FAIR PENITENT. THIS Tragedy has the usual characteristics of Rowe -Suavity-Pomp-a sententious Morality-little action, less passion. He wins upon the ear-he never irresistibly seizes on the heart. Dramatically, Rowe must be considered as the founder of a subordinate idea of the nature of Tragic structure-He is content to be graceful, and occasionally aims to be grand-his characters sooth and satiate they are wearisomely uniform-Sympathy he has seldom the secret to command-SHORE does draw tears, and only Shore. This play bespeaks Italian reading, and yet of Italian, Rowe knew so little that he sounds SCIOLTO a trissyllable. What is his merit it may be asked?—moral purpose? not always. Versification is nearly the whole of it. But though majestic and harmonious, it is not the versification best adapted to the Stage.—It is too perpetually polished-his lines are not sufficiently broken by pauses. PROLOGUE. LONG has the fate of kings and empires been But you shall meet with sorrows like your own: And how to death, for beauty lost, he mourns. If Let no nice taste the poet's art arraign, some frail vicious characters he feign: Who writes, should still let nature be his care, Mix shades with lights, and not paint all things fair, Dramatis Personae. DRURY - Lane. SCIOLTO, a nobleman of Genoa ALTAMONT, a young lord, in love with Calista HORATIO, his friend LOTHARIO, a young lord and enemy to Al tamont ROSSANO, bis friend CALISTA, daughter to Sciolto LAVINIA, sister to Altamont, and wife to Horatio LUCILLA, confident to Calista Men. Mr. Aickin. Mr. Barrymore. Mr. Palmer. Mr. Williames. Women. Mrs. Siddons. Mrs. Ward. Miss Palmer. HORATIO, his friend LOTHARIO, a young lord, and enemy to Al tamont ROSSANO, his friend CALISTA, daughter to Sciolto LAVINIA, sister to Altamont, and wife to Horatio LUCILLA, confident to Calista Servants to Sciolto. Mr. Harley. Mr. Holman. Women. Miss Brunton. Miss Chapman. SCENE, Sciolto's palace and garden, with some part of the street near it, in Genoa. THE FAIR PENITENT. ACTI. SCENE I. A garden belonging to SCIOLTO's palace. Enter ALTA- Altamont. LET this auspicious day be ever sacred, No mourning, no misfortunes happen on it : Choose it to bless their hopes, and crown their wishes, Hor. Yes, Altamont; to-day thy better stars Had cast off his white age to want and wretchedness, 1 |