Our hero, like a good Englishman, made no scruple
of giving the preference to the performers of his own country, who,
he alleged, obeyed the genuine impulses of nature, in exhibiting the
passions of the human mind; and entered so warmly into the spirit
of their several parts, that they often fancied themselves the
very heroes they represented; whereas, the action of the Parisian
players, even in their most interesting characters, was generally
such an extravagance in voice and gesture, as is nowhere to be
observed but on the stage. To illustrate this assertion, he availed
himself of his talent, and mimicked the manner and voice of all
the principal performers, male and female, belonging to the French
comedy, to the admiration of the chevalier, who, having complimented
him upon this surprising modulation, begged leave to dissent in
some particulars from the opinion he had avowed.
"That you have good actors in England," said he, "it would be unjust
and absurd in me to deny; your theatre is adorned by one woman,
whose sensibility and sweetness of voice is such as I have never
observed on any other stage; she has besides, an elegance of person
and expression of features, that wonderfully adapt her for the most
engaging characters of your best plays; and I must freely own that
I have been as highly delighted and as deeply affected by a Monimia
and Belvidera at London, as ever I was by Cornelia and Cleopatra
at Paris.
Pages:
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533
534
535
536
537
538
539
540
541
542