On the other hand, the tail-pieces, chiefly devoted to
Garrick, prove what a wonderful natural variety there was in
Garrick's soul, and are well worth comparative study. Noticeable
again, among the whole-plate portraits, is the thoroughly reassuring
countenance of Steele, the singularly fine heads of John, Charles,
and Fanny Kemble, while the certainly plain, pinched countenance of
William Davenant reminds one of Charles Kean, and might well have
lighted up, as did his, when the soul came into it, into power and
charm, as the speaking eyes assure us even in its repose.
The Renaissance inherited the old foolish prejudice of Roman times,
when, although the writers of plays were the intimate friends of
emperors, the actors were thought infamous. [79] Still, on the whole,
actors fared better in England than in Romanist France, where Moliere
was buried with less ceremony than a favourite dog. Very different
was the treatment of the eminent Mrs. Oldfield, who died in 1730:--
"Poor 'Narcissa' after death (says Walpole) was attired in a Holland
nightdress, with tucker and double ruffles of Brunswick lace, of
which latter material she also wore a headdress, and a pair of new
kid gloves.
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