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ReadingWillow structured literacy program for Australian students
Poetry Library

— Stephen Crane

I stood upon a high place,

And saw, below, many devils

Running, leaping,

And carousing in sin.

…

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noun

A person whose profession is acting on the stage, in films, or on television.

“The lead actor delivered a powerful performance that moved the entire audience to tears.”

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XVIII RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE STAGB.

40 lines
Ben Jonson·1572–1637
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till, however, kept together, and, by connivance ofthe commanding qfficer at Whitehall, sometimes re*presented privately a few plays at a short distance fromtown. They also were permitted to entertain someof the nobility at their country-houses, where theywere paid by those under whose protection they acted,They also obtained leave, at particular festivals, to di-vert the public at the Red Bull ; but this was not al-ways without interruption. Those at the head of af-fairs still continued tneir implacable rancour againstall who were connected with polite letters; and theunfortunate actors who survived to this period felt thegreatest distress. A slender and precarious supportwas all they could obtain. N In this situation severalof them were obliged to draw forth the manuscripts oftheir cotemporaries which they had in their possession,and many plays were published which mightotherwisehave never seen the light. But though the fury of religious zeal seemed tothreaten that the stage should never revive, and everymethod was taken which might tend to accomplishthat design, the pleasure wmich had been receivedfrom dramatic entertainments was too strong to betotally overcome. Amidst the gloom of fanaticism,and whilst the royal cause was considered as despe-rate, Sir William Davenant, without molestation,exhibited entertainments of declamation and music,after the manner of the ancients, at Rutland-house.He began in the year 1656, and two years afterwardsremoved to the Cockpit, Drurv-Lane, where he perrformed until the eve of the Restoration. On the appearance of that event’s taking place, theretainers of tne theatre then remaining collected thein rselves together, and began to resume their former em-ployment. In the year aboul the time general Monk marched with his army out of Scotland towardsLondon, Mr. Rhodes, a bookseller, who had formerlybeen ward robe- keeper to the company which acted atBlack Friars, fitted up the Cockpit in Drury-Lane.*}’he actors he procured were chiefly new to the stage;
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