ON SOME OF THE OLD ACTORS

THEcasualsightofanoldPlayBill,whichIpickeduptheotherday——Iknownotbywhatchanceitwaspreservedsolong——temptsmetocalltomindafewofthePlayers,whomaketheprincipalfigureinit.ItpresentsthecastofpartsintheTwelfthNight,attheoldDrury-laneTheatretwo-and-thirtyyearsago.Thereissomethingverytouchingintheseoldremembrances.TheymakeusthinkhowweonceusedtoreadaPlayBill——not,asnowperadventure,singlingoutafavoriteperformer,andcastinganegligenteyeovertherest;butspellingouteveryname,downtotheverymutesandservantsofthescenewhenitwasamatterofnosmallmomenttouswhetherWhitfield,orPacker,tookthepartofFabian;whenBenson,andBurton,andPhillimore——namesofsmallaccount——hadanimportance,beyondwhatwecanbecontenttoattributenowtothetimesbestactors-"Orsino,byMr.Barrymore."WhatafullShakspeariansounditcarries!howfreshtomemoryarisetheimage,andthemanner,ofthegentleactor!

ThosewhohaveonlyseenMrs.Jordanwithinthelasttenorfifteenyears,canhavenoadequatenotionofherperformanceofsuchpartsasOphelia;Helena,inAllsWellthatEndsWell;andViolainthisplay.Hervoicehadlatterlyacquiredacoarseness,whichsuitedwellenoughwithherNellsandHoydens,butinthosedaysitsank,withhersteadymeltingeye,intotheheart.Herjoyousparts——inwhichhermemorynowchieflylives——inheryouthwereoutdonebyherplaintiveones.ThereisnogivinganaccounthowshedeliveredthedisguisedstoryofherloveforOrsino.Itwasnosetspeech,thatshehadforeseen,soastoweaveitintoanharmoniousperiod,linenecessarilyfollowingline,tomakeupthemusic——yetIhavehearditsospoken,orratherread,notwithoutitsgraceandbeauty——but,whenshehaddeclaredhersistershistorytobea"blank,"andthatshe"nevertoldherlove,"therewasapause,asifthestoryhadended——andthentheimageofthe"worminthebud"cameupasanewsuggestion——andtheheightenedimageofPatiencestillfollowedafterthat,asbysomegrowing(andnotmechanical)process,thoughtspringingupafterthought,Iwouldalmostsay,astheywerewateredbyhertears.Sointhosefinelines-

Writeloyalcantosofcontemnedlove——

Hollowyournametothereverberatehills-

therewasnopreparationmadeintheforegoingimageforthatwhichwastofollow.Sheusednorhetoricinherpassionoritwasnaturesownrhetoric,mostlegitimatethen,whenitseemedaltogetherwithoutruleorlaw.

Mrs.Powel(nowMrs.Renard),thenintheprideofherbeauty,madeanadmirableOlivia.ShewasparticularlyexcellentinherunbendingscenesinconversationwiththeClown.IhaveseensomeOlivias——andthoseverysensibleactressestoo——whointheseinterlocutionshaveseemedtosettheirwitsatthejester,andtovieconceitswithhimindownrightemulation.Butsheusedhimforhersport,likewhathewas,totriflealeisuresentenceortwowith,andthentobedismissed,andshetobetheGreatLadystill.Shetouchedtheimperiousfantastichumourofthecharacterwithnicety.Herfinespaciouspersonfilledthescene.

ThepartofMalvoliohasinmyjudgmentbeensooftenmisunderstood,andthegeneralmeritsoftheactor,whothenplayedit,soundulyappreciated,thatIshallhopeforpardon,ifIamalittleprolixuponthesepoints.

