DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.55582#0105
VENICE. n
’tis no wonder that the Poets of so Jea-
lous and Reserved a Nation fail in such
Conversations on the Stage, as they have
no Patterns of in Nature. There are
Four Standing Characters which enter
into every Piece that comes on the Stage,
the Doctor, Harlequin, Pantalone and Co-
viello. The Doctor's- Character com-
prehends the whole Extent of a Pedant,
that with a deep Voice, and a Magi-
sterial Air breaks in upon Conversation,
and drives down all before him: Every
thing he. says is backed with Quotati-
ons out of Galen, Hippocrates, Plato, Fir-
gil, or any Author that riles uppermoil,
aad all Answers from his Companion are
looked upon as Impertinencies or Inter-
ruptions. Harlequin's Part is made up
of Blunders and Absurdities: He is to
mistake one Name for another, to for-
get his Errands, to stumble over Queens,
and to run his Head against every Poll
that Hands in his way. This is all at-
tended with something so Comical in
the Voice and Gestures, that a Man,
who is sensible of the Folly of the Part,
can hardly forbear being pleased with it.
Pantalone is generally an old Cully, and
Coviello a Sharper.
I have seen a Transsation of the Cid
aCted at Bolonia, which would never
D 3 have
’tis no wonder that the Poets of so Jea-
lous and Reserved a Nation fail in such
Conversations on the Stage, as they have
no Patterns of in Nature. There are
Four Standing Characters which enter
into every Piece that comes on the Stage,
the Doctor, Harlequin, Pantalone and Co-
viello. The Doctor's- Character com-
prehends the whole Extent of a Pedant,
that with a deep Voice, and a Magi-
sterial Air breaks in upon Conversation,
and drives down all before him: Every
thing he. says is backed with Quotati-
ons out of Galen, Hippocrates, Plato, Fir-
gil, or any Author that riles uppermoil,
aad all Answers from his Companion are
looked upon as Impertinencies or Inter-
ruptions. Harlequin's Part is made up
of Blunders and Absurdities: He is to
mistake one Name for another, to for-
get his Errands, to stumble over Queens,
and to run his Head against every Poll
that Hands in his way. This is all at-
tended with something so Comical in
the Voice and Gestures, that a Man,
who is sensible of the Folly of the Part,
can hardly forbear being pleased with it.
Pantalone is generally an old Cully, and
Coviello a Sharper.
I have seen a Transsation of the Cid
aCted at Bolonia, which would never
D 3 have