Her eyes were black as jet, and, while they beamed with ineffable
luster, at the same time revealed all the sentiments of fair
possessor. Her eyebrows were full and arched, and had a peculiar
property of inspiring love or striking terror. Her cheeks were
vermilioned with nature's best rouge, and outvied all the labored
works of art.
Her nose was somewhat of the aquiline, and gave her a look full of
majesty and dignity. Her lips were of the color of coral and the
softness of down and her mouth displayed such beauties as would
thaw the very bosom of an anchorite. Her teeth were white and
even. Her hair was of a bright auburn color. Her whole form was
beauteous to excess.
In the heyday of her glory, Peg went "to drink a dish of tea" with a
party of friends one afternoon. Among the guests was a slender little
commercial man, a wine merchant, in fact; shrewd, stingy, and smug.
How such a character as his could have awakened the very faintest
response in impulsive, big-hearted Peg's is one of the innumerable
mysteries of hearts.
But at first glance she loved the little man; loved him as never
before she had loved, and as she would never love again. She had met
the love of her life.
She asked to have him introduced. The little vintner, tickled that the
great Mistress Woffington should have deigned to notice an unknown
nonentity, was duly brought up and presented.
Peg, her head swimming, did not at once catch his name and bade him
repeat it. Obediently, the dapper youth replied:
"David Garrick, madam."
In the hour that ensued, Peg led Garrick to talk about himself--a
never-difficult task. He told her that he hated his trade and that he
was not making money thereby. Peg, appraising the man's appearance as
well as a woman newly in love could hope to, saw that, though short,
he was graceful and strikingly handsome. Also, that he had a marvelous
voice.
Abruptly, she broke in on his soliloquy by suggesting that he go on
the stage. Garrick stared. She spoke of the glories of a star's life.
Garrick yawned. She mentioned that successful actors drew large
salaries. Garrick sat up and began to listen. When she went on to
speak of the fabulous receipts that awaited a star, Garrick feverishly
consented to her plan.
Peg set to work, using to the straining point all her boundless
theatrical influence. She got Garrick a chance. She coached him in the
rudiments of acting. She found that the little wine seller had a
Heaven-sent gift for the stage. So did the managers. So, in short
order, did the public.
Garrick's success was as instantaneous as had been Peg's own. Peg
rejoiced unspeakably in his triumph. So did he. The lofty motives that
actuated Garrick's stage work may be guessed at from this entry in his
diary October 20, 1741:
Last night played Richard the Third to the surprise of all. I
shall make nearly three hundred pounds a year as an actor, and
that is what I really dote on.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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