The Spectator, Volume 2. by Sir Richard Steele;Joseph Addison
page 22 of 1250 (01%)
page 22 of 1250 (01%)
![]() | ![]() |
|
fare as all Things do which are torn instead of being divided.
There is no one living would deny _Cinna_ the Applause of an agreeable and facetious Wit; or could possibly pretend that there is not something inimitably unforced and diverting in his Manner of delivering all his Sentiments in Conversation, if he were able to conceal the strong Desire of Applause which he betrays in every Syllable he utters. But they who converse with him, see that all the Civilities they could do to him, or the kind Things they could say to him, would fall short of what he expects; and therefore instead of shewing him the Esteem they have for his Merit, their Reflections turn only upon that they observe he has of it himself. If you go among the Women, and behold _Gloriana_ trip into a Room with that theatrical Ostentation of her Charms, _Mirtilla_ with that soft Regularity in her Motion, _Chloe_ with such an indifferent Familiarity, _Corinna_ with such a fond Approach, and _Roxana_ with such a Demand of Respect in the great Gravity of her Entrance; you find all the Sex, who understand themselves and act naturally, wait only for their Absence, to tell you that all these Ladies would impose themselves upon you; and each of them carry in their Behaviour a Consciousness of so much more than they should pretend to, that they lose what would otherwise be given them. I remember the last time I saw _Macbeth_, I was wonderfully taken with the Skill of the Poet, in making the Murderer form Fears to himself from the Moderation of the Prince whose Life he was going to take away. He says of the King, _He bore his Faculties so meekly_; and justly inferred from thence, That all divine and human Power would join to avenge his Death, who had made such an abstinent Use of Dominion. All that is in a |
|