Of all the ghosts that have ever appeared on the stage, a very learned and judicious foreign critic gives the preference to this of our author. These are his words, speaking of this tragedy:—"Nec quidquam in illâ admirabilius quàm phasma quoddam horrendum, quod omnibus aliis spectris, quibuscum scatet Angelorum tragœdia, longè (pace D—ysii V. Doctiss. dixerim) prætulerim."
[164] We have already given instances of this figure.
[165] Almanzor reasons in the same manner:
"A ghost I'll be;
And from a ghost, you know, no place is free."—"Conq. of Gran."
[166] "The man who writ this wretched pun," says Mr. D., "would have picked your pocket:" which he proceeds to show not only bad in itself, but doubly so on so solemn an occasion. And yet, in that excellent play of Liberty Asserted, we find something very much resembling a pun in the mouth of a mistress, who is parting with the lover she is fond of:
"Ul. Oh, mortal woe! one kiss, and then farewell.
Irene. The gods have given to others to fare well,
O! miserably must Irene fare."
Agamemnon, in the Victim, is full as facetious on the most solemn occasion—that of sacrificing his daughter: