6
The ADVENTURES of
more. Luckily the company don’t break their hearts, and the public is no lofer by their floth.”
Thefe fine obfervations were much applauded, and it was determined, that authors, notwithftanding the ill treatment they receive, owed their all to the players, who therefore claimed the fuperiority over them; and certcs they could not dcf^>ife them more.
CHAP. XII.
Gil Idas acquires the theatrical tafle , abandons himfelf to the plea fur es of a comic life, with which however , he is difgujled in a little time.
H E company remained at table until the
hour arrived of going to the theatre, whither they repaired in a body<- I followed, and once more faw the play, which gave me fuch pleafure, that I re- folved to take the fame opportunity every day. In this I did not fail, and infenfibly became reconciled to the aftors; fuch is the force of cuftom : I was particularly charmed with thofe who ranted and diftorted thcmfelves molt up m the ftage; and was not at all fingular in this way of thinking.
The beauty of the performance touched me no lefs than the manner of rcprefentation : I was quite tranf- ported with fome of them ; and among the reft was prodigioufiy fond of thofe where all the cardinals, or the twelve peers of France appeared. I remember that, in two days, I got by heart a whole comedy, entitled, “ The ( t > aeen of Flowers.” The Rofe, who was queen, had the violet for a confidante, and the JcfTamine for her ufher. I thought nothing could be more ingenious than thefe works, which I imagined, did a great deal of honour to the tafte ofiour nation.
1 not only adorned my memory with the brighteft paffiges from thefe dramatic mafter-pieces ; I fet about bringing my tafte to perfection ; which to accomplifh I liftened. with a greedy attention to all that the players faid. If they piaiftd any performance I eiteemed