Ofalltheactorswhoflourishedinmytime——amelancholyphraseiftakenaright,reader——Bensleyhadmostoftheswellofsoul,wasgreatestinthedeliveryofheroicconceptions,theemotionsconsequentuponthepresentmentofagreatideatothefancy.Hehadthetruepoeticalenthusiasm——therarestfacultyamongplayers.NonethatIrememberpossessedevenaportionofthatfinemadnesswhichhethrewoutinHotspursfamousrantaboutglory,orthetransportsoftheVenetianincendiaryatthevisionofthefiredcity.Hisvoicehadthedissonance,andattimestheinspiritingeffectofthetrumpet.Hisgaitwasuncouthandstiff,hutnowayembarrassedbyaffectation;andthethorough-bredgentlemanwasuppermostineverymovement.Heseizedthemomentofpassionwiththegreatesttruth;likeafaithfulclock,neverstrikingbeforethetime;neveranticipatingorleadingyoutoanticipate.Hewastotallydestituteoftrickandartifice.Heseemedeuponthestagetodothepoetsmessagesimply,andhediditwithasgenuinefidelityasthenunciosinHomerdelivertheerrandsofthegods.Heletthepassionorthesentimentdoitsownworkwithoutproporbolstering.Hewouldhavescornedtomountebankit;andbetrayednoneofthatclevernesswhichisthebaneofseriousacting.Forthisreason,hisIagowastheonlyendurableonewhichIremembertohaveseen.NospectatorfromhisactioncoulddivinemoreofhisartificethanOthellowassupposedtodo.Hisconfessionsinsoliloquyaloneputyouinpossessionofthemystery.Therewerenoby-intimationstomaketheaudiencefancytheirowndiscernmentsomuchgreaterthanthatoftheMoor-whomonlystandslikeagreathelplessmarksetupformineAncient,andaquantityofbarrenspectators,toshoottheirboltsat.TheIagoofBensleydidnotgotoworksogrossly.Therewasatriumphanttoneaboutthecharacter,naturaltoageneralconsciousnessofpower;butnoneofthatpettyvanitywhichchucklesandcannotcontainitselfuponanylittlesuccessfulstrokeofitsknavery——asismonwithyoursmallvillains,andgreenprobationersinmischief.Itdidnotclaporcrowbeforeitstime.Itwasnotamansettinghiswitsatachild,andwinkingallthewhileatotherchildrenwhoaremightilypleasedatbeingletintothesecret;butaconsummatevillainentrappinganoblenatureintotoils,againstwhichnodiscernmentwasavailable,wherethemannerwasasfathomlessasthepurposeseemeddark,andwithoutmotive.ThepartofMalvolio,intheTwelfthNight,wasperformedbyBensley,witharichnessandadignity,ofwhich(tojudgefromsomerecentcastingsofthatcharacter)theverytraditionmustbewornoutfromthestage.NomanagerinthosedayswouldhavedreamedofgivingittoMr.Baddeley,orMr.Parsons:whenBensleywasoccasionallyabsentfromthetheatre,JohnKemblethoughtitnoderogationtosucceedtothepart.Malvolioisnotessentiallyludicrous.Hebeesicbutbyaccident.Heiscold,austere,repelling;butdignified,consistent,and,forwhatappears,ratherofanover-stretchedmorality.MariadescribeshimasasortofPuritan;andhemighthavewornhisgoldchainwithhonourinoneofouroldround-headfamilies,intheserviceofaLambert,oraladyFairfax.ButhismoralityandhismannersaremisplacedinIllyria.Heisopposedtotheproperlevitiesofthepiece,andfallsintheunequalcontest.Stillhispride,orhisgravity,(callitwhichyouwill)isinherent,andnativetotheman,notmockoraffected,whichlatteronlyarethefitobjectstoexcitelaughter.Hisqualityisatthebestunlovely,butneitherbuffoonnorcontemptible.Hisbearingislofty,alittleabovehisstation,butprobablynotmuchabovehisdeserts.Weseenoreasonwhyheshouldnothavebeenbrave,honourable,acplished.Hiscarelessmittaloftheringtotheground(whichhewasmissionedtorestoretoCesario),bespeaksagenerosityofbirthandfeeling.Hisdialectonalloccasionsisthatofagentleman,andamanofeducation.Wemustnotconfoundhimwiththeeternalold,lowstewardofedy.HeismasterofthehouseholdtoagreatPrincess;adignityprobablyconferreduponhimforotherrespectsthanageorlengthofservice.Olivia,atthefirstindicationofhissupposedmadness,declaresthatshe"wouldnothavehimmiscarryforhalfofherdowry."Doesthislookasifthecharacterwasmeanttoappearlittleorinsignificant?Once,indeed,sheaccuseshimtohisface——ofwhat?——ofbeing"sickofself-love,"——butwithagentlenessandconsideratenesswhichcouldnothavebeen,ifshehadnotthoughtthatthisparticularinfirmityshadedsomevirtues.Hisrebuketotheknight,andhissottishrevellers,issensibleandspirited;andwhenwetakeintoconsiderationtheunprotectedconditionofhismistress,andthestrictregardwithwhichherstateofrealordissembledmourningwoulddrawtheeyesoftheworlduponherhouse-affairs,Malvoliomightfeelthehonourofthefamilyinsomesortinhiskeeping;asitappearsnotthatOliviahadanymorebrothers,orkinsmen,tolooktoit——forSirTobyhaddroppedallsuchnicerespectsatthebutteryhatch.ThatMalvoliowasmeanttoberepresentedaspossessingestimablequalities,theexpressionoftheDukeinhisanxietytohavehimreconciled,almostinfers."Pursuehim,andentreathimtoapeace."Eveninhisabusedstateofchainsanddarkness,asortofgreatnessseemsnevertodeserthim.HeargueshighlyandwellwiththesupposedSirTopas,andphilosophisesgallantlyuponhisstraw.*Theremusthavebeensomeshadowofworthabouttheman;hemusthavebeensomethingmorethanamerevapour——athingofstraw,orJackinoffice——beforeFabianandMariacouldhaveventuredsendinghimuponacourting-errandtoOlivia.Therewassomeconsonancy(ashewouldsay)intheundertaking,orthejestwouldhavebeentooboldevenforthathouseofmisrule.

