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Characters (1615)
By Sir Thomas Overbury
- (1581-1613O)
[An Excellent Actor]
Whatsoeuer is commendable in the graue orator, is most exquisitly perfect in him; for by a full and significant action of body, he charmes our attention: Sit in a full theater, and you will thinke you see so many lines drawne from the circumference of so many eares, whilesthe actor is the center. He doth not striue to make nature mostrous, she is often seen in the same scaene with him, but neither on stilts nor crutches; and for his voice tis not lower then the prompter, nor lowder then the foile and target. By his Action he fortifies morall precepts with example; for what we see him personate, we thinke truely done before vs: a man of a deepe thought might apprehend, the ghosts of our ancient heroes walk't againe, and take him (at Seuerall times) for many of them. He is much affected to painting, and tis a question whether that make him an excellent plaier, or his playing and exquisite painter. Hee addes grace to the poets labours: for what in the poet is but ditty, in him is both ditty and musicke. He entertaines vs in the best leasure of our life, that is betweene meales, the most vnfit time, either for study or bodily exercise: the flight of hawkes, and chase of wilde beastes, either of them are delights noble: but some think this sport of men the worthier, despight all calumny. All men haue beene of his occupation: and indeed, what hee doth fainedly that doe others essentially: this day one plaies a monarch, the next a priuate person. Heere one acts a tyrant, on the morrow an exile: A parasite this man to night, too morow a precisian, and so of diuers others. I obserue, of all men liuing, a worthy actor in one kind is the strongest motiue of affection that can be: for when he dies, we cannot be perswaded any man can doe his parts like him. Therefore the imitating characterist was extreame idle in calling them rogues. His muse it seemes, with all his loud inuocation, could not be wak't to light him a snuffe to read the statute: for I would let his malicious ignorance vnderstand, that rogues are not to be imploide as maine ornaments to his maiesties reuels; but the itch of bestriding the presse, or getting vp on this wodden pacolet, hath defil'd more innocent paper, then euer did laxatiue physicke: Yet is their inuention such tyred stuffe, that like kentish post-horse they can not go beyond their ordinary stage, should you flea them. But to conclude, I valew a worthy actor by the corruption of some few of the quality, as I would doe gold in the oare; I should not minde the drosse, but the purity of the metall.
Image:
Portrait of the actor Edward Alleyn (1566-1626), engraving by W. Heydemann
after S. Harding. Mary Evans Picture Library. From Shakespeare and the Globe .
