Grove nods at grove; each alley has a brother, This is too much the case in the play before us. The dialogue runs generally into long speeches, all in fine versification, but more florid than natural. The loves of Tancred and Sigismunda are exquisitely tender, but too poetical in the expression, Their speeches are often thirty or forty lines, alternately imposing on each other the task of listening in a mute attitude, much longer than consists with the ardour of mutual passion. And yet such was the charm of graceful elocution, that the audience, as Milton expresses it, had ears to rapture. Garrick was, as Sigismunda de scribes him, All warmth, all amiable fire, All quick heroic ardour! temper'd soft With gentleness of heart, and manly reason. Mrs. Mrs. Cibber was harmony itself. With two such performers, no wonder that the play met with great success; and was some years afterwards revived with the highest applause. THIS play was soon followed by the trageGarrick's benefit was an dy of Othello, nouced in the month of March: for that night he was prepared to act the Moor of Venice. He was aware that his stature was inferior to that of his predecessors, and, to assist his figure, he chose to appear in a Venetian dress, Quin went to see his performance; and Dr. Hoadley, who accompanied him, used to tell, that as soon as Garrick entered, Quin said, in his morose manner, "Why does not he bring "the tea-kettle and lamp?" Dr. Hoadley added, that Quin saw, though he was not candid enough to acknowledge it, a performer, who who had the passions at his command, and was in the sudden violence of their transitions without a rival. As Garrick did not, at a more advanced period retain the part, this writer is not able to offer any criticisms on the subject. He thinks proper, however, to observe, that Othello could not be a well-chosen part for a man, who performed wonders with that expressive face. The black complexion disguised his features, and the expression of the mind was wholly lost. CHAP. CHAP. X. GARRICK in September 1745 goes to Dublin-Acts there during the Season, in Conjunction with SHERIDAN-The Rebellion in Scotland-Lord CHESTERFIELD, Lord Lieutenant of IrelandGARRICK and SHERIDAN meet with great Applause-BARRY, the famous Actor, made his First Appearance in OTHELLOGARRICK was one of his Warm Admirers, and, on his Return to England, made a Fair Report of him-GARRICK acts Six Nights in the Summer at Covent-Garden Theatre. September 1745, to June 1746. GARRICK passed this entire season in Dublin. He was invited by Mr. Sheridan, the father of the present eminent genius of that name. The 1 The proposal was to be joint manager for the season. A rebellion had broke out in Scotland, and Lord Chesterfield, that illustrious and most accomplished wit, was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. That was in Gar rick's opinion an alluring circumstance, and, accordingly, he withdrew from the London stage. Drury-Lane was under the management of Mr. Lacy, who found himself greatly distressed during the whole winter. Sheridan and Garrick went on in the most amicable manner. They appeared alternately in their principal characters, and acted together in such tragedies, as afforded to each an adequate part. Very few anecdotes worth recording have reached this writer. He remembers to have heard Garrick repeat a song, which he wrote to be sung before Sir John Brute and his tavern friends. The first stanza, ma nifestly |