The Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane

Chapter V. Gil Blas goes to the play, where he sees a new tragedy acted. The success of that performance, with the public taste of Valencia.

438 The Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane chapter v. Gil Blas goes to the play, where he sees a new tragedy acted. The success of that performance, with the public taste of Valencia. Istopt some minutes at the door, to view the people who went in; and observed, that they consisted of all ranks. I saw cavaliers of a genteel mien, and richly dressed, and some figures as ordinary as the cloaths they wore. I perceived ladies of quality alight from their coaches, and go to the boxes, which they had ordered to be bespoke; and female adventurers go in with a view of alluring cullies.1 This concourse of all sorts of spectators made me desirous of increasing the number. Just as I was going to take a ticket, the governor and his lady arriving, discerned me in the crowd; and ordering me to be called, carried me into their box, where I placed myself behind them, so as to be able to speak to both with ease. I found the house full of people from top to bottom,2 the pit very much thronged, and the stage loaded with knights3 of the three military orders. “Here is (said I to Don Alphonso) a very numerous assembly.” “You must not be surprized at that: (answered he) the tragedy to be represented, is the composition of Don Gabriel Triaquero, sirnamed the modish poet.4 As soon as the playbills advertised a new thing, written by that author, the whole city of Valencia was in a flutter:5 the men, as well as the women, talk of nothing but this piece; all the boxes are bespoke: and it being the first day of its representation, people are squeezed to death, endeavouring to enter; although every place is double filled, except the pit, which they dare not disoblige .” “Such madness! (said I to the governor) that eager curiosity of the publick, that furious impatience to see every new production of Gabriel, gives me an high idea of the poet’s genius.” In this part of our conversation, the actors appeared; and we left off speaking immediately , in order to listen with attention. The applauses began with the prologue; every verse was attended with a brouhaha!*6 and at the end of each act, there was such a clapping of hands, that one would have thought the house was falling. After the performance , they shewed me the author, who went from box to box, modestly presenting his head for the laurels with which the gentlemen and ladies prepared to crown him. We returned to the governor’s palace, where three or four knights arrived in a little time: thither also came two old authors esteemed in their way, with a gentleman from Madrid, of understanding and taste. As they had all been at the play, the whole conversation at supper turned upon the new piece. “Gentlemen, (said a knight of St. Jago) what is your opinion of this tragedy? Is it not what you call a finished work? Sublime thoughts, tender sentiments, manly versification, deficient in nothing: in a word, it is a poem adapted to people of taste.” “I believe nobody can be of a contrary opinion: (said the knight of Alcantara)7 the piece is full of strokes that Apollo8 seems to have dictated, and of situations conceived with an infinite art. I appeal to this gentleman, (added he, * Brouhaha! a note of applause. Volume Four: X.5 439 addressing himself to the Castilian) he seems to be a connoisseur; and I’ll wager he is of my sentiment.” “Don’t wager, chevalier, (answered the gentleman, with a sarcastic smile) we do not decide so hastily at Madrid: far from judging a piece at its first representation , we distrust its beauties while they are in the mouths of the actors: and how well soever we may be affected to the author, suspend our judgment, until we have read it: and, truly, it does not always give us the same pleasure upon paper, that we received from it on the stage. We scrupulously examine a poem before we esteem it, without being dazzled by the author’s reputation, how great soever it may be. When Lope de Vega himself, and Calderona,*9 produced new pieces, they found in their admirers severe judges, who would not raise them to the highest point of glory, until they judge them worthy of that elevation.” “Zooks! (cried the knight of St. Jago...