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Show 224 THE CODE OF TERPSICHORE. Cid, filled with the fire of poesy, and endowed with an exalted genius, created for himself a new style. He appears to have disdained to subject himself to many of the laws prescribed by theatrical legislators. Some of his models he took from a nation whose taste and character were more conformable to his own peculiar manner. The Spanish drama has the honour of having furnished materials to some of the principal productions of the French Sophocles. Spanish pieces, during a certain period, found a good reception in France, and theatrical writers readily imitated them. Exhibitions of heroic Moors, together with extraordinary events, attended by stage effect and bustle, were capable of some attraction, and amused the generality. Racine brought tragedy to perfection; he was well versed in the theatrical art; the conduct of several of his pieces is admirable. He is a master who cannot be too much studied. He is always true, interesting and pathetic ; while nothing interrupts the advance of the action. Unfortunately, however, those idle characters, called confidents, sometimes prevent him from being perfect in the formation of some of his productions. Thanks are due to Alfieri for having delivered us from this trifling set of creatures, w h o have only owed their existence to mediocrity of talent. And it is custom alone that has continued them in modern masterpieces ; but genius does not require their ineffectual assistance. These confidentials ought not to make their appearance, except when it is absolutely necessary to the plan of action. In the plots of Racine and of Metastasio, too much uni-formity. may be observed. In the first, thisdefectis owing perhaps to that pathetic style to which his genius inclined him; and in the second, it has been caused by his complaisance in conforming himself too much to the desires of musici- |