A day with Cromwell: a drama of history, in five acts, by Auctor.

  • Benjamin Ward Richardson
Date:
1869
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A day with Cromwell: a drama of history, in five acts, by Auctor. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    Smite em. [Aside.]—He’s a play-actor; I hate that. Cromwell.—Art thou by profession a player ? Betterton.—By your Highness’ pleasure, I have that honour. Cromwell.—I had thought the race were extinct in this Common- wealth. Betterton.—Truly, my Lord, ’tis a sorry trade now 5 hut there he of us who still cherish it, and trust to your Highness’ wisdom to see it is good. Cromwell.—Mr. Betterton, let me say that the sorriness of the trade i3 vastly the players’ own fardt. In the late reign they did so play, Sir,—it is true what I say,—that murder, arson, forgery, adul- tery, lying, swindling, and the weakest frivolity were the rage of the stage; at which good men did very naturally demur. Betterton.—In shame, I admit ’twas so. Yet is there excuse, my Lord. The player, your Highness, must even like other men live by obeying his master, the public that fills his house, and must even reflect the vices the master exonerates. For my part, and believe me, I speak the thoughts of my brethren, I hate the sight of vice on the stage as I do off it, except it be to correct vice by showing its bad end, and then even with limitation of grossness. I would have the stage pure as the church, and in its way as good a teacher. This, too, let me assure your Highness, may, and, when the world demands it, will be. Cromwell.—Thou art an enthusiast, Mr. Betterton. Betterton.—My Lord, I am but what, on the world’s wider yet not more truthful platform, your Lordship is. I would simply exalt mine office and proclaim its honesty. Cromwell. Well said! well said! Indeed, Mr. Player, thou hast practised king so keenly, thou dost become kingly by nature. Betterton.—Your Lordship is unjustly severe. Cromwell. I am honest, man, perfectly. Know’st thou not that I did once wear the buskin ? When old Beard of Hunting’don did keep the free school there, truly I did one Christmas time play I actus in Tony Brewer’s comedy of Lingua. Thou smilest, Mr. Betterton, but beshiew me I did play it well, and did bring down the house, so that, methinks, had 1 not been a great politician I had been a great actor. Smite em. [Aside.]—I’ll tell John Banyan. D