PLAYERS. They arrive in the Borough. - Welcomed by their former Friends. Are better fitted for Comic than Tragic Scenes: yet better approved in the latter by one part of their Audience. -Their general Character and Pleasantry.-Particular Distresses and Labours.-Their Fortitude and Patience.-A private Rehearsal.-The Vanity of the aged Actress.-An Heroine from the Milliner's Shop. A deluded Tradesman. Of what Persons the Company is composed.-Character and Adventures of Frederick Thompson. LETTER XII. PLAYER S. DRAWN by the annual Call, we now behold Yon Parties move, their former Friends in sight, the Night. Now public Rooms shall sound with Words divine, Peruse these Bills and see what each can do,Behold! the Prince, the Slave, the Monk, the Jew ; Change but the Garment, and they'll all engage We all endure them: there are some admire ; Children of Thespis, welcome! Knights and Queens! Counts! Barons! Beauties! when before your Scenes, And mighty Monarchs thund'ring from your Throne; Then step behind, and all your Glory's gone: Of Crown and Palace, Throne and Guards bereft, The Pomp is vanish'd, and the Care is left. Yet strong and lively is the Joy they feel, When the full House secures the plenteous Mcal; Flatt'ring and flatter'd; each attempts to raise Than he who proudly acts an Hero's Part; Nor without Cause; the Boards, we know, can yield Place for fierce Contest, like the tented Field. Graceful to tread the Stage, to be in turn Against whose Swords no weeping Widows pray, Sad-happy Race! soon rais'd and soon deprest, Your Days all past in Jeopardy and Jest; Poor without Prudence, with Afflictions vain, Not warn'd by Misery, not enrich'd by Gain ; Whom Justice pitying, chides from Place to Place, A wandering, careless, wretched, merry Race, Who cheerful Looks assume, and play the Parts Of happy Rovers with repining Hearts; Then cast off Care, and in the mimic Pain Of tragic Woe, feel Spirits light and vain, Distress and Hope-the Mind's, the Body's Wear, The Man's Affliction, and the Actor's Tear: Alternate times of Fasting and Excess Are yours, ye smiling Children of Distress. : Slaves though you be, your Wandering Freedom seems, And with your varying Views and restless Schemes, Your Griefs are transient, as your Joys are Dreams. Yet keen those Griefs-ah! what avail thy Charms, Fair Juliet! what that Infant in thine Arms; What those heroic Lines thy Patience learns, What all the Aid thy present Romeo earns, Whilst thou art crowded in that lumbering Wane, With all thy plaintive Sisters to complain? Nor is there lack of Labour-To rehearse, There is a veteran Dame; I see her stand Methinks 'tis pityful to see her try, |