DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.51519#0177
NELL GWYNN.
151
Martyr, Alicia in the Black Prince, and Cidaria in the Indian
Emperor, which her admirer Pepys allows that she played a most
basely she also appeared as Queen Elizabeth in the Earl of
Essex. Nell Gwynn in Queen Elizabeth must have been rare;—■
something' like Polonius “enacting Julius Cossar in the Capitol.”
But; on the other hand; she excelled in comedy; and in all parts
in which dancing* and singing* were requisite. The character, of
Florimel in the Maiden Queen appears to have been her chef-
d'oeuvre in this style. Her easy gracefulness of address, arch
expression; and musical voice; rendered her unrivalled as a speaker
of prologues and epilogues : several of Dryden’s best; and it is
well known that he excelled in these productions; were written
expressly for her. For instance; the prologue to Aurengzebe, and
the ludicrous epilogue to Tyrannic Love, in which; after stabbing
herself most heroically in the part of Valeria; and the mutes appear
in conclusion to carry off the dead; she gives the bearer a box on
the ear and jumps up; exclaiming,—•
“ Hold ! are you mad ? you d—d confounded dog!
I am to rise and speak the’epilogue !”
In this epilogue; Dryden; who; with all his admiration for Nell
Gwymi; was aware of her unfitness for the part she acted; puts
into her mouth a kind of confession of her own deficiencies :=—
“ I am the ghost of poor departed Nelly;
* * # *
To tell you truth, I walk because I die
Out of my calling—in a tragedy !”
And the concluding lines contain an allusion to one of her personal
characteristics;—the extreme negligence of her dress:—-
* “ To the King’s house, and there saw The Mad Couple, which is but an ordi-
nary play ; but only Nell’s and Hart’s mad parts are most excellent done, but
especially hers : which makes it a miracle to me to think how ill she do any
scrio,us part, as the other day, just like a fool or changeling: and, in a mad part,
do beyond all imitation almost.”—Vol. ii. p. 171.
151
Martyr, Alicia in the Black Prince, and Cidaria in the Indian
Emperor, which her admirer Pepys allows that she played a most
basely she also appeared as Queen Elizabeth in the Earl of
Essex. Nell Gwynn in Queen Elizabeth must have been rare;—■
something' like Polonius “enacting Julius Cossar in the Capitol.”
But; on the other hand; she excelled in comedy; and in all parts
in which dancing* and singing* were requisite. The character, of
Florimel in the Maiden Queen appears to have been her chef-
d'oeuvre in this style. Her easy gracefulness of address, arch
expression; and musical voice; rendered her unrivalled as a speaker
of prologues and epilogues : several of Dryden’s best; and it is
well known that he excelled in these productions; were written
expressly for her. For instance; the prologue to Aurengzebe, and
the ludicrous epilogue to Tyrannic Love, in which; after stabbing
herself most heroically in the part of Valeria; and the mutes appear
in conclusion to carry off the dead; she gives the bearer a box on
the ear and jumps up; exclaiming,—•
“ Hold ! are you mad ? you d—d confounded dog!
I am to rise and speak the’epilogue !”
In this epilogue; Dryden; who; with all his admiration for Nell
Gwymi; was aware of her unfitness for the part she acted; puts
into her mouth a kind of confession of her own deficiencies :=—
“ I am the ghost of poor departed Nelly;
* * # *
To tell you truth, I walk because I die
Out of my calling—in a tragedy !”
And the concluding lines contain an allusion to one of her personal
characteristics;—the extreme negligence of her dress:—-
* “ To the King’s house, and there saw The Mad Couple, which is but an ordi-
nary play ; but only Nell’s and Hart’s mad parts are most excellent done, but
especially hers : which makes it a miracle to me to think how ill she do any
scrio,us part, as the other day, just like a fool or changeling: and, in a mad part,
do beyond all imitation almost.”—Vol. ii. p. 171.