Bensley,accordingly,threwoverthepartanairofSpanishloftiness.Helooked,spake,andmovedlikeanoldCastilian.Hewasstarch,spruce,opinionated,buthissuperstructureofprideseemedbottomeduponasenseofworth.Therewassomethinginitbeyondthecoxb.Itwasbigandswelling,butyoucouldnotbesurethatitwashollow.Youmightwishtoseeittakendown,butyoufeltthatitwasuponanelevation.Hewasmagnificentfromtheoutset;butwhenthedecentsobrietiesofthecharacterbegantogiveway,andthepoisonofself-love,inhisconceitofthecountesssaffection,graduallytowork,youwouldhavethoughtthattheheroofLaManchainpersonstoodbeforeyou.Howhewentsmilingtohimselfwithwhatineffablecarelessnesswouldhetwirlhisgoldchain!whatadreamitwas!you

*Clown.WhatistheopinionofPythagorasconcerningwildfowl?

Mal.Thatthesoulofourgrandammighthaplyinhabitabird.

Clown.Whatthinkestthouofhisopinion?

Mal.Ithinknoblyofthesoul,andnowayapproveofhisopinion.

wereinfectedwiththeillusion,anddidnotwishthatitshouldberemoved!youhadnoroomforlaughter!ifanunseasonablereflectionofmoralityobtrudeditselfitwasadeepsenseofthepitiableinfirmityofmansnature,thatcanlayhimopentosuchfrenzies——hutintruthyouratheradmiredthanpitiedthelunacywhileitlasted——youfeltthatanhourofsuchmistakewasworthanagewiththeeyesopen.WhowouldnotwishtolivebutforadayintheconceitofsuchaladysloveasOlivia?Why,theDukewouldhavegivenhisprincipalitybutforaquarterofaminute,sleepingorwakingtohavebeensodeluded.Themanseemedtotreaduponair,totastemanna,towalkwithhisheadintheclouds,tomateHyperion.O!shakenotthecastlesofhispride——endureyetforaseasonbrightmomentsofconfidence——"standstillyewatchesoftheelement,"thatMalvoliomaybestillinfancyfairOliviaslord——butfateandretributionsayno——IhearthemischievoustitterofMaria——thewittytauntsofSirToby——thestillmoreinsupportabletriumphofthefoolishknight——thecounterfeitSirTopasisunmasked——and"thusthewhirligigoftime,"asthetrueclownhathit,"bringsinhisrevenges."IconfessthatIneversawthecatastropheofthischaracter,whileBensleyplayedit,withoutakindoftragicinterest.Therewasgoodfoolerytoo.FewnowrememberDodd.WhatanAguecheekthestagelostinhim!Lovegrove,whocamenearesttotheoldactors,revivedthecharactersomefewseasonsago,andmadeitsufficientlygrotesque;butDoddwasit,asitcameoutofnatureshands.Itmightbesaidtoremaininpurisnaturalibus.Inexpressingslownessofapprehensionthisactorsurpassedallothers.Youcouldseethefirstdawnofanideastealingslowlyoverhiscountenance,climbingupbylittleandlittle,withapainfulprocess,tillitclearedupatlasttothefulnessofatwilightconception——itshighestmeridian.Heseemedtokeepbackhisintellect,assomehavehadthepowertoretardtheirpulsation.Theballoontakeslesstimeinfillingthanittooktocovertheexpansionofhisbroadmoonyfaceoverallitsquarterswithexpression.Aglimmerofunderstandingwouldappearinacornerofhiseye,anforlackoffuelgooutagain.Apartofhisforeheadwouldcatchalittleintelligence,andbealongtimeinmunicatingittotheremainder.

