THE ROMAN FATHER. MR. WHITEHEAD does not disguise his obligations to CORNEILLE; and there are who think it would have been better if they had been even yet more considerable. But WHITEHEAD was wedded to classic models, and he thought the complexity of the French Intrigue would violate the unity of his subject. The tragedy of CORNEILLE has therefore the most business-yet its scenes are cold and declamatory, and WHITEHEAD, who saw this, could not keep the chill invasion from his own Scenes. When HENDERSON, as it were shewing a lightning before death, threw into one exclamation in the character of HORATIUS, the true tragic tone of nature and passion, he reached the perfection of the artFor the opportunity he rather made it, than found it. When VALERIA demands. What could he do, my lord, when three opposed him the Actor collected himself, and with an ⚫ energy of voice and action, that struck the heart like the thunderbolt, piercingly exclaimed, DIE The tone vibrates still upon our ear, it was never surpassed, not even by the shriek of Mrs. CRAWFORD'S "Was he alive?" Both electrified. PROLOGUE. BRITONS, to-night, in native pomp we come, And, safe from ills which force or fallion brings, Yet from such times, and such plain chiefs as these, Of an old tale, which every school-boy knows? Our bard has play'd a most adventurous part, These are his arts; if these cannot atone For all those nameless errors yet unknown, If, shunning faults which nobler bards commit, B THE ROMAN FATHER. ACT I. SCENE 1. A Room in HORATIUS'S House A Soldier crosses the Stage, HORATIA following. Horatia. STAY, soldier. As you parted from my father, But all imperfectly. Said you not Alba Was on the brink of fate, and Rome determin'd Sold. 'Twas so resolv'd This morning, lady, ere I left the camp. Our heroes are tir'd out with ling'ring war, And half-unmeaning fight. Horatia. "Alas! I hop'd "The kind remorse which touch'd the kindred states, "And made their swords fall lightly on the breasts "Of foes they could not hate, might have produc'd "A milder resolution." Then this day |