Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Essays On Subjects Connected With History And Classical Learning.
privileged souls , in sight of irreproachable witnesses , the pantomimic art produced such great effects . At Rome , in the best days of this art , all the sentiments , whicli the dancers expressed , had each such a character of truth , so great a power , such pathetic energy , that the multitude was more than once , seen hurried away by the illusion , and mechanically taking part in the . different emotions presented to them by the animated picture with
. which they were struck . In the representation of Ajax in a frenzy the spectators took such violent impressions from the acting-dancer who represented him , that they' perfectly broke out into outcries ; stripped , as it were , to fight ; and actually came to blows among each . other , as if they had caught their rage from what was passing on the theatre . At another time they melted into tears at the tender
affliction of Hecuba . And upon whom were these lively impressions produced ? . Upon the cotemporaries of Mecaenas , of Luculius , Augustus , Virgil , and Pollio - , upon men of the most refined taste , whose criticism was as severe as their approbation honourable ; who never spared their censure , or their applause , where either was due . Plow , especially under the eyes of Horace , could any thing pass the approbation of the public , unless under the seal of excellence , in point of art and good taste ? Would Augustus have declared himself
the special patron of a kind of entertainment , that had been deficient as to probability and genius ? Ys ^ ould Mectenas , the protector of Virgil , and of all the fine arts , have been pleased with a sight that was not a striking imitation of beautiful nature ? Both . here * , and in France , there have been some of these dramatic pieces in action , by dance ,-attempted , which have been well received bthe publicSome the Duchess of Maine
y . years ago , ordered ' symphonies to be composed for the scene of the fourth act of the Horatii , in which the young Horatius kills Camilla . Two dancers , one of each sex , represented this action at Sceaux ; and their dance painted it with all the energy and pathos of which it was susceptible . In Italy , especially ^ many subjects of what may be called low comedy , are very naturall y expressed by dancing . In
short , there is hardly any comic action , but what they represent upon their theatres , if not with perfection , at least satisfactorily . And , certainly , the dance in action has'the same superiority over mere unmeaning dancing , that a fine history-piece has over cutting flowers in paper . In the last there is little more required than mechanical nicety ; and , at the best , it affords no great pretension to merit . But it is only for genius to order , distribute , and compose , in the other . . Among the . ancients , that Proteus , of whom fabulous history records such wonders , was only one of their dancers , who , by the ra-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Essays On Subjects Connected With History And Classical Learning.
privileged souls , in sight of irreproachable witnesses , the pantomimic art produced such great effects . At Rome , in the best days of this art , all the sentiments , whicli the dancers expressed , had each such a character of truth , so great a power , such pathetic energy , that the multitude was more than once , seen hurried away by the illusion , and mechanically taking part in the . different emotions presented to them by the animated picture with
. which they were struck . In the representation of Ajax in a frenzy the spectators took such violent impressions from the acting-dancer who represented him , that they' perfectly broke out into outcries ; stripped , as it were , to fight ; and actually came to blows among each . other , as if they had caught their rage from what was passing on the theatre . At another time they melted into tears at the tender
affliction of Hecuba . And upon whom were these lively impressions produced ? . Upon the cotemporaries of Mecaenas , of Luculius , Augustus , Virgil , and Pollio - , upon men of the most refined taste , whose criticism was as severe as their approbation honourable ; who never spared their censure , or their applause , where either was due . Plow , especially under the eyes of Horace , could any thing pass the approbation of the public , unless under the seal of excellence , in point of art and good taste ? Would Augustus have declared himself
the special patron of a kind of entertainment , that had been deficient as to probability and genius ? Ys ^ ould Mectenas , the protector of Virgil , and of all the fine arts , have been pleased with a sight that was not a striking imitation of beautiful nature ? Both . here * , and in France , there have been some of these dramatic pieces in action , by dance ,-attempted , which have been well received bthe publicSome the Duchess of Maine
y . years ago , ordered ' symphonies to be composed for the scene of the fourth act of the Horatii , in which the young Horatius kills Camilla . Two dancers , one of each sex , represented this action at Sceaux ; and their dance painted it with all the energy and pathos of which it was susceptible . In Italy , especially ^ many subjects of what may be called low comedy , are very naturall y expressed by dancing . In
short , there is hardly any comic action , but what they represent upon their theatres , if not with perfection , at least satisfactorily . And , certainly , the dance in action has'the same superiority over mere unmeaning dancing , that a fine history-piece has over cutting flowers in paper . In the last there is little more required than mechanical nicety ; and , at the best , it affords no great pretension to merit . But it is only for genius to order , distribute , and compose , in the other . . Among the . ancients , that Proteus , of whom fabulous history records such wonders , was only one of their dancers , who , by the ra-