Page:The London Magazine, volume 9 (January–June 1824).djvu/327

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Lord Byron's Deformed Transformed
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mode of treading the stage, is firm, intelligent, and decisive; his action noble.”—Mr. Young commenced his engagement with the character of Hamlet. His scene with the Queen Mother was a piece of brilliant invective; when the Ghost tells him "Speak to her, Hamlet," the subdued tones of his voice as, with his eye fixed on the spectre, and horror depicted on his countenance, he addressed her, "how is it with you, lady," was a moving sight. The soliloquy where Hamlet reprobates his own tardiness of action, was a fine specimen of passionate self-rebuke, and the speech on man, a piece of eloquence worthy the poet's thought. We could select a thousand beauties, but it would amplify our subject too much, as we should have to record so many more on each night. The persons who represented the other characters in this tragedy, were the same as performed with Mr. Macready, a few weeks since; Jones was King!! and the Mother Queen—the youthful and interesting Miss Huddart—Of Age-to-morrow followed—one of the most lively and effective farces we know; and indisputable proof of which is that it has amused for years, and will continue to do so for seasons.

*****

Last evening Mr. Young played Leer; and this evening takes for his benefit the character of Sir Pertinas Mac Sycophants, in The Mon of the World, which will conclude his engagement; the box circle, as well as the upper, is taken for this great performer's benefit; in what circle is not Mr. Young sought after—whether the box, the social, or the court?

There’s a compliment for you!—Enough to knock down a bullock!




THE DEFORMED TRANSFORMED, A DRAMA;[1]

by lord byron

A taste has lately sprung up in these countries, from the due Stra tion of which we may hope to derive tine advantages, aor as well as iterary ; we mean—a taste for the monstrous. An importation, which took place some years ago, of larger race of Hanoverian ‘ small deer,” has been frequently the theme of lamentation and seditious outcry with some of our gravest politi- cians, whose very seats at the council-board these nefarious qua- drupeds have undermined ; yet there are animals of another sort, much more ae in size and far more terrific aspect, proceeding also from the same fraitfal father- land of every thing hideous and un- sightly,—Germany to wit,—whose migration into Great Britain has rather been encouraged than depre- cated. The son of a British peer has lately turned monster-monger, having translatedone of those strange animals from the wilds of Saxe Weimar to Albemarle-street ; it was bred up at the table of the poet Goethe with his other children (more Alemannorum), has become very tame and under its present master, wears a collar inscribed with the letters F, A, U, 8, T, and goes willingly to any stranger who has the least curio- sity to examine it. Another of these monsters was introduced to the no- tice of the public, a short time since, under the auspices of an Irish Cler- gyman 5 it answered (we think) to e name of Mztmotu, stood for sale some months at the house of an eminent bookseller in this city, and was finally knocked on the head after having bitten two or three per- sons who were ish enough to handle it. A third of the same brood was exhibited last season at the Lyceum in the Strand, where it performed several a tricks to at amusement e spec~ tators.” The aforesaid Irish Clergy- man had shown up an elder-brother of the monster above, at Drury Lane theatre, some time before; this fel- low, whom his keeper used to call Bertram, drew great crowds to sce

  1. The Deformed Transformed, a Drama, by the Right Hon. Lord Byron. Londond 1821.