O Fons Bandusae
July 5, 2023Refining Fuller, Make Me Clean
July 5, 2023“When Burbadge Played”
WhenN Burbadge played, the stage was bare
Of fount and temple, tower and stair;
Two backswords eked a battle out;
Two supers made a rabble rout;
The throne of Denmark was a chair!
And yet, no less, the audience there
Thrilled, through all changes of Despair,
Hope, Anger, Fear, Delight, and Doubt
When Burbadge played!
This is the Actor’s gift: to share
All moods, all passions, nor to care
One whit for scene, so he without
Can lead men’s minds the roundabout
Stirred as of old those hearers were,
When Burbadge played!
Austin Dobson
Austin Dobson (1840-1921) was an English poet and biographer. He is known for his works such as "The Songs of a Savoyard" (1884), "Proverbs in Porcelain" (1887), "Eighteenth Century Vignettes" (1890), and "Echoes" (1894). He was also a prolific biographer, writing about the lives of figures such as Horace Walpole, William Hogarth, and Samuel Johnson. His works are known for their wit and humor, as well as their insight into the lives of the people he wrote about.