s Dryden, in
his Preface to Cleomenes, "always excellent, has in this tragedy
excelled herself, and gained a reputation beyond any woman I have
ever seen on the theatre." "In characters of greatness," says
Cibber, "Mrs. Barry had a presence of elevated dignity; her mien
and motion superb, and gracefully majestic; her voice full, clear,
and strong; so that no violence of passion could be too much for
her; and when distress or tenderness possessed her, she subsided
into the most affecting melody and softness. In the art of exciting
pity, she had a power beyond all the actresses I have yet seen, or
what your imagination can conceive. In scenes of anger, defiance,
or resentment, while she was impetuous and terrible, she poured out
the sentiment with an enchanting harmony; and it was this particular
excellence for which Dryden made her the above-recited compliment,
upon her acting Cassandra in his Cleomenes. She was the first
person whose merit was distinguished by the indulgence of having an
annual benefit play, which was granted to her alone in King James's
time, and which did not become common to others till the division of
this company, after the death of King William and Queen Mary."]

About this time Talbot returned from Ireland: he soon felt the absence of
Miss Hamilton, who was then in the country with a relation, whom we shall
mention hereafter. A remnant of his former tenderness still subsisted in
his heart, notwithstanding his absence, and the promises he had given the
Chevalier de Grammont at parting: he now therefore endeavoured to banish
her entirely from his thoughts, by fixing his desires upon some other
object; but he saw no one in the queen's new court whom he thought worthy
of his attention: Miss Boynton, however, thought him worthy of hers.
Her, person was slender and delicate, to which a good complexion and
large motionless eyes gave at a distance an appearance of beauty, that
vanished upon nearer inspection: she affected to lisp, to languish, and
to have two or three fainting-fits a day. The first time that Talbot
cast his eyes upon her she was seized with one of these fits: he was told
that she swooned away upon his account: he believed it, was eager to
afford her assistance; and ever after that accident showed her some
kindness, more with the intention of saving her life, than to express any
affection he felt for her. This seeming tenderness was wel