like, at least in the Introduction, to burn a candle before the Divine Muse. You will behold her, poor thing, by no means in her glory; you will even see her pushed and buffeted about at rehearsals, with a cold in her head, forced to endure every kind of injustice, hard labour, and all the disturbing troubles of life behind the scenes. When she appears before you on the stage, painted, and in a blaze of lights, remember the burdens she has had to bear. Then you will have something like a conception of dramatic art.
Moreover, there are all kinds of people behind the scenes, below the scenes, and above the scenes, who help to pull and push the car of Thespis along. And even if they do play their parts in a very naturalistic manner, garbed in everyday clothes, or in blue overalls, they play a very important part in the production of a play. So let them also be celebrated in this book.
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