respecting a difference in the mischiefe: But so long as he lives unmarried, hee mistakes the Boy, or a Whore for the Woman; by courting the first on the stage, or visiting the second at her devotions. When hee is most commendable, you must confesse there is no truth in him: for his best action is but an imitation of truth, and nullum simile est idem. It may be imagined I abuse his carriage, and hee perhaps may suddenly bee thought faire-conditioned; for he playes above board.[1] Take him at the best, he is but a shifting companion; for hee lives effectually by putting on, and putting off. If his profession were single, hee would think himselfe a simple fellow, as hee doth all professions besides his owne: His own therefore is compounded of all Natures, all humours, all professions. Hee is politick also[2] to perceive the common-wealth[3] doubts of his licence, and therefore in spight of Parliaments or Statutes hee incorporates himselfe by the title of a brotherhood. Painting and fine cloths may not by the same reason be called abusive, that players may not be called rogues: For they bee chiefe ornaments of his Majesties Revells.[4] I need not multiplie his character; for boyes and every one, wil no sooner see men of this Facultie walke along but they wil (unasked) informe you what hee is by the vulgar title.[5] Yet in the generall number of them, many may deserve a wise mans commendation: and therefore did I prefix an Epithite of common, to distinguish the base and artlesse appendants of our citty companies, which often times start away into rusticall wanderers and then (like Proteus) start backe again into the Citty number.[6]
lxi. 1615. John Webster (?).
[This Character Of an Excellent Actor is one of the additions made in
the 6th edition (1615) to the Characters printed with Sir Thomas Overbury's
The Wife, of which the 1st edition appeared after Overbury's death
on 15 Sept. 1613. The Characters do not profess to be all from Overbury's
hand, and the present one was evidently written as a reply to that of
A Common Player (No. lx). The allusion to painting suggests that the
model was Richard Burbadge. The passage Therefore the imitating Characterist
. . . flea them was omitted in the 7th edition (1616) and in later
editions, including the 9th (1616), from which the reprints in E. F. Rimbault,
Works of Overbury, 147, and H. Morley, Character Writings, 86, are
taken. A. F. Bourgeois, in 11 N. Q. x. 3, 23, gives some striking parallels
of phrase between the Characters of 1615 and the work of John Webster,
which may point to his authorship. Later Characters of a Player are in
J. Earle, Microcosmography (1628, ed. A. S. West, 81), and R. M., Micrologia
(1629, Morley, 285).]
An Excellent Actor.
Whatsoeuer is commendable in the graue Orator, is most exquisitly perfect in him; for by a full and significant action of body, he charmes
