An historical and critical account of the theatres in Europe, together with 2 essays. An essay on action and A comparison of the ancient and modern drama. [Tr.] With notes by the author and translator1741 |
Expressions et termes fréquents
acted Action Actors againſt almoſt ancient Andromache Anſwer appears Arfene Artaban Authors Autos Sacramentales becauſe befides beſt Cæfar Cafar Cato Character Cinna Comedy compofed Corneille Cuſtom Declamation Defign Dramatic Dutch eafily English Entertainment eſpecially eſtabliſhed Euphorbus Expreffion faid fame Farces fent fhall fhew fhort fhould fince firft firſt fome fometimes foon fpeak France French Theatre French Tragedy ftill fuch fufficient furprized gedy Genius German greateſt Hero Hiftory himſelf Ibid imitated Inftance Italian Theatre Italy itſelf laft likewife Love Mafters Manner moft moſt Mufic muſt myſelf Myſteries Nature neceffary never Number obferved Occafion Opera Orator Paffion Paris Perfons Pharnaces Phedra Phocas Pieces Players Plays pleaſe Poetry Poets Porcius prefent printed prophane Purpoſe Racine racter Reaſon reprefented Repreſentation Rhimes Roman Scene ſee Sentiments ſhall ſhe Sophocles Spanish ſpeak Spectators Stage Subject Tafte Taſte Theatre Theatrical thefe themſelves theſe thofe thoſe tion tranflated uſed Verfe whofe wrote
Fréquemment cités
Page 274 - ... the point at issue without a long struggle. Caligula wished that the Roman people had but one neck that he might cut it off, and as I read this letter I am afraid that for a moment I was capable of wishing the same thing concerning the laboring classes of America.
Page 3 - DECLAMATION, a speech made in public in the tone and manner of an oration, uniting the expression of action to the propriety of pronunciation, in order to give the sentiment its full impression on the mind. It is used also in a derogatory sense ; as when it is said...
Page 177 - I own'd that it might be possible ; had he only used a trembling and broken Voice, and had only an extreme Weakness possessed his Body, because I conceived it possible for a young Actor, by the Help of Art, to imitate that Debility of Nature to such a P'itch of Exactness ; but the Wrinkles of his Face, his...
Page 176 - As he played the part of an old man, I made no manner of doubt of his being an old comedian, who, instructed by long experience, and at the same time assisted by the weight of his years, had performed it so naturally.
Page 75 - Discern the Pulleys and Machines that directed the whole. In the Moment when it comes opposite to Caesar, it opens into three Parts, representing the then three known Parts of the World. The Inside of the Globe shines all with Gold, Precious Stones, Metals of all Colours, and contains a great Number of Musicians. Thus we see what the Contrivance of a Theatre is capable of effecting, which is artfully to conceal the Pulleys and Springs; for by means of the first Scaffold being built above the Stage,...
Page 178 - Some of his plays are treated by Harold L. Bruce, Voltaire on the English Stage (Berkeley, Calif., 1918). adopted them, and Moderns have confirmed them by the Heaps of Poems, by the so great Number of Dramas, which the Italians, and, still more, the French have already, and yet continue to supply us incessantly with. One therefore can't step aside from these Rules without incurring the Censure of the whole World. Otherwise nothing can be objected to the English Poets, but their...
Page 173 - Among the Crowd of English Poets, Mr. Congreve is most esteemed for Comedy. He was perfectly acquainted with Nature; and was living in 1727, when I was in London. I conversed with him more than once, and found his Taste joined with great Learning. It is rare to find many Dramatic Poets of his Stamp.
Page 159 - Scholars of Paul's School prefented a Petition to Richard II. praying his Majefty, " to prohibit «* fome unexpert People from prefenting the Hiftory «« of the Old Teftament, to the great Prejudice of " the faid Clergy, who have been at great Expence " in order to reprefent it publickly at ^Kbrijfmas.
Page 176 - ... mistress's house ; the footman either hears, or pretends to hear a noise, and desires the old fellow to hide himself; all the doors being locked, he advises him to place himself on the board on which the body is laid. After some difficulties made, the old man consents to it and does precisely what Crispin does in the French comedy; but to give it the greater air of truth the footman makes the old man strip to his shirt; the operator comes; chirurgical...
Page 74 - ... built of Christals of different Colours which were always playing; the Lights which were placed behind these Christals were disposed in such a Manner, that so great a Flux of Rays played from the Machine that the Eyes of the Spectators could scarcely support its Brightness. The two Bibienas, these eminent Architects and celebrated Painters now alive, have convinced all Europe, by their grand Decorations, that a Theatre may be adorned without Machinery, not only with as much Magnificence, but...