Memoirs of John Bannister, Comedian, Volume 1R. Bentley, 1839 - Actors |
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Common terms and phrases
actor admirable afterward alteration applause attempt audience Bannister performed Bannister played Bannister's Battle of Hexham benefit burlesque called character Charles Bannister charms Colman comedy comic Covent Garden critic delight derived dialogue display dramatic Drury Lane effect exhibited farce father favour favourite feeling formed frequently Garrick gave genius gentleman give grace green-room Hamlet Haymarket Haymarket theatre honourable humour interest Jack Jack Bannister John Bannister John Philip Kemble Jordan judgment justly Kemble King lady ludicrous manager manly manner merit mind Miss Farren Molière Mother Cole never night nister observations occasion opera Palmer passion perfection person piece player plot poet popularity possessed powers Prince Prince Hoare produced profession prologue racters received reputation revived ridicule Royalty Theatre says scene season Shakspeare Shylock Siddons Sir Giles song spirit stage Storace success supposed talent theatre theatrical tion tragedy Volpone Voltaire young Zaphna
Popular passages
Page 48 - Yes, as rocks are, When foamy billows split themselves against Their flinty ribs; or as the moon is moved When wolves, with hunger pined, howl at her brightness. I am of a solid temper, and, like these, Steer on a constant course : with mine own sword, If called into the field, I can make that right, Which fearful enemies murmured at as wrong.
Page 9 - Hath op'd his ponderous and marble jaws, To cast thee up again. What may this mean, That thou, dead corse, again in complete steel...
Page 48 - How ! forsake thee ! Do I wear a sword for fashion? or is this arm Shrunk up or wither'd? Does there live a man Of that large list I have encounter'd with Can truly say I e'er gave inch of ground Not purchas'd with his blood that did oppose me?
Page 48 - He frights men out of their estates, And breaks through all law-nets, made to curb ill men, As they were cobwebs.
Page 39 - I oft have heard him say how he admired Men of your large profession, that could speak To every cause, and things mere contraries, Till they were hoarse again, yet all be law; That, with most quick agility, could turn, And re-turn; make knots, and undo them; Give forked counsel; take provoking gold On either hand, and put it up; these men, He knew, would thrive with their humility.
Page 39 - Till they were hoarse again, yet all be law ; That, with most quick agility, could turn, And return ; make knots, and undo them ; Give forked counsel ; take provoking gold On either hand, and put it up ; these men, He knew, would thrive with their humility. And, for his part, he thought he should be blest To have his heir of such a suffering spirit, So wise, so grave, of so perplexed a tongue, And loud withal, that would not wag, nor scarce Lie still, without a fee ; when every word Your worship...
Page 60 - Though sometimes lodged in the hearts of worldly men, That ne'er consider from whom they receive it, Forsakes such as abuse the giver of it. Which is the reason that the politic And cunning statesman, that believes he fathoms The counsels of all kingdoms on the earth, Is by simplicity oft over-reached.
Page 19 - feel you mine'; and he instantly stabs him. The queen rushes out imploring the attendants to save her from her son. Laertes, seeing treason and murder before him, attacks Hamlet to revenge his father, his sister, and his King. He wounds Hamlet mortally, and Horatio is on the point of making Laertes accompany him to the shades, when the prince commands him to desist, assuring him that it was the hand of Heaven, which administered by Laertes 'that precious balm for all his wounds.
Page 36 - All he writes is railing : And when his plays come forth, think they can flout them, With saying, he was a year about them. To this there needs no lie, but this his creature, Which was two months since no feature : And though he dares give them five lives to mend it, 'Tis known, five weeks fully penned it, From his own hand, without a coadjutor, Novice, journeyman, or tutor.
Page 158 - Ah! but where shall we get such another hangman ? Poor fellow ! Poor Parsons ! The old cause of our mirth is now the cause of our melancholy. He, who so often made us forget our cares, may well claim a sigh to his memory.