Iamillatdates,butIthinkitisnowbetterthanfiveandtwentyyearsagothatwalkinginthegardensofGraysInn——theywerethenfarfinerthantheyarenow——theaccursedVerulamBuildingshadnotencroacheduponalltheeastsideofthem,cuttingoutdelicategreencrankles,andshoulderingawayoneoftwoofthestatelyalcovesoftheterrace——thesurvivorstandsgapingandrelationlessasifitremembereditsbrother——theyarestillthebestgardensofanyoftheInnsofCourt,mybelovedTemplenotforgottenhavethegravestcharacter,theiraspectbeingaltogetherreverendandlaw-breathing——Baconhaslefttheimpressofhisfootupontheirgravelwalks——takingmyafternoonsolaceonasummerdayupontheaforesaidterrace,aelysadpersonagecametowardsme,whom,fromhisgraveairanddeportment,IjudgedtoheoneoftheoldBenchersoftheInn.Hehadaseriousthoughtfulforehead,andseemedtobeinmeditationsofmortality.AsIhaveaninstinctiveaweofoldBenchers,Iwaspassinghimwiththatsortofsubindicativetokenofrespectwhichoneisapttodemonstratetowardsavenerablestranger,andwhichratherdenotesaninclinationtogreethim,thananypositivemotionofthebodytothateffect——aspeciesofhumilityandwill-worshipwhichIobserve,ninetimesoutoften,ratherpuzzlesthanpleasesthepersonitisofferedto——whenthefaceturningfulluponmestrangelyidentifieditselfwiththatofDodd.UponcloseinspectionIwasnotmistaken.ButcouldthissadthoughtfulcountenancebethesamevacantfaceoffollywhichIhadhailedsooftenundercircumstancesofgaiety;whichIhadneverseenwithoutasmile,orrecognisedbutastheusherofmirth;thatlookedoutsoformallyflatinFoppington,sofrothilypertinTattle,soimpotentlybusyinBackbite;soblanklydivestedofallmeaning,orresolutelyexpressiveofnone,inAcres,inFribble,andathousandagreeableimpertinences?Wasthistheface——stillofthoughtandcarefulness——thathadsooftendivesteditselfatwillofeverytraceofeithertogivemediversion,toclearmycloudyfacefortwoorthreehoursatleastofitsfurrows?Wasthistheface——manly,sober,intelligent,whichIhadsooftendespised,mademocksat,mademerrywith?TheremembranceofthefreedomswhichIhadtakenwithitcameuponmewithareproachofinsult.Icouldhaveaskeditpardon.Ithoughtitlookeduponmewithasenseofinjury.Thereissomethingstrangeaswellassadinseeingactors——yourpleasantfellowsparticularly——subjectedtoandsufferingthemonlot——theirfortunes,theircasualties,theirdeaths,seemtobelongtothescene,theiractionstobeamenabletopoeticjusticeonly.Wecanhardlyconnectthemwithmoreawfulresponsibilities.Thedeathofthisfineactortookplaceshortlyafterthismeeting.Hehadquittedthestagesomemonths;and,asIlearnedafterwards,hadbeeninthehabitofresortingdailytothesegardensalmosttothedayofhisdecease.Intheseseriouswalksprobablyhewasdivestinghimselfofmanyscenicandsomerealvanities——weaninghimselffromthefrivolitiesofthelesserandthegreatertheatre——doinggentlepenanceforalifeofnoveryreprehensiblefooleries,——takingoffbydegreesthebuffoonmaskwhichhemightfeelhehadworntoolong——andrehearsingforamoresolemncastofpart.Dyinghe"putontheweedsofDominic."*

