Theatrical Review. 665 



"a character purely imaginative," which was assigned to Helen 

 Faucit, is little more than a namby-pamby, well-affectioned girl, 

 with very common feelings displayed under very uncommon circum- 

 stances. Indeed we may say of this tragedy, that, if Aristotle was 

 correct in saying that its object is to purify the passions through the 

 influence of pity and terror, it is sadly misnamed ; for we should 

 think very ill of the mental constitution of any one, who could pity 

 the fate of such a driveller as " Strafford" or be terrified by the 

 fustian uttered in the torrents of his passion. 



Our readers must not think us tedious, if we venture on another 

 extract from the closing scene, which was most splendidly acted by 

 Macready and Vandenhoff: indeed, it was a triumph of art. We 

 have italicised a passage or two ; and they need only to be marked 

 in order to be rated at their true value by men of sense. They will 

 illustrate better than mere statements the charge of " vain repeti- 

 tions,"*undefined expressions, and unmeaning bombast that we urge 

 against Mr. Browning as the author of " Strafford/' 



(As STRAFFORD opens the door, PYM is discovered with HAMPDEN, VANE, &c. 

 STRAFFORD falls back to the front of the stage: PYM follows slowly and 

 confronts him.) 



Pym. Have I done well ? Speak, England ! Whose great sake 

 I still have laboured for, with disregard 

 To my own heart, for whom my youth was made 

 Barren, my future dark, to offer up 

 Her sacrifice this man, this Wentworth here, 

 That walked in youth with me, loved me it may be, 

 And whom, for his forsaking England's cause, 

 I hunted by all means (trusting that she 

 Would sanctify all means) even to the grave 

 That yawns for him. And saying this, I feel 

 No bitter pang than first I felt, the hour 

 I swore that Wentworth might leave us, but I 

 Would never leave him : I do leave him now ! 

 I render up my charge (be witness, God !) 

 To England who imposed it ! I have done 

 Her bidding poorly, wrongly, it may be . -'' 

 With ill effects for I am but a man 

 Still, I have done my best, my very best, 

 Not faltering for a moment! I have done! 



(After a pause.) 



And that said, / will say yes, I will say 

 I never loved but this man David not 

 More Jonathan ! Even thus, I love him now : 

 And look for my chief portion in that world 

 Where great hearts led astray are turned again, 

 (Soon it may be and yes it will be soon: 

 My mission over, I shall not live long !) 

 Aye here I know I talk and I will talk 

 Of England, and her great reward, as all 

 I look for there ; but in my inmost heart 

 Believe I think of stealing quite away 

 To walk once more with Wentworth with my friend 

 Purged from all error, gloriously renewed, 

 And Eliot shall not blame us ! Then indeed 



