February 20th [1814]
Got up and tore out two leaves of this Journal—I don't know why. Hodgson just called and gone. He has much
bonhommie
with his other good qualities, and more talent than he has yet had credit for beyond his circle.
An invitation to dine at Holland House to meet Kean. He is worth meeting; and I hope, by getting into good society, he will be prevented from falling like Cooke. He is greater now on the stage, and off he should never be less. There is a stupid and underrating criticism upon him in one of the newspapers. I thought that, last night, though great, he rather under-acted more than the first time. This may be the effect of these cavils; but I hope he has more sense than to mind them. He cannot expect to maintain his present eminence, or to advance still higher, without the envy of his green-room fellows, and the nibbling of their admirers. But,
if
he don't beat them all, why then—merit hath no purchase in "these coster-monger days."
I wish that I had a talent for the drama; I would write a tragedy
now
. But no,—it is gone. Hodgson talks of one,—he will do it well;—and I think M—-e [Moore] should try. He has wonderful powers, and much variety; besides, he has lived and felt. To write so as to bring home to the heart, the heart must have been tried,—but, perhaps, ceased to be so. While you are under the influence of passions, you only feel, but cannot describe them,—any more than, when in action, you could turn round and tell the story to your next neighbour! When all is over,—all, all, and irrevocable,—trust to memory—she is then but too faithful.
Went out, and answered some letters, yawned now and then, and redde the
Robbers
.
Fine
,—but
Fiesco
is better
; and Alfieri, and Monti's
Aristodemo
best
. They are more equal than the Tedeschi dramatists.
Answered
—or rather acknowledged—the receipt of young Reynolds's
poem,
Safie
. The lad is clever, but much of his thoughts are borrowed,—whence, the Reviewers may find out. I hate discouraging a young one; and I think,—though wild and more oriental than he would be, had he seen the scenes where he has placed his tale,—that he has much talent, and, certainly fire enough.
Received a very singular epistle; and the mode of its conveyance, through Lord H.'s hands, as curious as the letter itself. But it was gratifying and pretty.
Footnote 1:
Henry IV.
, Part II. act i. sc. 2.
Footnote 2:
Schiller's
Robbers
was first produced at Mannheim, January 13, 1782; his
Fiesco
was published in 1783. The
Robbers
is included in Benjamin Thompson's
German Theatre
(1801).
Fiesco
was translated by G. H. Noehden and John Stoddart in 1798.
Footnote 3:
Monti's three tragedies,
Caio Gracco
,
Aristodemo
, and
Manfredi
, were written in rivalry of Alfieri's tragedies between the years 1788 and 1799.
Footnote 4:
For John Hamilton Reynolds, see
Letters
, vol. iii. (February 20, 1814,
note
1).
