Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/409

MACKLIN. 405 run of “Romeo and Juliet,” he told him, that as the town had not properly settled which was the better Romeo, Barry or him, he meant ultimately to decide that question in his next lecture on that tragedy. Garrick, who was a l l alive t o fame, instantly cocked u p his ear, and ex claimed, “Ah! my dear Mac, how will you bring this about?” “I’ll tell you, Sir; I mean t o shew your dif ferent merits i n the garden scene. Barry comes into i t , Sir, a s great a s a lord, swaggering about his love, and talking s o loud, that b y G—, Sir, i f we don't suppose the servants o f the Capulet family almost dead with sleep, they must have come out and tossed the fellow i n a blan ket. Well, Sir, after having fixed my auditors' attention t o this part, then I shall ask, but how does Garrick act this f Why, Sir, sensible that the family are a t enmity with him and his house, h e comes creeping i n upon his toes, whispering his love, and looking about him just like a thief i n the night.” At this Garrick could hold out n o longer—he thanked him for his good intentions, but begged h e would decline his purpose, as, after all, h e thought i t a question better left t o the opinion o f a n audience than the subject o f a lecture. With these qualifications a s a critic much success could not b e augured from the lectures. The event turned out so; as, i n a little time, the few who resorted t o his rooms gave up a l l ideas o f improvement, and the whole assumed a n air o f burlesque, which was still heightened b y the gravity o f Macklin, who, trusting t o the efficiency o f his own powers, appeared every night full dressed, dictating t o the town i n a l l the airs o f superior intelligence. Foote stood a t the head o f the wits and laughers o n this occa sion. To a man o f his humour, Macklin was a s the dace t o the pike, a sure prey. He accordingly made him his daily food for laughter and ridicule, b y constantly attend ing his lectures, and, b y h i s questions, remarks, and repar tees, kept the audience i n a continual roar. Macklin sometimes made battle—but i t was Priam t o Pyrrhus:- h e now and then came out with a strong remark, o r bitter