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tragedian? Is it only in the history of mankind he must obtain his information? Reading of itself would be nothing; he must meditate upon, and render himself familiar with, what he reads, even to its minutest details; he must adapt to every character the genius of the nation to which it belongs; he must reflect without intermission; repeat an hundred and an hundred times the same thing, in order to surmount the difficulties he meets with at every step. It is not enough to study the character: he must study the history of it, in order to develop the intention of the author, feel the beauties of his composition, and adapt his character to the general scope of the work: he must scrutinise the hearts of all connected with
