The Spectator, Volume 2. eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 1,123 pages of information about The Spectator, Volume 2..

The Spectator, Volume 2. eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 1,123 pages of information about The Spectator, Volume 2..
World.  However, I kept my Seat tother Night, in hopes of finding my own Sentiments of this Matter favour’d by your Friends; when, to my great Surprize, I found the Knight entering with equal Pleasure into both Parts, and as much satisfied with Mrs. Oldfield’s Gaiety, as he had been before with Andromache’s Greatness.  Whether this were no other than an Effect of the Knights peculiar Humanity, pleas’d to find at last, that after all the tragical Doings every thing was safe and well, I don’t know.  But for my own part, I must confess, I was so dissatisfied, that I was sorry the Poet had saved Andromache, and could heartily have wished that he had left her stone-dead upon the Stage.  For you cannot imagine, Mr. SPECTATOR, the Mischief she was reserv’d to do me.  I found my Soul, during the Action, gradually work’d up to the highest Pitch; and felt the exalted Passion which all generous Minds conceive at the Sight of Virtue in Distress.  The Impression, believe me, Sir, was so strong upon me, that I am persuaded, if I had been let alone in it, I could at an Extremity have ventured to defend your self and Sir ROGER against half a Score of the fiercest Mohocks:  But the ludicrous Epilogue in the Close extinguish’d all my Ardour, and made me look upon all such noble Atchievements, as downright silly and romantick.  What the rest of the Audience felt, I cant so well tell:  For my self, I must declare, that at the end of the Play I found my Soul uniform, and all of a Piece; but at the End of the Epilogue it was so jumbled together, and divided between Jest and Earnest, that if you will forgive me an extravagant Fancy, I will here set it down.  I could not but fancy, if my Soul had at that Moment quitted my Body, and descended to the poetical Shades in the Posture it was then in, what a strange Figure it would have made among them.  They would not have known what to have made of my motley Spectre, half Comick and half Tragick, all over resembling a ridiculous Face, that at the same time laughs on one side and cries o tother.  The only Defence, I think, I have ever heard made for this, as it seems to me, most unnatural Tack of the Comick Tail to the Tragick Head, is this, that the Minds of the Audience must be refreshed, and Gentlemen and Ladies not sent away to their own Homes with too dismal and melancholy Thoughts about them:  For who knows the Consequence of this?  We are much obliged indeed to the Poets for the great Tenderness they express for the Safety of our Persons, and heartily thank them for it.  But if that be all, pray, good Sir, assure them, that we are none of us like to come to any great Harm; and that, let them do their best, we shall in all probability live out the Length of our Days, and frequent the Theatres more than ever.  What makes me more desirous to have some Reformation of this matter, is because of an ill Consequence or two attending it:  For a great many of our Church-Musicians being related to the Theatre, they have, in Imitation
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The Spectator, Volume 2. from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.