I do not think he quite succeeded; but I must
own myself no fit judge. Fleeming and I were teacher and taught as
to the principles, disputatious rivals in the practice, of dramatic
writing.
Acting had always, ever since Rachel and the Marseillaise, a
particular power on him. 'If I do not cry at the play,' he used to
say, 'I want to have my money back.' Even from a poor play with
poor actors, he could draw pleasure. 'Giacometti's ELISABETTA,' I
find him writing, 'fetched the house vastly. Poor Queen Elizabeth!
And yet it was a little good.' And again, after a night of
Salvini: 'I do not suppose any one with feelings could sit out
OTHELLO, if Iago and Desdemona were acted.' Salvini was, in his
view, the greatest actor he had seen. We were all indeed moved and
bettered by the visit of that wonderful man. - 'I declare I feel as
if I could pray!' cried one of us, on the return from HAMLET. -
'That is prayer,' said Fleeming. W. B. Hole and I, in a fine
enthusiasm of gratitude, determined to draw up an address to
Salvini, did so, and carried it to Fleeming; and I shall never
forget with what coldness he heard and deleted the eloquence of our
draft, nor with what spirit (our vanities once properly mortified)
he threw himself into the business of collecting signatures.
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