IffewcanrememberDodd,manyyetlivingwillnoteasilyforgethepleasantcreature,whointhosedaysenactedthepartoftheclowntoDoddsSirAndrew——Richard,orratherDickySuett——forsoinhislife-timehedelightedtobecalled,andtimehathratifiedtheappellation——liethburiedonthenorthsideofthecemeteryofHolyPaul,towhoseservicehisnonageandtenderyearswerededicated.Therearewhodoyetrememberhimatthatperiod——hispipeclearandharmonious.Hewouldoftenspeakofhischoristerdays,whenhewas"cherubDicky."

Whatclippedhiswings,ormadeitexpedientthatheshouldexchangetheholyfortheprofanestate;whetherhehadlosthisgoodvoice(hisbestremendationtothatoffice),likeSirJohn,"withhallooingandsingingofanthems;"orwhetherhewasadjudgedtolacksomething,eveninthoseearlyyears,ofthegravityindispensabletoanoccupationwhichprofessethto"mercewiththeskies"——Icouldneverrightlylearn;butwefindhim,aftertheprobationofatwelvemonthorso,revertingtoasecularcondition,andbeeoneofus.Ithinkhewasnotaltogetherofthattimber,outofwhichcathedralseatsandsoundingboardsarehewed.Butifagladheart——kindandthereforeglad——beanypartofsanctity,thenmighttherobeofMotley,withwhichheinvestedhimselfwithsomuchhumilityafterhisdeprivation,andwhichheworesolongwithsomuchblamelesssatisfactiontohimselfandtothepublic,beacceptedforasurplice——hiswhitestole,andalbe.ThefirstfruitsofhissecularizationwasanengagementupontheboardsofOldDrury,atwhichtheatrehemenced,asIhavebeentold,withadoptingthemannerofParsonsinoldmenscharacters.Attheperiodinwhichmostofusknewhim,hewasnomoreanimitatorthanhewasinanytruesensehimselfimitable.

