 may subject the most
grave and solemn incidents to ridicule, than a fair and candid illustration of
the fact: as for the perversion of the author's sense, by an impropriety in the
declamation, it so commonly occurs, even in the most celebrated actors, that one
would think it was an obstacle not to be surmounted: the delightful lullaby of
the stage is an established recitative, which seems to have been composed on the
supposition that the sentence is always concluded at the end of the line; and
when the last word happens to begin a new period, the sense of the whole must
suffer accordingly. I have heard the Æsopus of the age, who values himself upon
accurate speaking, commit innumerable blunders of this kind, one of which I, at
present, recollect, in a passage of a late play, which he repeated in this
manner:
 
To beg protection for the men who lie, --
Trembling behind their ramparts.
 
Thus he brought the poor Romans under the imputation of falshood as well as
fear; for, according to his pause, they told lies, as well as trembled behind
their ramparts.«
    »These are no other than petty oversights: (said the second censor) that
gentleman (take him all in all) is certainly the most compleat and unblemished
performer that ever appeared on our stage, notwithstanding the blind adoration
which is paid to his rival. I went two nights ago, with an express design to
criticize his action: I could find no room for censure, but infinite subject for
admiration and applause. In Pierre he is great, in Othello excellent, but in
Zanga beyond all imitation. Over and above the distinctness of pronunciation,
the dignity of attitude and expression of face, his gestures are so just and
significant, that a man, tho' utterly bereft of the sense of hearing, might, by
seeing him only, understand the meaning of every word he speaks! Sure nothing
can be more exquisite than his manner of telling Isabella how Alonzo behaved
when he found the incendiary letter which she had dropt by the Moor's direction;
and when, to crown his vengeance, he discovers himself to be the contriver of
all the mischief that had happened, he manifests a perfect master piece of
action, in pronouncing these four little monosyllables, Know then, 'twas -- I.«
    Peregrine having eyed the critick some minutes, »I fancy (said he) your
praise must be ironical, because, in the very two situations you mention, I
think I have seen that player out-herod Herod, or, in other words
