Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1793 edition. Excerpt: ... No. CXIII. Tuesday, December 4. 1753. yid humutn m rore gravi deducit et angit. Hor. Wrings the fad soul, and bends it down to earth. Francis. One of the most remarkable difference betwixt ancient and modern tragedy, arises from the prevailing custom of describing only those distresses that are occasioned by the passion of love; a passion which, from the universality of its dominion, may doubtless justly claim a large share in representations of human life; but which, by totally engrossing the theatre, had contributed to degrade that noble school of virtue into an academy of effeminacy. When Racine persuaded the celebrated Amauld to read his Phaedra, " Why," said that severe critic to bis friend, " have you falsisied the manners of Hippo"litus, and represented him in love?" "Alas!" replied the poet, "without that circumstance, how "would the ladies and the beaux have received my "piece?" And it may well be imagined, that to gratify so considerable and important a part of his audience/Mffas the powerful motive that induced Corneille to to enervate even the matchless and affecting story of Oedipus, by the frigid and impertinent episode of Theseus's passion for Dirce. Shakespeare has shewn us, by his Hamlet, Macbeth, and Caesar, and above all by his Lear, that very interesting tragedies may be written, that are not founded on gallantry and love: and that Boileau was mistaken, when he assirmed, dt Pamoiir lasenjible peinture, Est pour alter au c ur, la route la plus sure, Those tender scenes that pictur'd love impart, Insure success, and best engage the heart. The distresses in this tragedy are of a very uncommon nature, and are not touched upon by any other dramatic author. They are occasioned by a rash resolution of an..."
