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Poem
June 17, 1789
Gazette Of The United States
New York, New York County, New York
What is this article about?
A poem praising the emotional power of actress Mrs. Siddons' performances, which can evoke pity, soothe anguish, move thieves to honesty, wring tears from stoics, and melt misers' hearts. Signed E. C., with an anecdote about a thief affected by her acting.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
ON MRS. SIDDONS.
A CELEBRATED ACTRESS IN LONDON.
WHAT art thou! Thou who canst steal soft pity's tender breast, and at thy feign'd revenge, teach her to greet the agonizing groan, and eye the reeking dagger with a smile!
Thou, who canst soothe the rooted anguish of the smarting soul, and turn its trickling streams to bathe thy painted wounds!
Thou, who canst arrest the callous thief—suspend his pilfering rage—teach him to feel—and drop an honest tear on thy fictitious grief!
Thou, who canst wring the Stoic's stubborn heart, and force the maiden tear!
Thou, who canst melt the Miser's flinty soul, and make him weep and give!
What art thou! the dazzling meteor of a tinted day! A splendid transient wonder! great, but confin'd; and where unseen, unknown; for alas! thine is a trackless path, where no vestige can direct to trace thy glory: The unseen Beauty feebly thrills in story; and as when radiant Phœbus disappears, the pale-face Moon comes forth, and faintly cheers us for the loss of day—so some less brilliant light, not risen, or now lost in thy superior blaze, when SIDDONS sets, shall glitter in its turn, the idol glory of a darker hour. E. C.
*It was said that a thief was so much affected with Mrs. Siddons's acting, that he was detected in the act of picking a pocket, by neglecting to withdraw his hand.
A CELEBRATED ACTRESS IN LONDON.
WHAT art thou! Thou who canst steal soft pity's tender breast, and at thy feign'd revenge, teach her to greet the agonizing groan, and eye the reeking dagger with a smile!
Thou, who canst soothe the rooted anguish of the smarting soul, and turn its trickling streams to bathe thy painted wounds!
Thou, who canst arrest the callous thief—suspend his pilfering rage—teach him to feel—and drop an honest tear on thy fictitious grief!
Thou, who canst wring the Stoic's stubborn heart, and force the maiden tear!
Thou, who canst melt the Miser's flinty soul, and make him weep and give!
What art thou! the dazzling meteor of a tinted day! A splendid transient wonder! great, but confin'd; and where unseen, unknown; for alas! thine is a trackless path, where no vestige can direct to trace thy glory: The unseen Beauty feebly thrills in story; and as when radiant Phœbus disappears, the pale-face Moon comes forth, and faintly cheers us for the loss of day—so some less brilliant light, not risen, or now lost in thy superior blaze, when SIDDONS sets, shall glitter in its turn, the idol glory of a darker hour. E. C.
*It was said that a thief was so much affected with Mrs. Siddons's acting, that he was detected in the act of picking a pocket, by neglecting to withdraw his hand.
What sub-type of article is it?
Ode
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Mrs Siddons
Acting
Emotion
Theater
Pity
Thief
Stoic
Miser
London Actress
What entities or persons were involved?
E. C.
Poem Details
Title
On Mrs. Siddons.
Author
E. C.
Subject
A Celebrated Actress In London.
Key Lines
What Art Thou! Thou Who Canst Steal Soft Pity's Tender Breast, And At Thy Feign'd Revenge, Teach Her To Greet The Agonizing Groan, And Eye The Reeking Dagger With A Smile!
Thou, Who Canst Arrest The Callous Thief—Suspend His Pilfering Rage—Teach Him To Feel—And Drop An Honest Tear On Thy Fictitious Grief!
What Art Thou! The Dazzling Meteor Of A Tinted Day! A Splendid Transient Wonder! Great, But Confin'd;