HewastheRobinGood-Fellowofthestage.Hecameintotroubleallthingswithaweleperplexity,himselfnowhittroubledforthematter.Hewasknown,likePuck,byhisnote——Ha!Ha!Ha!——sometimesdeepeningtoHo!Ho!Ho!withanirresistibleaccession,derivedperhapsremotelyfromhisecclesiasticaleducation,foreigntohisprototypeof,——OLa!Thousandsof

*Doddwasamanofreading,andleftathisdeathachoicecollectionofoldEnglishliterature.Ishouldjudgehimtohavebeenamanofwit.Iknowoneinstanceofanimpromptuwhichnolengthofstudycouldhavebettered.Mymerryfriend,JemWhite,hadseenhimoneeveninginAguecheek,andrecognisingDoddthenextdayinFleetStreet,wasirresistiblyimpelledtotakeoffhishatandsalutehimastheidenticalKnightoftheprecedingeveningwitha"Saveyou,SirAndrew."Dodd,notatalldisconcertedatthisunusualaddressfromastranger,withacourteoushalf.rebukingwaveofthehand,puthimoffwithan"Away,Fool."

heartsyetrespondtothechucklingOLa!ofDickySuett,broughtbacktotheirremembrancebythefaithfultranscriptofhisfriendMathewssmimicry.The"forceofnaturecouldnofurthergo."Hedrolleduponthestockofthesetwosyllablesricherthanthecuckoo.

Care,thattroublesalltheworld,wasforgotteninhisposition.Hadhehadbuttwograins(nay,halfagrain)ofit,hecouldneverhavesupportedhimselfuponthosetwospidersstrings,whichservedhim(inthelatterpartofhisunmixedexistence)aslegs.Adoubtorascruplemusthavemadehimtotter,asighhavepuffedhimdown;theweightofafrownhadstaggeredhim,awrinklemadehimlosehisbalance.Butonhewent,scramblinguponthoseairystiltsofhis,withRobinGood-Fellow,"thoroughbrake,thoroughbriar,"recklessofascratchedfaceoratorndoublet.

Shakspeareforesawhim,whenheframedhisfoolsandjesters.TheyhaveallthetrueSuettstamp,alooseandshamblinggait,aslipperytongue,thislastthereadymidwifetoawithout-pain-deliveredjest;inwords,lightasair,ventingtruthsdeepasthecentre;withidlestrhymestaggingconceitwhenbusiest,singingwithLearinthetempest,orSirTobyatthebuttery-hatch.

JackBannisterandhehadthefortunetobemoreofpersonalfavouriteswiththetownthananyactorsbeforeorafter.Thedifference,Itakeit,wasthis:——Jackwasmorebelovedforhissweet,good-natured,moralpretensions.Dickywasmorelikedforhissweet,good-natured,nopretensionsatall.YourwholeconsciencestirredwithBannistersperformanceofWalterintheChildrenintheWood——butDickseemedlikeathing,asShakspearesaysoflove,tooyoungtoknowwhatconscienceis.HeputusintoVestasdays.Evilfledbeforehim——notasfromJack,asfromanantagonist,——butbecauseitcouldnottouchhim,anymorethanacannon-ballafly.Hewasdeliveredfromtheburthenofthatdeath;and,whenDeathcamehimself,notinmetaphor,tofetchDicky,itisrecordedofhimbyRobertPalmer,whokindlywatchedhisexit,thathereceivedthelaststroke,neithervaryinghisaccustomedtranquillity,nortune,withthesimpleexclamation,worthytohavebeenrecordedinhisepitaph——OLa!OLa!Bobby!

TheelderPalmer(ofstage-treadingcelebrity)monlyplayedSirTobyinthosedays;butthereisasolidityofwitinthejestsofthathalf-Falstaffwhichhedidnotquitefillout.HewasasmuchtooshowyasMoody(whosometimestookthepart)wasdryandsottish.InsockorbuskintherewasanairofswaggeringgentilityaboutJackPalmer.Hewasagentlemanwithaslightinfusionofthefootman.HisbrotherBob(ofrecentermemory)whowashisshadowineverythingwhilehelived,anddwindledintolessthanashadowafterwards——wasagentlemanwithalittlestrongerinfusionofthelatteringredient;thatwasall.Itisamazinghowalittleoffthemoreorlessmakesadifferenceinthesethings.WhenyousawBobbyintheDukesServant,*yousaid,whatapitysuchaprettyfellowwasonlyaservant.WhenyousawJackfiguringinCaptainAbsolute,youthoughtyoucouldtracehispromotiontosomeladofqualitywhofanciedthehandsomefellowinhistop-knot,andhadboughthimamission.ThereforeJackinDickAmletwasinsuperable.

