ESSAYS. 



869 



rapidity, and bid adieu to snuffing candles 

 ever after. I found that nature had designed 

 me for more noble employments, and 1 was 

 resolved to take her when in the humour. 

 We got together in order to rehearse, and I 

 informed my companions, masters now no 

 longer, of the surprising change 1 felt within 

 me. Let the sick man, said I, be under no 

 uneasiness to get well again ; I'll fill his place 

 to universal satisfaction : he may even die, if 

 he thinks proper, I'll engage that he shall 

 never be missed. I rehearsed before them, 

 strutted, ranted, and received applause. 

 They soon gave out that a new actor of 

 eminence was to appear, and immediately all 

 the genteel places were bespoke. Before I 

 ascended the stage, however, I concluded 

 within myself, that, as I brought money to 

 the house, I ought to have my share of the 

 profits. Gentlemen, said I, addressing our 

 company, I don't pretend to direct you; far 

 be it from me to treat you with so much in- 

 gratitude; you have published my name in 

 the bills with the utmost good nature ; and as 

 affairs stand, cannot act without me; so, 

 gentlemen, to show you my gratitude, I ex- 

 pect' to be paid for my acting as much as any 

 of you, otherwise I declare off; I'll brandish 

 my snuffers and clip candles as usual. This 

 was a very disagreeable proposal, but they 

 found that it was impossible to refuse it; it 

 was irresistible, it was adamant: they con- 

 sented, and I went on in king Bajazet: my 

 frowning brows, bound with a stocking stuffed 

 into a turban, while on my captived arms I 

 brandished a jack-chain. Nature seemed to 

 have fitted me for the part; I was tall, and 

 had a loud voice, my very entrance excited 

 universal applause ; I looked round on the 

 audience with a smile, and made a most low 

 and graceful bow, for that is the rule among 

 us. As it was a very passionate part, I in- 

 \igorated my spirits with three full glasses 

 (the tankard is almost out) of brandy. By 

 Alia! it is alinost inconceivable how I went 

 through with it ; Tamerlane was but a fool io 

 me, though he was sometimes loud enough 

 too, yet I was still louder than he ; but, then, 

 besides, I had attitudes in abundance: in 

 general I kept my arms folded up thus upon 

 the pit "f my stomach; it is tue way it 

 Drury-lane, and has always a fine effect. The 

 NO. 75 & 76. 



tankard would sink to the bottom before I 

 could get through the whole of my merits 

 in short, I came off like a prodigy; and, such 

 was my success, that I could ravish the laurels 

 even from a sirloin of beef. The principal 

 gentlemen and htdies of the town came tome 

 after the play was over, to compliment me 

 upon my success; one praised my voice, 

 another my person : upon my word, says the 

 'squire's lady, he will make one of the finest 

 actors in Europe; I say it, and I think 1 am 

 something of a judge. Praise in the beginning 

 is agreeable enough, and we receive it as a 

 favour ; but when it comes in great quantities 

 we regard it only as a debt, which nothing 

 but our merit could extort: instead of thank- 

 ing them, I internally applauded myself. We 

 were desired to give our piece a second time ; 

 we obeyed, and 1 was applauded even more 

 than before. 



' At last we left the town, in order to be at 

 a horse-race at some distance from thence. 

 I shall never think of Tenderden without 

 tears of gratitude and respect. The ladies 

 and gentlemen there, take my word for it, are 

 very good judges of pla)s and actors. Come, 

 let us drink their healths, if you please, Sir. 

 We quitted the town, I say ; and there was a 

 wide difference between my coming in and go- 

 ing out : I entered the town a candle-snuffer, 

 and quitted itanhero! such is the world; little 

 to-day, and great to-morrow. I could say a 

 great deal more upon that subject; something 

 truly sublime upon the ups and downs of for- 

 tune ; but it will give us both the spleen, and 

 so I shall pass it over. 



'The races were ended before we arrived 

 at the next town, which was no small disap- 

 pointment to our company ; however, we 

 were resolved to take all we could get. I 

 played capital characters there too, and came 

 off with my usual brilliancy. I sincerely be- 

 lieve I should have been the first actor of 

 Europe, had my growing merit been proper- 

 ly cultivated: but there came an unkindly 

 frost which nipped me in the bud, and levelled 

 me once more down to the common standard 

 of humanity. I played Sir Harry Wildair: all 

 the country ladies were charmed : if I but drew 

 out my snuff-box, the whole house was in a roar 

 of rapture; when I exercised my cudgel, I 

 thought they would have fa lien into convulsions 

 6D* 



