"No, let her remain; the breeze is faint already: we During this time, the pirate had been questioning the su shall have a calm in half an hour. Have we lost many percargo as to the contents of the vessel and her stowage, men ?" when he was suddenly interrupted by one of the pirates, who Only seven, that I can reckon; but we have lost Wal-in a hurried voice, stated that the ship had received severa, lace" (the second mate.) shot between wind and water, and was sinking fast. Cain, "A little promotion will do no harm," replied Cain; who was standing on the slide of the carronade with his "take a dozen of our best men and search the ship, there sword in his hand, raised his arm and struck the pirate a are others alive yet. By the by, send a watch on board of blow on his head with the hilt, which, whether intended or the schooner; she is left to the mercy of the Kroumen, not, fractured his skull, and the man fell upon the deck. and"Take that, babbler! for your diligence; if these "One who is better out of her," replied Hawkhurst.-men are obstinate, we may have worked for nothing." "And those we find below- -" continued the mate. 66 Alive!" "True; we may else be puzzled where to find that portion of her cargo which suits us," said Hawkhurst, going down the hatchway to collect the men who were plundering on the main deck and in the captain's cabin. 66 The crew, who felt the truth of their captain's remark, did not appear to object to the punishment inflicted, and the body of the man was dragged away. "What mercy can we expect from those who shew no mercy to each other?" observed the bishop, lifting up his eyes to heaven. 66 'Here, you Maltese! up, there! and look well round if "Silence!" cried Cain; who now interrogated the suthere is anything in sight," said the captain, walking aft. percargo as to the contents of the hold-the poor man anBefore Hawkhurst had collected the men and ordered swered as well as he could-"the plate! the money for the them on board the schooner, as usual in those latitudes, it troops-where are they?" had fallen a perfect calm. "The money for the troops is in the spirit room, but Where was Francisco during this scene of blood? He of the plate I know nothing; it is in some of the cases had remained in the cabin of the schooner. Cain had belonging to my lord the bishop." more than once gone down to him, to persuade him to "Hawkhurst? down at once into the spirit-room and come on deck and assist at the boarding of the Portuguese, see to the money; in the mean time I will ask a few quesbut in vain-his sole reply to the threats and solicitations tions of this reverend father." of the pirate was,— "And the supercargo-do you want him any more?" "No; he may go." "Do with me as you please-I have made up my mind -you know I do not fear death-so long as I remain on The poor man fell down on his knees in thankfulness board of this vessel I will take no part in your atrocities. at what he considered his escape: he was dragged away If you do respect my mother's memory, suffer her son to by the pirates, and, it is scarcely necessary to add, that in seek an honest and honourable livelihood." a minute his body was torn to pieces by the sharks, who, These words of Francisco were ringing in the ears of scenting their prey from a distance, were now playing in Cain as he walked up and down on the quarterdeck of the shoals around the two vessels. Portuguese vessel, and, debased as he was, he could not The party on the quarter-deck were now unperceived help feeling that the youth was equal in animal, and his by the captain) joined by Francisco, who, hearing from superior in mental courage-he was arguing in his own the Krouman, Pompey, that there were prisoners still on nind upon the course he should pursue with respect to board, and amongst them two females, had come over to Francisco, when Hawkhurst made his appearance on deck, plead the cause of mercy. followed by his men, who dragged up six individuals who "Most reverend father," observed Cain, after a short had escaped the massacre. These were the bishop; his pause; "you have many articles of value in this vessel ?" niece; a Portuguese girl, her attendant; the supercargo of "None," replied the bishop, "except this poor girl; she the vessel: a sacristan; and a servant of the ecclesiastic: is indeed, beyond price, and will, I trust, be soon an angel they were hauled along the deck and placed in a row be- in heaven." fore the captain, who cast his eyes upon them in severe "Yet is this world, if what you preach be true, a purscrutiny. The bishop and her niece looked round, the one gatory which must be passed through previous to arriv proudly meeting the eye of Cain, although he felt that his ing there, and that girl may think death a blessing comhour was come; the other, carefully avoiding his gaze, and pared to what she may expect if you refuse to tell me glancing round to ascertain whether there were any other what I would know. You have good store of gold prisoners, and, if so, if her betrothed was amongst them; and silver ornaments for your churches-where but her eye discovered not what she sought—it was met they?" only by the bearded faces of the pirate-crew, and the blood which bespattered the deck. She covered her face with her hands. "Bring