as popular, since the death of Baron.

Dufresne possessed a fine figure, a charming voice, and an air at once graceful and noble. Le Kain, on the other hand, who succeeded to his parts and reputation, in consequence of the early patronage of Voltaire, although possessing more eminent professional qualifications, was, perhaps, less successful for many years, for nature had been more sparing of her bounties to him; and it was long before the inhabitants of Paris could prevail on themselves to declare in favour of a man, who did not happen to be gifted with external attractions. Whilst Quinault Dufresne appeared in high tragic and comic characters, his elder brother distinguished himself, although in a less degree, in the same line of acting; while, of two sisters, both on the stage at the same time, the elder played the characters of waiting women to admiration, the younger affected the reputation

of being a women of talents, and it was the business of her life to give dinners to all the wits of her day. It was observed by a French author, "it cost far more pains and trouble to gratify this species of ambition, than it did Cromwell to become Protector of England."

Dufresne quitted the stage in disgust, at rather an early period of life. Happening, one day, to commence his part in a low tone of voice, which was strictly suitable to the character he had assumed, the pit cried out several times "louder! louder !" on which the actor, who was extremely piqued at this unseasonable intervention, replied : "and you, gentlemen, not quite so loud." He was sent to prison, and obliged to apologize: but he immediately withdrew, after this painful ceremony. He died 25 years after, in 1767.

DEATH OF A PERFORMER ON THE STAGE.

On the evening of the 20th of June, 1817, during the performance of the tragedy of " Jane: Shore," in the Leeds Theatre, Mr. Cummins, who played the part of Dumont, had just repeated the benedictory words :

"Be witness for me, ye celestial hosts,

Such mercy, and such pardon, as my soul

Accords to thee, and begs of Heaven, to show thee,

May such befall me, at my latest hour"—

The

when he fell down on the stage, and instantly expired. The shock inflicted upon the feelings of the audience soon spread through the town, and so general a tribute to departed worth, as was every where manifested, was seldom witnessed. performance, of course, immediately closed. For some time Mr. Cummins, the circumstances of whose death so nearly resembled those of Mr. Palmer, had laboured under that alarming malady denominated an ossification of the heart; and to this circumstance, added to the strength of his feelings in the mimic scene, is to be attributed his death. Mr. Cummins held an elevated rank in the York company for nearly half a century.

MATHEWS.

THIS celebrated mimic once applied to the late Tate Wilkinson for an engagement, offering himself as a low comedian; Wilkinson, looking at his stature, replied, "low comedian?"-" Aye, sir," answered he, "low comedian." Every one who has seen Mathews, must have observed the singular habit of his mouth, when he speaks.

« ПредыдущаяПродолжить »