The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle Volume 1 Chapter 51

In which Peregrine Pickle and a learned Knight of Malta engage in a spirited debate over the merits and peculiarities of English and French theatrical performances, illustrating their points with keen observations and imitations of notable actors. The discourse is enriched by a learned physician’s reflection on the grandeur and mechanisms of the ancient Roman stage, drawing contrasts with modern entertainments and recounting an extraordinary tale of pantomimic frenzy from antiquity.