ftrophe, which he has founded on injuftice, is produced by fuperftition, the accomplishment of a prophecy. What conclufion can be drawn from hence, but that oracles, divinations, and prophecies, fhould be believed, and must always be fulfilled? Such notions can only tend to enslave the mind, and bring us back to the long exploded errors of ignorance and barbarifm. We wish therefore to fee a tragedy of Mr. Jephfon's free from thofe objections, and from which a better moral may be drawn than from the Count of Narbonne. The Fair Circaffian. A Tragedy. As performed at the TheatreRoyal, Drury-Lane. 8vo. 1s. 6d. Baldwin. THOUGH we do not in the Fair Circaffian meet with that artful conduct of the fable, and knowlege of ftage-effect, together with that even flow of language, correctnefs, and precifion, which fo eminently distinguish the Count of Narbonne ; it has, notwithstanding, a fufficient fhare of merit to entitle it to no inconfiderable portion of public applaufe, especially when confidered as the ingenious author's first dramatic production. We cannot, at the fame time, compliment Mr. Pratt on the choice of his fubject: which, though well calculated for an Oriental tale, adorned by Hawkefworth with pleafing machinery, fine fentiments, and eafy diction, does not furnish that chain of interesting events, or that difplay of character which are effentially neceffary to the formation of an affecting tragedy. The rivalíhip of two brothers, without fome very new and ftriking fituations that may deeply interest the fpectator, is a circumftance too common and familiar to furprise or affect us; not to mention that the author has, by no means, made the beft ufe of the few materials with which Hawkefworth had supplied him. The top put to the celebration of the nuptial rites, in the third act, by the treachery of the priest, awakens the attention of the audience, and feems to promise an interesting fufpenfe; but this lofes all its effect, and appears flat and infipid from the immediate difcovery of the whole by Omar. The tale is disbelieved by Hamet and Almeida, and every thing is juft in the fame fituation they were before the false oracle was delivered. In the two laft acts the plot is intricate and perplexed; the meeting of Almeida and Almoran in the dark, and her mistaking him for Hamet, are aukward and improbable circumftances; and the catastrophe, not being naturally produced, gives but little fatisfaction. I With With all those disadvantages in point of fable, and the inartificial management of it, there are parts of this tragedy which lay claim to our warmeft approbation. The characters of Almoran and Hamet are well contrafted and supported; the fentiments juft and noble; and the diction, in general, eafy and poetical; though, in fome parts, not fo* chafte and correct as from a writer of taste, abilities, and experience might have been expected. As a fpecimen of our dramatift's ftyle and manner, we shall prefent our readers with the first scene of the fecond act, be tween Hamet and Omar, where the venerable old priest speaks with great dignity, and gives his young mafter fome excellent advice in very good language. 'ACT II. SCENE I. HAMET, OMAR. Hamet.] Thou good old man-Thou full of days and honour, Guide of my youth, and glory of my crown, My bofom labours with a friend's impatience As now I lead thee to thefe facred feats,— These awful fepulchres, where Perfia's kings, My ancestors, repofe in folemn filenceOh, my heart throbs till I have told thee all. Omar.] My prince, my child! I praise thy tender zeal, And though oppreffive time upon this head Hath heavy fnow'd full many a winter's whitenefs, Yet once this heart-the memory still is dear Amongst the inaccuracies of language and expreffion, in this tragedy, may be reckoned the following, which we would with to fee corrected in future editions.-One of the lovers talks of drinking -large draughts of paffion;" and speaking of his mistress, fays, her eyes fhot funs.' Almoran fays, My defrauded world's at length restor`d.' A defrauded world can never, with any propriety of language, fignify the world which I have been defrauded of. To intercede the merciful-instead of to intercede with. Who fo fit as thee--instead of thou. Defcend thy choral choir-instead of make to defcend. Depoft lov'd of ev'ry little care.' This is another Caled of the core." holy men their fan&tities prepare.' Where's the virtues-for where are the virtues. Thefe, with feveral others equally inelegant, improper, and ungrammatical, fhould be altered. Felt Felt a fond paffion, pure and warm as thine. Love's foft delay, and tender repetition. "But, oh! by what fad ftroke of cruel fortune At length it pleas'd the gods to take her from me, In my firft widow'd days I felt as man; At length her facred spirit seem'd to chide, I left her with the gods, and wept no more." Hamet.] Then blusht and figh, and even weep for words! Omar.] When does Abdallah's daughter then confent.Hamet.] Hear it, ye favouring heav'ns, and every breeze, Bear on your viewless wings the tender tidings, I fhall to-morrow claim Omar.] To-morrow! Knows royal Almoran this fudden purpofe? Hamet.] Ah Omar thou haft fprinkled drops of ice Cold on my heart, to freeze the flame of love. Not all the jealous vigilance of fondness; Not the still waking eyes of faithful Ali Can foil the felon arts of wily Caled. Almoran again hath feen her, friend-and much, Wear not a doubtful eye upon a brother, Nor let fufpicion fear thy generous heart. Hamet.] Heaven knows my fondnefs: knows the generous love, Refpect fincere, and tenderness I bear him, VoL. LII. Dec. 1781. Hh And And the foft fhade I caft o'er all his failings :" As the warm tide that conftant flows to feed it. As brothers and as friends.-Unite to blefs, More near its native fkies. Deep are thy counfels 'grav'd upon this heart. Omar.] Yet fpare a moment to the voice of truth, That flows from all the great, the glorious virtues, Thine eye, thy hand, thy heart from what thou ow'ft, Claim as a duty from the prince they ferve, Not Perfia's utmost pomp combin'd to foothe thee, power: Hamet.] Oh, never, never may this breaft, which throbs With all a patriot's, all a parent's ardour, To ferve the weal of Perfia, feel a curfe So charg'd with anguifh, or fo full of horrour! With With my lov'd fubjects teach me, gods, to share Now, then, my friend, I muft require thy aid.. His fecond father in an inftant office Engage Of tender import-This letter-take it Omar. Why deeply bent to earth his thoughtful eye? Omar. Thy love hath fpoke, I doubt not, brotherly. Writ to a brother's friendship-Yes, my Omar, To private kindness, and unburthen'd freedom: Hamet.] Delay no longer then-oh think a little, [Exit Hamet. Omar alone.] I would not check his joys too far; and yet Too plain, alas, these aged eyes can fee A train of mischiefs gathering round our heads. [Exit.' There are many other paffages in the Fair Circaffian, which will give our readers pleasure in the perufal. The deferved applause and favourable reception which this tragedy has met with, will, we hope, encourage the author to produce another till more worthy of our attention. FOREIGN Hh2 |