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presentation; yet without which the Truth of acting is never to be arrived at

СНАР. Х.

Page 220

In which fome important Rules are added to the Principles before establish'd, of the Truth of Action and Recitation.

CHAP. XI.

Of natural Playing.

CHAP.

XII.

229

232

Of the Fineffes in the Art of Playing in general.

CHAP. XIII.

246

Of the Fineffes in playing, which peculiarly belong to Tragedy.

CHA P. XIV.

258

Of the Fineffes in playing, peculiar to Comedy.

CHAP. XV.

269

Rules which ought to be obferv'd in the use of

Fineffes.

CHAP. XVI.

279

Of Bye-play, or what are called Stage-Tricks. 284

CHAP. XVII.

Of Variety in Playing.

CHAP. XVIII.

Of graces in Playing.

CHAP. XIX.

288

300

Obfervations on fome Parts of the Art of Playing of a fubordinate Kind to thofe we have hitherto

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THE

ACTOR.

PART the FIRST.

Of the principal Advantages which a Player ought to have from Nature.

A

MONG the many arts which fhould never be exercis'd but by perfons who are happy in a variety of natural accomplishments, there are few, to the excelling in which they are more effential, than in performing well in tragedy and comedy. The Actor is expected to delude the imagination, and to affect the heart and in order to his attaining to perfection in this difficult tafk, nature muft have been affiftant to him in an uncommon man

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It is effential to our being rationally pleas'd with theatrical representations, that the performers to whom the principal parts are allotted, perfectly keep the illufion we are to be entertained with; as it is peculiarly from them, that we expect what is to move and affect us.

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These performers, therefore, more than all the reft, ought to be felected from among perfons, whom nature has particularly favour'd.

In enquiring what are the natural endowments immediately neceffary to performers on the ftage in general, we fhall endeavour to discuss certain preliminary points, which have not hitherto been properly or fufficiently explain'd; and thence proceed to examine, what are the peculiar qualifications neceffary to particular actors.

Perhaps it would not be easy to do the publick a more acceptable fervice on the subject of these entertainments, than by informing thofe who.. are ambitious to appear in the capital parts of our plays, (tho' nature has deny'd them the neceflary means) that it is impoffible to fucceed in fo illjudg'd an attempt.

This we fhall endeavour to explain, in the fecond book of this first part.

BOOK

3

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In which many of the common Prejudices of the Age are confidered; and Obfervations made on the neceffary Qualifications of Performers on the Stage in general.

CHAP. I.

Can an Actor excell in his Profeffion, without a good Understanding?

A Thing is not always the more true, because

it is generally affirm'd. We frequently

hear people who pretend to be the best judges of dramatic performances, declare that fome of the modern actors, who have a general and not wholly undeferv'd applaufe, have mean understandings: But we flatter ourselves, it may be easily proved, that either the actors, whom these fevere criticks cenfure, have more fenfe than they have the difcernment to distinguish in them; or that they have lefs merit, even than they allow them, and have the good fortune to be esteemed much better performers, than they really are.

It is not easy to avoid the allowing a good un-, derstanding, even to perfons who excel in arts that are merely mechanick; and furely the accomplish'd actor, if he have no other title to it than that of his being fuch, ought not to be de

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