[Footnote]*HighLifeBelowStairs.

Jackhadtwovoices,——bothplausible,hypocritical,andinsinuating;buthissecondaryorsupplementalvoicestillmoredecisivelyhistrionicthanhismonone.Itwasreservedforthespectator;andthedramatispersonaeweresupposedtoknownothingatallaboutit.TheliesofyoungWilding,andthesentimentsinJosephSurface,werethusmarkedoutinasortofitalicstotheaudience.Thissecretcorrespondencewiththepanybeforethecurtain(whichisthebaneanddeathoftragedy)hasanextremelyhappyeffectinsomekindsofedy,inthemorehighlyartificialedyofCongreveorofSheridanespecially,wheretheabsolutesenseofreality(soindispensabletoscenesofinterest)isnotrequired,orwouldratherinterferetodiminishyourpleasure.Thefactis,youdonotbelieveinsuchcharactersasSurface——thevillainofartificialedy——evenwhileyoureadorseethem.Ifyoudid,theywouldshockandnotdivertyou.WhenBen,inLoveforLove,returnsfromsea,thefollowingexquisitedialogueoccursathisfirstmeetingwithhisfather-

SirSampson.Thouhastbeenmanyawearyleague,Ben,sinceIsawthee.

Ben.Ey,ey,been!Beenfarenough,anthatbeall——Well,father,andhowdoallathome?howdoesbrotherDick,andbrotherVal?

SirSampson.Dick!bodyome,Dickhasbeendeadthesetwoyears.IwrityouwordwhenyouwereatLeghorn.

Ben.Mess,thatstrue;Marry,Ihadforgot.Dicksdead,asyousay——Well,andhow?——Ihaveamanyquestionstoaskyou-

Hereisaninstanceofinsensibilitywhichinreallifewouldberevolting,orratherinreallifecouldnothaveco-existedwiththewarm-heartedtemperamentofthecharacter.Butwhenyoureaditinthespiritwithwhichsuchplayfulselectionsandspeciousbinationsratherthanstrictmetaphrasesofnatureshouldbetaken,orwhenyousawBannisterplayit,itneitherdid,nordoeswoundthemoralsenseatall.ForwhatisBen——thepleasantsailorwhichBannistergivesus——butapieceofsatire——acreationofCongrevesfancy——adreamybinationofalltheaccidentsofasailorscharacter——hiscontemptofmoney——hiscredulitytowomen——withthatnecessaryestrangementfromhomewhichitisjustwithinthevergeofcredibilitytosupposemightproducesuchanhallucinationasisheredescribed.WeneverthinktheworseofBenforit,orfeelitasastainuponhischaracter.Butwhenanactores,andinsteadofthedelightfulphantom——thecreaturedeartohalf-belief——whichBannisterexhibited——displaysbeforeoureyesadownrightconcretionofaWappingsailor——ajollywarm-heartedJackTar——andnothingelse——wheninsteadofinvestingitwithadeliciousconfusednessofthehead,andaveeringundirectedgoodnessofpurpose——hegivestoitadownrightdaylightunderstanding,andafullconsciousnessofitsactions;thrustingforwardthesensibilitiesofthecharacterwithapretenceasifitstooduponnothingelse,andwastobejudgedbythemalone——wefeelthediscordofthething;thesceneisdisturbed;arealmanhasgotinamongthedramatispersonae,andputsthemout.Wewantthesailorturnedout.Wefeelthathistrueplaceisnotbehindthecurtainbutinthefirstorsecondgallery.