Wignell The Actor
ONE of old Mr. Sheridan's favorite characters was Cato: and on its
revival at Covent Garden Theatre, a Mr. Wignell assumed his
old-established part of Portius; and having stepped forward with a
prodigious though accustomed strut, began:--
The dawn is overcast; the morning lowers,
And heavily, in clouds, brings on the day.
The audience upon this began to vociferate Prologue! prologue!
prologue! when Wignell, finding them resolute, without betraying any
emotion, pause, or change in his voice and manner, proceeded as if it
were part of the play:--
Ladies and gentlemen, there has been no
Prologue spoken to this play these twenty years--
The great, the important day, big with the fate
Of Cato and of Rome.
This wonderful effusion put the audience in good humor: they laughed
immoderately, clapped, and shouted Bravo! and Wignell still
continued with his usual composure and stateliness.
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What Everybody Does
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ON the approach of the election at Westminster, when Earl Percy was returned, Mr. Denis O'Brien, the agent of Mr. Sheridan, said, that there were thousands in Westminster who would sooner vote for the Duke of Northumberland's porter, than give their... White Hands
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ONE of old Mr. Sheridan's favorite characters was Cato: and on its revival at Covent Garden Theatre, a Mr. Wignell assumed his old-established part of Portius; and having stepped forward with a prodigious though accustomed strut, began:-- The... Wilkes And A Liberty
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A CELEBRATED quack, while holding forth on a stage of Chelmsford, in order to promote the sale of his medicine, told the people that he came there for their good, and not for want. And then addressing his Merry Andrew, Andrew, said he, do we come he... Wit Defined
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WHEN Foote was one day lamenting his growing old, a pert young fellow asked him what he would give to be as young as he. I would be content, cried Foote, to be as foolish. Jerrold made a similar reply to an empty-headed fellow who boasted of never b... Witty At His Own Expense
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AT no time of life should a man give up the thoughts of enjoying the society of women. In youth, says Lord Bacon, women are our mistresses, at a riper age our companions, in old age our nurses, and in all ages our friends. A gentleman being asked... Wonderful Unanimity
JUDGE CLAYTON was an honest man, but not a profound lawyer. Soon after he was raised to the Irish bench, he happened to dine in company with Counsellor Harwood, celebrated for his fine brogue, his humor, and his legal knowledge. Clayton began to mak... Words That Burn
DR. ROBERTSON observed, that Johnson's jokes were the rebukes of the righteous, described in Scripture as being like excellent oil. Yes, exclaimed Burke, oil of vitriol! ... Worth The Money
SIR ROBERT WALPOLE having misquoted a passage in Horace, Mr. Pulteney said the honorable gentleman's Latin was as bad as his politics. Sir Robert adhered to his version, and bet his opponent a guinea that he was right, proposing Mr. Harding as arbit... Worthy Of Credit
A GENTLEMAN was applied to by a crossing-sweeper for charity. The gentleman replied, I will remember you when I return.--Please your honor, says the man, I'm ruined by the credit I give in that way. ...