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Aetat.40.] When asked how he felt upon the ill success of his tragedy, he replied, 'Like the Monument ;' meaning that he continued firm and unmoved as that column. And let it be remembered, as an admonition to the genus irritabile  of dramatick writers, that this great man, instead of peevishly complaining of the bad taste of the town, submitted to its decision without a murmur. He had, indeed, upon all

language than a representation of natural affections, or of any state probable or possible in human life. The events are expected without solicitude, and are remembered without joy or sorrow. Its success has introduced or confirmed among us the use of dialogue too declamatory, of unaffecting elegance and chill philosophy.' Works, vii. 456. 'Johnson thought Cato the best model of tragedy we had; yet he used to say, of all things the most ridiculous would be to see a girl cry at the representation of it.' Johnson's Works (1787) xi. 207. Cato, if neglected, has added at least eight 'habitual quotations' to the language (see Thackeray's English Humourists, p. 98). Irene has perhaps not added a single one. It has nevertheless some quotable lines, such as—

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