that man forward," said Cain, pointing to the servant. "Who are you?" "A servant of my lord the bishop." "And you?" continued the captain. แ are They are among the packages intrusted to my care.” "How many have you in all ?" "A hundred, if not more." "Will you deign to inform me where I may find what I require ?" The gold and silver are not mine, but are the property of that God to whom they have been dedicated," replied "A poor sacristan attending upon my lord the bishop." the bishop. And you?" cried he to the third. "The supercargo of this vessel." "Put him aside, Hawkhurst ?" "Answer quickly; no more subterfuge, good sir. Where is it to be found?" "I will not tell, thou blood-stained man; at least, in this "Do you want the others?" inquired Hawkhust insig- instance, there shall be disappointment, and the sea shal nificantly. "6 No." Hawkhurst gave a signal to some of the pirates who led away the sacristan and the servant. A stifled shriek and a heavy plunge in the water were heard a few seconds after. swallow up those earthly treasures to obtain which thot east so deeply imbrued thy hands. Pirate! I repeat it, will not tell." To be continued. From the Retrospective Review. the theatre,-that magic circle whose majesties do not An Apology for the Life of Mr. Colley Cibber, Comedian, THERE are, perhaps, few individuals, of intense personal feeling, whose lives, written by themselves, would be des- The Life of Cibber is peculiarly a favorite with us, not titute of interest or of value. Works of this description only by reason of the superlative coxcombry which it exenlarge the number of our intimacies without inconve- hibits, but of the due veneration which it yields to an art nience, awaken, with a peculiar vividness, pleasant recol- too frequently under-rated, even among those to whose lections of our own past career, and excite that fond and gratification it ministers. If the degree of enjoyment and gentle sympathy with the little sorrows, cares, hopes, and of benefit produced by an art be any test of its excellence, enjoyment of others, which infuses new tenderness into all there are few indeed, which will yield to that of the actor. the pulses of individual joy. The qualification which is His exertions do not, indeed, often excite emotions so deep most indispensable to the writer of such auto-biographies, or so pure as those which the noblest poetry inspires, but is vanity. If he does not dwell with gusto on his own their general influence are far more widely extended. theme, he will communicate no gratification to his reader. The tenderest beauties of the most gifted of bards, find in He must not, indeed, fancy himself too outrageously what the bosoms of a very small number an answering sympahe is not, but should have the highest sense of what he is, thy. Even of those who talk familiarly Spenser and Milthe happiest relish for his own peculiarities, and the most ton, there are few who have fairly read, and still fewer blissful assurance that they are matters of great interest to who truly feel their divine effusions. It is only in the the world. He who feels thus, will not chill us by cold theatre, that any image of the real grandeur of humanity generalities, but trace with an exquisite minuteness all the -any picture of generous heroism and noble self-sacrifelicities of his life, all the well remembered moments of fice-is poured on the imaginations, and sent warm to the gratified vanity, from the first beatings of hope and first hearts of the vast body of the people. There are eyes, taste of delight, to the time when age is gladdened by the familiar through months and years only with mechanic reflected tints of young enterprize and victory. Thus it toil, suffused with natural tears, engendered by sacred pity. was with Colley Cibber; and, therefore, his Apology for There are the deep fountains of hearts, long encrusted by his own life is one of the most amusing books that have narrow cares, burst open, and a holy light is sent in on ever been written. He was not, indeed a very wise or the long sunken forms of the imagination, which shone lofty character-nor did he affect great virtue or wisdom fair and goodly in boyhood by their own light, but have -but openly derided gravity, bade defiance to the serious since been sealed and forgotten in their "sunless treasupursuits of life, and honestly preferred his own lightness ries." There, do the lowliest and most ignorant catch of heart and of head, to knowledge the most extensive or their only glimpse of that poetic radiance which is the thought the most profound. He was vain even of his va- finest glory of our being. While they gaze on the wonnity. At the very commencement of his work, he avows drous spectacle, they forget the petty concerns of their own his determination not to repress it, because it is part of individual lot, and recognize and rejoice in their kindred himself, and therefore will only increase the resemblance with a nature capable of high emprise, of meekest sufferof the picture. Rousseau did not more clearly lay open to ing, and of defiance to the mortal powers of agony and the the world the depths and inmost recesses of his soul, than grave. They are elevated and softened into men. They Cibber of his foibles and minikin