“Then, nobody understands it,” resumed Mirzoza. “The emphasis, wit and affected decorations, which predominate in it, are a thousand leagues distant from nature. In vain does the author endeavour to conceal himself, my eyes are penetrating and I discover him incessantly behind the persons of the drama. Cinna, Sertorius, Maximus, and Æmilius, are Corneille’s speaking trumpets in almost every page. This is not the way that people converse in our ancient Sarracen authors. Ricaric will, if you desire it, translate you some scenes out of them; and then you will hear pure nature speaking by their mouths. I could willingly say to the moderns: ‘Gentlemen, instead of dealing out wit to your personages on every occasion, put them into such circumstances as must inspire them with some.’ ”

“After what madam has declared on the management and the dialogue of our dramas; there is no great probability,” says Selim; “that she will show indulgence to the plots.”