The Mirror of Taste, and Dramatic Censor, Vol. I, No. 2, February 1810 — John Shaqi
The Mirror of Taste, and Dramatic Censor, Vol. I, No. 2, February 1810Arnold, Samuel James
History
The Mirror of Taste, and Dramatic Censor, Vol. I, No. 2, February 1810
Arnold, Samuel James
Drama -- Periodicals; Theater -- Periodicals
That part, however, in which he disclosed not only exquisite feeling but
a soundness of judgment that would do honour to an experienced actor,
was where Glenalvon taunts him, for the purpose of rousing his spirit to
resentment. In that speech particularly which begins,
Sir, I have been accustomed all my days
To hear and speak the plain and simple truth.
The suppression of his indignation in this and the succeeding
passages--the climax of passion marked in his face, his tone and his
action, when he says to himself
If this were told!----
the gradation thence to
Hast thou no fears for thy presumptuous self?
till at last he flames into ungovernable rage in
Did I not fear to freeze thy shallow valour,
And make thee sink too soon beneath my sword,
I'd tell thee--what thou art--I know thee well.
was altogether a string of beauties such as it rarely falls to the lot
of the critic to commemorate. Had age and personal hardihood been added,
it would have defied the cavils of the most churlish criticism, and
deprived even enmity of all pretence to censure.
The next striking beauty he disclosed was in his reply to Randolph, when
the latter offers his arbitration between him and Glenalvon.
Nay, my good lord, though I revere you much,
My cause I plead not, nor demand your judgment.
The cold peremptory dignity he threw into these words was beautifully
conceived, and executed in a masterly manner: nor was he less successful
in the transition to an expression of poignant but smothered sensibility
in the next line:
I blush to speak: I will not, cannot speak
Th' opprobrious words that I from him have borne.
His delivery of this and all the other lines of the speech that followed
it, deserved the thunders of applause with which it was greeted--it was,
indeed, admirable.
In impassioned feeling lies Master Payne's strength. Hence his last
scene was deeply affecting. Though we could well have spared that
KEMBLEIAN dying trope, his rising up and falling again. It is because we
seriously respect Master Payne's talents that we make this remark:
clap-traps and stage trick of every kind cannot be too studiously
avoided by persons of real parts.
It would be injustice to omit one passage--
Just as my arm had mastered Randolph's sword
The villain came behind me----BUT I SLEW HIM.
In the break, the pause, and the last four words he was inimitably fine.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account