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Chapter VII.
POET AND ACTRESS.
In the Revue des Deux Mondes for the 1st December 1838, there appeared, in a defence of Mademoiselle Rachel's representation of the character of Roxane, these words:—
The Théâtre Français is again giving Bajazet, Mademoiselle Rachel is acting the part of Roxane; if I mistake not, it is her sixth appearance in a new rôle. Dramatic criticism, which has been extremely indulgent and (still more rare) extremely just, has shown this time unexpected severity towards the young artist. About eight papers, written on the same day by people of taste and discrimination, are dissatisfied with her acting, and look upon her failure as a decisive condemnation of her talent and Racine's genius. I was present the first night, and returned a second, conscientiously determined to solve the problem. I came away more mystified than ever. Roxane seems to me, after Hermione, to be the rôle in which Mademoiselle Rachel shows to most advantage, and, to judge by appearances, my opinion is shared by the greater portion of the audience. I think it unnecessary, for reasons that must be ovious, to attempt here a dissertation on Racine. I will only touch upon the powers of the actress, who interprets him. We have only to see her and hear her, to know she has studied the part. Does she exhibit less heart or less intelligence? is she feebler, less inspired, or more nervous? or does she look smaller than a month ago, in the magnificent dress of Hermione? I think, perhaps, this last is the most serious fault to be found in Mademoiselle Rachel; she is not tall enough; and this is, alas! an irremediable fault. In the fourth act of Bajazet, during the monologue, I heard someone in the pit exclaim, "What a little devil!" The individual who thus expressed his feelings did not know that he