weaknesses. The philo- are carried beyond the ignorant present time; feel the sopher dwelt not more intensely on the lone enthusiasm of past and the future on the instant, and kindle as they gaze his spirit, on the alleviations of his throbbing soul, on the on the massive realities of human virtue, or on those fairy long draughts of rapture which he eagerly drank in from visions which are the gleaming fore-shadows of golden the loveliness of the universe, than the player on his early years, which hereafter shall bless the world. Their horiaspiring for scenic applause, and all the petty triumphs and zon is suddenly extended from the narrow circle of low mortifications of his passion for the favour of the town. anxieties and selfish joys, to the farthest and most sacred How real and speaking is the description which he gives hills which bound our moral horizon; and they perceive, of his fond desires for the bright course of an actor-of in clear vision, the eternal rocks of defence for their nahis light-hearted pleasure, when, in the little part of the ture, which the noblest spirits of their fellow men have Chaplain in The Orphan, he received his first applause-been privileged to raise. While they feel that "which and of his higher transport, when the next day Goodman, gives an awe of things above them," their souls are exa retired actor of note, clapped him on the shoulder at a panded in the heartiest sympathy with the vast body of rehearsal, exclaimed, with an oath, that he must make a their fellows. A thousand hearts are swayed at once by good actor, which almost took away his breath, and fairly the same emotion, as the high grass of the meadow yields, drew tears into his eyes! The spirit of gladness which as a single blade, to the breeze which sweeps over it. Disgave such exquisite keenness to his youthful appetite for tinctions of fortune, rank, talent, age, all give way to the praise, sustained him through all the changes of his for- warm tide of emotion, and every class feel only as partak tune, enabling him to make a jest of penury, assisting him ers in one primal sympathy, "made of one blood," and to gather fresh courage from every slight, adding zest to equal in the mysterious sanctities of their being. Surely every success, until he arrived at the high dignity of " Pa-the art that produces an effect like this-which separates, tentee of the Theatre Royal." When "he no revenue as by a divine alchemy, the artificial from the real in huhad but his good spirits to feed and clothe him," these were manity-which supplies to the artisan in the capital, the ample. His vanity was to him a kingdom. The airiest place of those woods and free airs and mountain streams, of town butterflies, he sipped of the sweets of pleasure which insensibly harmonize the peasant's character-which wherever its stray gifts were found; sometimes in the gives the poorest to feel the old grandeur of tragedy, sweep. tavern among the wits, but chiefly in the golden sphere of ing by with sceptered pall-which makes the heart of the VOL. XXVIII. MARCH, 1836.-25. I instant, conceived it, as if he had lost the player, and even in that dissolute character of The Rover he seemed were the real king he personated! a perfection so to wash off the guilt from vice and gave it charms and rarely found, that very often, in actors of good repute, merit. For tho' it may be a reproach to the poet, to a certain vacancy of look, inanity of voice, or super- draw such characters, not only unpunished, but rewardfluous gesture shall unmask the man to the judicious ed, the actor may still be allowed his due praise in his spectator; who from the least of those errors plainly excellent performance. And this is a distinction which, sees the whole but a lesson given him, to be got by when this comedy was acted at Whitehall, King Wil heart, from some great author, whose, sense is deeper liam's Queen Mary was pleased to make in favour of than the repeater's understanding. This true majesty Monfort, notwithstanding her disapprobation of the Kynaston had so entire a command of, that when he play. whispered the following plain line to Hotspur, He had besides all this, a variety in his genius, which Send us your prisoners, or you'll hear of it! few capital actors have shewn, or perhaps have thought it any addition to their merit to arrive at; he could enhe conveyed a more terrible menace in it, than the loud- tirely change himself; could at once throw off the est intemperance of voice could swell to. But let the man of sense, for the brisk, vain, rude, and lively coxbold imitator beware, for without the look, and just comb, the false, flashy pretender to wit, and the dupe of elocution that waited on it, an attempt of the same his own sufficiency of this he gave a delightful innature may fall to nothing. stance in the character of Sparkish in Wycherly's But the dignity of this character appeared in Ky-Country Wife. In that of Sir Courtly Nice his excelnaston still more shining, in the private scene between lence was still greater: there his whole man, voice, the King, and the Prince his son there you saw ma- mien, and gesture, was no longer Montfort, but anojesty, in that sort of grief, which only majesty could ther person. There, the insipid, soft civility, the