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Show THE COMPOSITION OF BALLETS. 237 CHAPTER XXIII. G E N E R A L ADMONITIONS. " Sia vergogna il giacer vile, e sepolto, E'l risorger sia gloria." A. G U I D I. " se tu segui tua Stella, Non puoi fallire a glorioso porto." DANTE. OCCUPY yourself according to your own peculiar inclination and talent: if your mind is formed for the grand and serious, those laws must be observed which such a style requires; if you attempt to counteract a natural bent or disposition, your productions will not succeed. " Ne forcons point notre talent, Nous ne ferions rien avec grace." L A FONTAINE. If, on the contrary, your genius and taste tend to the gay and comic style, should you assume the robe of tragedy you will most probably become flat and ridiculous, instead of great and sublime. " N o n omnia possumus omnes;" a Raphael and a Voltaire occur but rarely in the family of man. Be convinced of this, and undertake nothing without consulting your own peculiar powers. If, upon examination, extraordinary qualities are discovered attempt, |
