Lit law would inflict is too severe. Enlightened It•gislators and us
1,0 sninist ors THE THEATRES. LEIGH HUNT, WI14) in the course of a long and active literary career, has by turns distinguished himself as a critic, poet. politieian, and essayist, has, in the autumn of life, entered on a fresh pursuit of the most arduous kind; impelled by fortune, and further incited by the inducements held out by the late manager of Covent Garden—which,
however, it was reserved for the present management to realize. Great interest was excited, not only among the personal friends of Mr. HUNT, but among thousands of admiring readers, for the result of his first
experiment as a dramatist ; and curiosity deepened into anxiety, in consideration of the importance of success to the author's fireside comforts. Our readers will share the gratification with which we can report that his success has been triumphant.
The Islay, a serious drama in five acts, is entitled A Legend of Florence; and is founded on the \vell-known story of a wife, buried in a
trance, awaking in the tomb, and when rejected by her husband, seeking
shelter in the house of her lover. These incidents are obviously difficult to conduct to a prosperous conclusion ; nor -were our misgivings as to the subject at all relieved by the maladroit way. in which the same legend had been put into a dramatic form by two different authors: but the delicate and beautiful shape in which ',Etch liusr has presented hue story, tile strong passion and exquisite tenderness which he has infused into it, and the picturesque elegance of the accessories of the tale, haye invested the stage representation with the most charming features of romance.
The interest is centered in the heroine Ginevra, the meek and submissive wife of Agolanti, a noble Florentine, of morose and suspicious temper and imperious and exacting disposition. Worn out by years of patient suffering from thejealous caprices of her harsh tyrant, her spirit is wounded still snore deeply by tile knowledge that she is avowedly and passionately loved by llondivelli : for v.-hom she entertains a stronger regard than she dares confess to herself. The struggle between duty to her husband and regard for her own peace, ini»gled with a feeling for the devoted and respectful attachment of Rondivelli, constitutes the main passion of tile play. The character of Gincera is exquisitely drawn, and its fine lineaments were most touchingly brought out by ELLEN TREE: the purity of the woman, and is high sense not only of her own honour but of the honour of her churlish husband, temper the fervour of the lover's ardour, and exalt her resolution to retire to a convent, into a sacrifice. ANDERSON, as Rom/ire/h., threw spirit and energyinto the character, that ga-ve a grace to the forbearance he exercises in his interviews with Agolanti, whose contumelious arrogance knows no bounds. Mr. MoonE, as Agohnifi, depicted the gloomy and superstitious domestic despot wills greater force than might have been expected from him : he brought out strikingly the formidable attributes of the man, who, though mean and despicable in his treatment of his obedient wife, asserts his legal right and marital authority to others in a manner that ahnost extorts respect. MACHEAD14 for whom the character seas drawn, would have made it more nervous and exciting : and now, that the play has been successful, we suspect the great tragedian will regret that he did not share the triumph ; but he could not have played it Wills more judgment anti feeling than Mr. MoonE.
The most critical point in the play—the scene where the buried wife returns to earth—was vs (Al managed, and eminently effective. Agolanti, looking from the balcony, thinking on Isis dead wife, hears a faint voice from without pronounce his name, and sees a form, which his superstitious mains takes for a vision: awe-struck and in a paroxysm of fear, he closes the window, and rushes out. In a subsequent scene, Ginevra clothed in funereal weeds, wearing the wreath of death, enters the garden of Rondivelli, and calls to ldm for shelter : he is no less amazed than Agolanti—at first thinks it a spirit—but she implores his succour, asset he ventures to touch her band. The mingled surprise, alarm, and rapture of the lover at finding the adored object alive and in his anus, were vividly expressed by ANDMISON ; and the delight of the audience burst forth in rounds of applause. The catastrophe is thus brought about : Ginevra resolves not to return to a miserable home, from -which the grave had divorced her ; Agolanti comes to demand his wife; she, hearinw that he has repented of Isis ill-usage, consents to go with him ; but A tat dant', irritated by the resistance of her friends, evinces his former violence and Cinevra then determines on going to a convent : his will is exasperated by this resolution, and in his fury he draws upon 0110 of the party. and is slain in the rencontre. The tact with which Mr. lit-yr has overcome the perilous nature of the subject is striking ; but mueh higher praise is due to the power with which he has o'er-mastered it by the union of poetry and passion. As a stage-play. it is deticie»t 'sus stirring action : bust the skilful development of character, and the gradual unfolding of the plot, kept the interest alive and progressive. until the very last scene: and the d6nonement was satisffictory to those who sympathized with the lovers, without in the slightest degree shocking their feelings of decorum. Tlw dialogue is throughout carried on in a sustained yet easy manuser; with the elevated tone proper to the intereommunieation of refined and generous natures, adorned with elegant manner,. It is full of fine sense, pleasant raillery. and poetical grace : the lieree• invectives of Agolanti, the passionate breathings of hi euutuhis elli, and the sweet remonstrances of Cinevra, are each clothed in fitting language: the lady, indeed, only speaks oust of the overflowing fulness of her heart. The site which the lateness of the hour has h-ft to :is is exhausted ; and we can only add a word of praise that must not be withheld from, IlAuTLEv, for the earnest and effective manner in which he delivered the speeches of Fin/tin, The taste and liberality which presided over the seenie (lopartment merits distinct aoknowledgment. The scenery and arehitecture of Italy seem realized on the stage; and the eharaewrs look like embodied shapes from the canvass of the Florentine Lainters.
The principal performers Were, as usual. c.111cti for ; and the author himself at last obeyesi the summons, and bowed his avkaow lodgments.
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