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Show 130 THE CODE OF TERPSICHORE. knavish one; an actor, therefore, had only to make his appearance thus masked, when the nature of his character was immediately recognized, even before a word was spoken ; this is precisely the case with respect to the mask of the modern harlequin, which is always the same ; while those of Brighella, (the Cloivn), Dottore, (the Doctor), and Pantaloon, present so truly their peculiar dispositions, that it is impossible to be mistaken in the foolishness and stupidity of Brighella, or in the tricks and roguishness of Harlequin. W e must, therefore, establish it as fact and foundation, that the custom of wearing masks, which never varied when once adapted to its peculiar character, is derived from the ancient Greek and Roman theatres. Amongst the ancient Romans the profession of an actor was divided into two branches, the Mime and the Comedian. The Mime had his face blackened, and appeared upon the stage fuliginefaciem obducti; for at that time, the custom of performing in the high dramatic buskin had not yet been introduced among the Mimes, the bottom of their feet being bare, and on that account, indeed, they obtained the name of Mimes, according to Diomedes : "Planipes Grceci diciturMimus, adeo ttutem latineplanipes quod actores planis pedibus proscenium introirent." W e may hence gather how strong a resemblance exists between the modern Harlequin and Brighella (or Clown), and the Mimes of antiquity, particularly in those unvarying characteristics, the blackened visage and the buskins. Their general attire also bore a great similarity to that of modern times; their Mimes were dressed precisely like our Harlequins: see that passage of Apuleius, in which he says, " Num ex eo argumentare vti me consuevisse tragedi sysmate, Histrionis cocosta, Mimi cetitunclo." Where observe, that to Mimes was assigned the Centunclus, which |