Memoirs of John Howard Payne, the American Roscius: With Criticisms on His Acting, in the Various Theatres of America, England and Ireland

Front Cover
John Miller, 1815 - Actors - 131 pages

From inside the book

Selected pages

Common terms and phrases

Popular passages

Page 117 - ... palace to the tomb, have, with their ruins, erased the very impression of his footsteps ! The days of their glory are as if they had never been ; and the island that was then a speck, rude and neglected in the barren ocean, now rivals the ubiquity of their commerce, the glory of their arms, the fame of their philosophy, the eloquence of their senate, and the inspiration of their bards...
Page 119 - Grecian artist, to exhibit in one glow of associated beauty, the pride of every model, and the perfection of every master. As a general, he marshalled the peasant into a veteran, and supplied by discipline the absence of experience. As a statesman, he enlarged the policy of the cabinet into the most comprehensive system of general advantage ; and such was the wisdom of his views, and the philosophy of his counsels, that to the soldier and the statesman, he almost added the character of the sage.
Page 116 - Indeed, the mention of America has never failed to fill me with the most lively emotions. In my earliest infancy, that tender season when impressions, at once the most permanent and the most powerful, are likely to be excited, the story of her then recent struggle raised a throb in every heart that loved liberty, and wrung a reluctant tribute even from discomfited oppression. I saw her spurning alike the luxuries that would enervate, and the legions that would intimidate; dashing from her lips the...
Page 118 - In the production of Washington, it does really appear as if nature was endeavoring to improve upon herself, and that all the virtues of the ancient world were but so many studies preparatory to the patriot of the new.
Page 43 - Then, having shew'd his wounds, he'd sit him down, And all the live-long day discourse of war. To help my fancy, in the smooth green turf He cut the figures of the marshall'd hosts ; Describ'd the motions, and explain'd the use Of the deep column, and the lengthen'd line, The square, the crescent, and the phalanx firm.
Page 45 - I have no tongue to rail. The humble Norval Is of a race, who strive not but with deeds. Did I not fear to freeze thy shallow valour, And make thee sink too soon beneath my sword, I'd tell thee — what thou art. I know thee well.
Page 82 - Stood I in such a presence: yet, my lord, There's something in my breast, which makes me bold To say that Norval ne'er will shame thy favor.
Page 118 - Though it was the defeat of oar arms, and the disgrace of our policy, I almost bless the convulsion in which he had his origin. If the heavens thundered and the earth rocked, yet, when the storm passed...
Page 117 - ... contemplating the past, that England, proud and potent as she appears, may not one day be what Athens is, and the young America yet soar to be what Athens was! Who shall say, when the European column shall have mouldered, and the night of barbarism obscured its very ruins, that that mighty continent may not emerge from the horizon, to rule for its time sovereign of the ascendant ! Such, Sir, is the natural progress of human operations, and such the unsubstantial mockery of human pride.
Page 119 - ... aggression commenced the contest, and his country called him to the command. Liberty unsheathed his sword, necessity stained, victory returned it. If he had paused here, history might have doubted what station to assign him; whether at the head of her citizens, or her soldiers, her heroes or her patriots. But the last glorious act crowns his career, and banishes all hesitation.

Bibliographic information