is, according to the old stage direction, to be spoken by Wellborn "coming forward." So also Cozimo is directed to "come for
ward," to address to the audience the last lines of "The Great Duke of Florence."
Epilogues have rarely been employed as supplementary acts, continuing and completing the action of a play, as prologues in modern times have been converted into introductory chapters, explanatory of events to be presently exhibited upon the scene. Yet the interminable drama of "Marie Antoinette," by Signor Paolo Giacometti, in which Madame Ristori was wont to perform, presents an instance of this kind. "Marie Antoinette" is in five acts, with a prologue exhibiting the queen's life at Versailles, in 1786, and an epilogue showing her imprisonment in the Conciergerie, and her march to the guillotine in the custody of Samson the executioner.
The epilogue spoken, the entertainments are indeed terminated. The audience move from their seats towards the portals of the playhouse. The lights are being extinguished; the boxes are about to be covered over with brown-holland draperies; the prompter has closed his book and is thinking of moving homewards.
It remains for us only to interchange "Good-byes"—and to separate.
THE END.
FOOTNOTES
Footnote 1: [(return)]
"La Dame aux Camélias" obtained a license at last, and was played for the first time in England at the Gaiety Theatre, on the 11th June, 1881, with Mdlle. Sarah Bernhardt as the representative of the leading character.
Footnote 2: [(return)]He had, it was alleged, entered into a contract to furnish four plays in each year.
Footnote 3: [(return)]Macready, on the occasion of his taking a benefit, invariably refused to receive any payment in excess of the ordinary charges for admission to the theatre, and was wont, with a polite note of thanks, to return the balance to those who, as he judged, had overpaid him for their tickets.
Footnote 4: [(return)]The "Tatler," No. 167, May 4, 1710.
Footnote 5: [(return)]The lady is said to have been so little acquainted with diversion or gaiety, that she did not know what was intended when a benefit was offered her. Praiseworthy efforts were made in her interest, but the performance only produced £130.
Footnote 6: [(return)]The Athenæum.