he reproaches Cassius, his
temper is not under this suppression, but opens into that warmth which
becomes a man of virtue; yet this is that hasty spark of anger, which
Brutus himself endeavours to excuse.

But with whatever strength of nature we see the poet shew, at once, the
philosopher and the heroe, yet the image of the actor's excellence will
be still imperfect to you, unless language cou'd put colours in our
words to paint the voice with.

Et si vis similem pingere, pinge sonum, is enjoining an impossibility.
The most that a Vandyke can arrive at, is to make his portraits of great
persons seem to think; a Shakespear goes farther yet, and tells you what
his pictures thought; a Betterton steps beyond 'em both, and calls them
from the grave, to breathe, and be themselves again, in feature, speech,
and motion. When the skilful actor shews you all these powers united,
he gratifies at once your eye, your ear, and your understanding. To
conceive the pleasure rising from such harmony, you must have been
present at it! 'tis not to be told you!

Thus was Betterton happy in his fortune, in the notice of his sovereign,
in his fame and character, and in a general respect of all ranks of
life; thus happy might he have continued, had he not been persuaded to
attempt becoming rich, and unluckily engaged in a scheme that swept away
all his capital, and left him in real distress. This accident fell
out in 1692; and is of too particular a kind to pass unnoticed. Mr.
Betterton had a great many friends amongst the wealthy traders in the
city, and so amiable was his private life, that all who knew him were
concerned, and interested in his success: Amongst these, there was a
gentleman, whose name the author of his life thinks proper to conceal,
who entered into the strictest amity with this actor. This gentleman in
the year 1692 was concerned in an adventure to the East-Indies, upon the
footing then allowed by the company's charter, which vessels so employed
were stiled interlopers. The project of success was great, the gain
unusually high; and this induced Mr. Betterton, to whom his friend
offered any share in the business he pleased, to think of so large a sum
as eight-thousand pounds; but it was not for himself, as he had no such
sum in his power: and whoever considers the situation of the stage at
that time will need no other argument to convince him of it. Yet he had
another friend whom, he was willing to oblige, which was the fa