Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

iii

the performance of the evening made such a sensible impression on his mind, as to determine his inclination in favour of the Drama. And perhaps our own darling Shakespeare would have been known to us only as a sonnetteer, if the genius of Britain had not placed him within the sphere of a theatre, and exposed the unfolded germ of his mighty mind to the vivifying influence of scenic splendour. It is to be presumed, that the same cause, which animated these great masters, imparted a ray of inspiration to the humble professors of the sock. Opportunity may be called the stepmother of genius; and the theatre, by affording a ready and advantageous display to the productions of dramatic talent, has encouraged the race of dramatic authors; as the royal academical exhibition has certainly multiplied the number, and probably increased the energies, of British artists.-—With regard to farces in particular, as it is their object to exhibit the drollery of character and laughable scenes of common life, they may be compared to the humorous pictures of a Teniers, or a Smirke: and it must be confessed, that the British theatre is the first school in the world for this species of painting. It is to the excellence of modern performers, to the lavish decorations of the theatre, and to the improved art of stage effect, that Farce acknowledges the highest obligations. Tragedy and Comedy may find in the theatric band a powerful auxiliary; but Farce must be allowed to owe almost its existence to it.

It remains only for the Editor to repeat what he has said in the former volumes, as to the plan of this work. The collections of this kind have hitherto been without any arrangement; but as Tragedy, Comedy, and Farce, possess each a distinction of character, he flattered himself, that a separate and systematic arrangement would be acceptable to the lovers of the Drama. Such a plan exhibits, at one view, the full force of a nation's genius in each respective line; and, while each of these volumes may be had separately, according to the taste of the individual, the whole work may be considered as the full and undivided essence of the BRITISH DRAMA.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

THE

BRITISH DRAMA.

MEN.

THE

CHEATS OF SCAPIN.

BY

OTWAY.

DRAMATIS PERSONA.

SCAPIN.

THRIFTY, an old miser, and father to OCTAVIAN. SHIFT, servant to OCTAVIAN.

GRIPE, father to LEANDER.

LEANDER, son to GRIPE, and privately married to LUCIA.

OCTAVIAN, SON to THRIFTY, and privately married to CLARA.

SLY, servant to LEANDER.

WOMEN.

LUCIA, in love with LEANDER. CLARA, in love with OCTAVIAN.

[blocks in formation]
« ZurückWeiter »