The Southern Literary Messenger, Vol. I., No. 1, August, 1834Various
General
The Southern Literary Messenger, Vol. I., No. 1, August, 1834
Various
American literature -- 19th century -- Periodicals
in their native land all the magic of eloquence, in order to restore
liberty to their enslaved country. Though the efforts of Galiano,
Argüelles and Martinez de la Rosa were not crowned with success, they
will ever be the pride of Spain. These gifted patriots, struggling
against adversity and preserving their noble independence, deserve the
admiration of mankind.[2]
In concluding, I may say that the power of combining just and useful
ideas, and expressing them extemporaneously in an appropriate
language--the knowledge of man and of every thing which concerns him--a
strong and well modulated voice, and dignified gestures, constitute
what is called a _good improvvisatore_. Few succeed in all the
multifarious qualifications of an extempore speaker--few are led by
this unabated enthusiastic spirit resolved to meet and triumph over
difficulties. This disposition of mind, however, must exist--for in
mental contention as in war,
"A vaincre sans péril on triomphe sans gloire."
And every one that has witnessed the wonders of this art, will grant
that if there be a talent by which the powers of man are exhibited in
all their sublimity, it is undoubtedly that of the accomplished
_improvvisatore_.
J. H.
[Footnote 1: It was in 1825 that Sgricci invited the literati of Paris
to meet in a spacious hall, where he was to extemporize a tragedy.
Every spectator was allowed to vote for the subject of the play, and
the majority decided in favor of _the Death of Charles I_. A few
moments afterwards, Sgricci explained the _dramatis personæ_, and began
to deliver extempore a tragedy of about _fifteen hundred verses!_ That
production was printed, and many passages are full of poetical talent.
Francisco Gianni extemporized, during one year, every morning and
evening, two pieces of poetry under the title of _Saluto del Matino_,
and _Saluto de la Sera_. In order that the lovers of Italian poetry may
judge Gianni's skill in extemporising, I will quote as a specimen, one
of his productions.
SALUTO DE LA SERA.
Poca favilla gran fiamma seconda.
_Dant. Parad._ cant. 1.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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