IL BANCOLO. 429 
ful; his manner is marked by a comic vein ; and his conversation is 
not less original than his figure. The person of Polichinelle may, 
indeed, be said to be almost hieroglyphic. His countenance bears 
testimony of the greatness of human nature ; but it is, at the same 
time, deeply furrowed by its sufferings. His nose is aquiline, which 
is an indication of courage ; but it also betrays his intemperance. 
His forehead is high and expansive, resembling that of the deity of 
Olympus ; but the conflicts of those passions to which he is naturally 
subject have, in the course of years, distorted and contracted the sur- 
face of the noble seat of intellect. His eyes are large, but their lids 
restless, like those of an eagle which has too frequently looked on 
the sun. His mouth is beautiful, his teeth are ivory ; but his smile, 
which is to the mouth that which expression is to the eyes, has some- 
thing diabolical, and a peculiar sneer difficult to be described. The 
hair of Polichinelle is grey, and his figure distorted ; but these de- 
fects, which are only the infirmities inseparable from age, are lost in 
the extreme gaiety of his spirit and poignancy of his wit. The gene- 
ral effect of the character of Polichinelle is a striking instance to how 
great an extent that vivid, natural, and homely humour, and easy 
gaiety of manner, will compensate for plainness of feature and defor- 
mity of person. 
Bancolo had, in common with most men of superior talent, a pre- 
sentiment of the character in which nature designed him to excel, and 
well knew how to draw the greatest possible advantages from all the 
peculiarities of his versatile genius. To the study of this character 
he had diligently applied himself; and such was his success, so inti- 
mately did he appreciate his part, that the player vanished, and the 
audience saw and applauded, not Bancolo, but Polichinelle. His in- 
dustry and talents did not fail of their reward. He was universally 
acknowledged, even by his rivals of Naples, Palermo, Bologna, Pisa, 
and Florence, to be the greatest actor in the character of Polichinelle. 
His success extended his reputation: he crossed the Alps and the 
Appenines. Polichinelle became an object of interest to the inhabi- 
tants of Madrid, Vienna, Paris, and Berlin. Every part of Europe 
was visited by Bancolo, and every where did he reap golden har- 
vests, and at each place extended his fame. He returned, however, 
(like a submissive and grateful child), into the bosom of his native 
land, there to display to the city of his nativity the last efforts of his 
talent, and to offer up upon the altar of his country the last incense 
of that genius which he designed to withdraw for ever from the 
world. Bancolo! we shall see him no more: it is the last time of 
