Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Essays On Subjects Connected With History And Classical Learning.
pidity of his steps , by the strength of his expression , and by the . employment of the theatrical deceptions , seemed , at every instant , to change his form . The celebrated Empusa was a female dancer , whose agility was so prodigious , that she appeared and vanished like a spirit . But it was at Rome that the pantomime art received its highest improvement . Piladesborn iu Ciliciaand Bathillusof Alexandria
, , , , were the two most surprising geniuses , who , under the reign of Augustus Ca _ sar , displayed their talents in their utmost lustre . The first invented the solemn , grave , and pathetic dances . The compositions of Bathillus were in the livel y , gay , and sprigntly style . Bathillus had been the slave of Mecsenas , who hacl given him his freedom in favour of his talents . Having seen Pilades in Ciliciahe engaged
, him to come to Rome , where he had disposed Mecamas in his favour , who , becoming the declared protector of both , procured to them the encouragement of the emperor . A theatre was built for them ; the Romans Hocked to it , and saw , with surprise , a complete tragedy ; all the passions painted with the most vigorous strokes of representation ; the exposition , plot , catastrophe , expressed in the clearest and most '
pathetic manner , without any-other means , or assistance , but that of action , executed to symphonies the best adapted , and far superior to any that had been before heard in Rome . Their surprise was not to end here . To this a second entertainment succeeded ; in which an ingenious action , without needing the voice or speech , presented all the charactersall the pleasant strokesand humorous picturesof a
, , , good comedy . And , in both these kinds , the talents pf Pilades and Bathillus corresponded to the boldness and beauty of the kind of compositions they had ventured to bring on the stage . Pilades especially , who was at the head of this project , was the most singular man that had till then appeared on the theatre . Llis fertile imagination constantly supplied him with new means of perfecting his artand
, embellishing his entertainments . Athenams mentions his having written a book , much esteemed , on the depths and principles of his . art . Before him , some flutes composed the orchestra of the Romans . He reinforced it with all the known instruments . He added
choruses of dances to his representations , and took care that their steps and figures should ahvays have some relation or affinity to the principal action . He provided them with dresses in the highest taste of propriety , and omitted nothing towards producing , keeping up , and pushing to the highest pitch , the charm of theatrical illusion . The actions on the Roman theatres were tragic , comic , or satirical ; these last pretty near ! } ' answering to what we understand by
grotesque , or farcical . Esopus and Roscius had been , from their excellence in declamation , the delight and admiration of Rome . . . . But , on their leaving no successors to their degree of merit , the taste for dramatic poetry , which was no longer supported by actors equal to them , began to decline ; and the theatrical dances , under such great masters as Pilades and Bathillus , either by their novelty , or b y their merit , or b y both , i
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Essays On Subjects Connected With History And Classical Learning.
pidity of his steps , by the strength of his expression , and by the . employment of the theatrical deceptions , seemed , at every instant , to change his form . The celebrated Empusa was a female dancer , whose agility was so prodigious , that she appeared and vanished like a spirit . But it was at Rome that the pantomime art received its highest improvement . Piladesborn iu Ciliciaand Bathillusof Alexandria
, , , , were the two most surprising geniuses , who , under the reign of Augustus Ca _ sar , displayed their talents in their utmost lustre . The first invented the solemn , grave , and pathetic dances . The compositions of Bathillus were in the livel y , gay , and sprigntly style . Bathillus had been the slave of Mecsenas , who hacl given him his freedom in favour of his talents . Having seen Pilades in Ciliciahe engaged
, him to come to Rome , where he had disposed Mecamas in his favour , who , becoming the declared protector of both , procured to them the encouragement of the emperor . A theatre was built for them ; the Romans Hocked to it , and saw , with surprise , a complete tragedy ; all the passions painted with the most vigorous strokes of representation ; the exposition , plot , catastrophe , expressed in the clearest and most '
pathetic manner , without any-other means , or assistance , but that of action , executed to symphonies the best adapted , and far superior to any that had been before heard in Rome . Their surprise was not to end here . To this a second entertainment succeeded ; in which an ingenious action , without needing the voice or speech , presented all the charactersall the pleasant strokesand humorous picturesof a
, , , good comedy . And , in both these kinds , the talents pf Pilades and Bathillus corresponded to the boldness and beauty of the kind of compositions they had ventured to bring on the stage . Pilades especially , who was at the head of this project , was the most singular man that had till then appeared on the theatre . Llis fertile imagination constantly supplied him with new means of perfecting his artand
, embellishing his entertainments . Athenams mentions his having written a book , much esteemed , on the depths and principles of his . art . Before him , some flutes composed the orchestra of the Romans . He reinforced it with all the known instruments . He added
choruses of dances to his representations , and took care that their steps and figures should ahvays have some relation or affinity to the principal action . He provided them with dresses in the highest taste of propriety , and omitted nothing towards producing , keeping up , and pushing to the highest pitch , the charm of theatrical illusion . The actions on the Roman theatres were tragic , comic , or satirical ; these last pretty near ! } ' answering to what we understand by
grotesque , or farcical . Esopus and Roscius had been , from their excellence in declamation , the delight and admiration of Rome . . . . But , on their leaving no successors to their degree of merit , the taste for dramatic poetry , which was no longer supported by actors equal to them , began to decline ; and the theatrical dances , under such great masters as Pilades and Bathillus , either by their novelty , or b y their merit , or b y both , i