Miscellaneous writings of the late Dr. Maginn edited by Dr. Shelton Mackenzie |
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 | Miscellaneous writings of the late Dr. Maginn |  |
93
“Next follows Sheridan—a doubtful name,
As yet unsettled in the ranks of fame.
This, fondly lavish in his praises grown,
Gives him all merit—this allows him none.
Between them both, we'll steer the middle course,
Nor, loving praise, rob judgment of her force.
As yet unsettled in the ranks of fame.
This, fondly lavish in his praises grown,
Gives him all merit—this allows him none.
Between them both, we'll steer the middle course,
Nor, loving praise, rob judgment of her force.
Just his conceptions, natural and great:
His feelings strong, his words enforced with weight,
Was sheep-faced Quin himself to hear him speak,
Envy would drive the color from his cheek:
But step-dame Nature, niggard of her grace,
Denied the social powers of voice and face;
Fixed in one frame of features, glare of eye,
Passions, like chaos, in confusion lie:
In vain the wonders of his skill are tried
To form destruction Nature hath denied.
His voice no touch of harmony admits,
Irregularly deep and shrill by fits:
The two extremes appear like man and wife,
Coupled together for the sake of strife.
His feelings strong, his words enforced with weight,
Was sheep-faced Quin himself to hear him speak,
Envy would drive the color from his cheek:
But step-dame Nature, niggard of her grace,
Denied the social powers of voice and face;
Fixed in one frame of features, glare of eye,
Passions, like chaos, in confusion lie:
In vain the wonders of his skill are tried
To form destruction Nature hath denied.
His voice no touch of harmony admits,
Irregularly deep and shrill by fits:
The two extremes appear like man and wife,
Coupled together for the sake of strife.
His actions always strong, but sometimes such
That candor must declare he acts too much.
Why must impatience fall three paces back?
Why paces three return to the attack?
Why is the right leg, too, forbid to stir,
Unless in motion semicircular?
Why must the hero with the nailer vie,
And hurl the close clenched fist on nose or eye?
In royal John with Philip angry grown,
I thought he would have knocked poor Davies down.
Inhuman tyrant! was it not a shame
To fight a king so harmless and so tame?
But, spite of all defects, his glories rise;
And art, by judgment formed, with nature vies.
Behold him sound the depth of Hubert's soul,
Whilst in his own contending passions roll.
View the whole scene—with critic judgment scan,
And then deny his merit if you can.
Where he falls short, 't is Nature's fault alone;
When he succeeds the merit's all his own.”
That candor must declare he acts too much.
Why must impatience fall three paces back?
Why paces three return to the attack?
Why is the right leg, too, forbid to stir,
Unless in motion semicircular?
Why must the hero with the nailer vie,
And hurl the close clenched fist on nose or eye?
In royal John with Philip angry grown,
I thought he would have knocked poor Davies down.
Inhuman tyrant! was it not a shame
To fight a king so harmless and so tame?
94
And art, by judgment formed, with nature vies.
Behold him sound the depth of Hubert's soul,
Whilst in his own contending passions roll.
View the whole scene—with critic judgment scan,
And then deny his merit if you can.
Where he falls short, 't is Nature's fault alone;
When he succeeds the merit's all his own.”
| Miscellaneous writings of the late Dr. Maginn | |