feel! there the paternal concern, for the errors of the elegant and formal inien; the drawling delicacy of son, made the monarch more revered and dreaded: his voice, the stately flatness of his address, and the empty reproaches so just, yet so unmixed with anger (and eminence of his attitudes, were so nicely observed and therefore the more piercing) opening as it were the guarded by him, that had he not been an entire master arms of nature, with a secret wish, that filial duty, of nature, had he not kept his judgment, as it were, a and penitence awaked, might fall into them with grace centinel upon himself, not to admit the least likeness of and honour. In this affecting scene, I thought Ky- what he used to be, to enter into any part of his pernaston shew'd his most masterly strokes of nature; ex-formance, he could not possibly have so completely pressing all the various motions of the heart, with the finished it." same force, dignity, and feeling, the yare written; add that is not born with it." ing to the whole, that peculiar and becoming grace, the performers in low comedy and high farce. The folOur author is even more felicitous in his description of which the best writer cannot inspire into any actor, lowing critique brings Nokes-the Liston of his age—so vividly before us, that we seem almost as well acquainted How inimitably is the varied excellence of Monfort de with him, as with his delicious successor. picted in the following speaking picture: "Nokes was an actor of a quite different genius from "Monfort, a younger man by twenty years, and at any I have ever read, heard of, or seen, since or before this time in his highest reputation, was an actor of a his time; and yet his general excellence may be comvery different style: of person he was tall, well made, prehended in one article, viz. a plain and palpable simfair, and of an agreeable aspect: his voice clear, full, plicity of nature, which was so utterly his own, that he and melodious: in tragedy he was the most affecting was often as unaccountably diverting in his common lover within my memory. His addresses had a resist- speech, as on the stage. I saw him once, giving an acless recommendation from the very tone of his voice, count of some table-talk, to another actor behind the which gave his words such a softness, that, as Dryden scenes, which, a man of quality accidentally listening to, says, -Like flakes of feather'd snow, was so deceived by his manner, that he ask'd him, if that was a new play he was rehearsing? It seems almost amazing, that this simplicity, so easy to Nokes, should never be caught by any of his successors. Leigh and Underhil have been well copied, tho' not equalled by All this he particularly verified in that scene of Alex- others. But not all the mimical skill of Estcourt (famed ander, where the heroe throws himself at the feet as he was for it) tho' he had often seen Nokes, could of Statira for pardon of his past infidelities. There scarce give us an idea of him. After this, perhaps, it we saw the great, the tender, the penitent, the de- will be saying less of him, when I own, that though I spairing, the transported, and the amiable, in the have still the sound of every line he spoke, in my ear, highest perfection. In comedy, he gave the truest (which used not to be thought a bad one) yet I have oflife to what we call the Fine Gentleman; his spirit ten tried, by myself, but in vain, to reach the least disshone the brighter for being polished with decency: tant likeness of the viz comica of Nokes. Though this in scenes of gaiety, he never broke into the regard, that may seem little to his praise, it may be negatively saywas due to the prsence of equal or superior characters, ing a good deal to it, because I have never seen any one tho' inferior actors played them; he filled the stage, actor, except himself, whom I could not, at least so far not by elbowing, and crossing it before others, or dis-imitate, as to give you a more than tolerable notion of concerting their action, but they surpassing them, in his manner. But Nokes was so singular a species, and true and masterly touches of nature. He never laugh- was so formed by nature, for the stage, that I question ed at his own jest, unless the point of his raillery upon if (beyond the trouble of getting words by heart) it ever another required it. He had a particular talent, in giv-cost him an hour's labour to arrive at that high reputaing life to bon mots and repartees: the wit of the poet tion he had, and deserved. seemed always to come from him extempore, and shar- "The characters he particularly shone in, were Sir pened into more wit, from his brilliant manner of de- Martin Marr-all, Gomez in The Spanish Friar, Sir Nilivering it he had himself a good share of it, or what colas Cully in Love in a Tub, Barnaby Brittle in The is equal to it, so lively a pleasantness of humour, that Wanton Wife, Sir Davy Dunce in The Soldier's Fortune, when either of these fell into his hands upon the stage, Sosia in Amphitrion, &c. &c. &c. To tell you how he he wantoned with them, to the highest delight of his acted them, is beyond the reach of criticism: but, to auditors. The agreeable was so natural to him, that tell you what effect his action had upon the spectator, |