150 Effay on MaJJinger. 



Of mifery, and find myfelf pad hope. 

 In the fame moment that I apprehend 



That I am falling. 



Picture, Aft IV. Sc- l. 



But if Maflinger does not always exhibit the 

 liveliefl and mod natural exprefllons of paflion ; 

 if like mofl: other poets, he fonnetimes fubllitutes 

 declamation for thofe expreffions ; in defcription 

 at leaft he puts forth all his ftrength, and never 

 difappoints us of an aftonifhing exertion. We 

 may be content to reft his character, in the de- 

 fcription of paflion, on the following fingle in- 

 flance. In the Very Woman, Almira's lover, 

 Cardenes, is dangeroufly wounded in a quarrel, 

 by Don John Antonio, who pays his addrefles 

 to her. Take now, a defcription of Almira's 

 frenzy on this event, which the prodigal author 

 has put into the mouth of a chambermaid: 



._ -._ If {he flumber'd, ftrait, 



As if fome dreadful vifion had appear'd. 



She flarted up, her hair unbound, and with 



Dillraded looks ftaring about the chamber. 



She afks aloud, " Where is Martino? where 



" Have you conceal'd him ? " Sometimes names 



Antonio, 

 Trembling in eu^y joint, her bronvs contralied ^ 

 Her fair face as 'tnuere changed into a curfe, 

 Her hands held up thus, and as if her words 

 Were too big to find paflge thro' her mouth. 

 She groans, then throws herfelf upon her bed. 



Beating her bread 



A Very Woman, Aft II. 



To 



