Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu/637

- WILKS. 633 of Ireland, to prevent his going ; but, a particular friend giving him timely notice of i t , h e went secretly t o Howth, where a boat waited t o convey him o n board, and thus h e came safe t o England. Upon his first arrival, Mr. Powell, who was now i n possession o f a l l the chief parts o f Mr. Mountford, and the only actor who stood i n Wilks's way, offered him the choice o f whatever h e thought proper t o make his first appearance in; a favour that was intended only t o hurt him: but Wilks, who, from the first, had certainly formed his manner o f acting o n the model o f Mountford, rightly judging i t modest t o chuse a part o f Powell's, i n which Mountford had never appeared, accepted that o f Palamedes, i n Dryden’s “ Marriage à-la-Mode:” and here too a fortunate circumstance attended him, b y Mrs. Mountford being his Melantha i n the same play. From this time h e grew daily more i n favour, not only with the town, but likewise with the patentee, whom Powell, before Wilks's arrival, had treated i n what manner h e pleased. His merit was a t length rewarded b y being joined, i n the year 1709, b y Queen Anne, i n the patent granted t o Dogget and Cibber: under whose direction the theatre recovered new life, and prosperity followed their judicious industry. He esta blished his reputation b y the part o f Sir Harry Wildair, i n which the vivacity o f his performance was s o proportion ably extravagant t o the character, a s drawn b y the author, that he was received i n i t with universal and deserved applause. As long a s h e trod the stage, h e continued the unrivalled fine gentleman, and b y the elegance o f his address captivated the hearts o f his audience t o the very last. But, while his excellence i n comedy was never once disputed, h e was equally master o f that dignity requisite i n tragedy; and was a s highly extolled, b y the best judges, i n the different parts o f Hamlet; Castalio, (Orphan); Ziphares, (Mithridates); Edgar, (Lear); Piercy, (Anna Boleyn); Norfolk, (Albion Queens); the Earl o f Essex; Shore; Macduff; Moneses, (Tamerlane); and Jaffier, (Venice Preserved). I n 1714, h e lost his wife, and con