Page:The history of Tom Jones (1749 Volume 2).pdf/13

 by, our Tragic Poets; who eldom fail to prepare their Audience for the Reception of their principal Characters.

Thus the Heroe is always introduced with a Flourih of Drums and Trumpets, in order to roue a martial Spirit in the Audience, and to accommodate their Ears to Bombat and Futian, which Mr. Lock’s blind Man would not have groly erred in likening to the Sound of a Trumpet. Again, when Lovers are coming forth, oft Muic often conducts them on the Stage, either to ooth the Audience with all the Softnes of the tender Paion, or to lull and prepare them for that gentle Slumber in which they will mot probably be compoed by the enuing Scene.

And not only the Poets, but the Maters of thee Poets, the Managers of Playhoues, eem to be in this Secret; for, beides the aforeaid Kettle Drums, &c. which denote the Heroe’s Approach, he is generally uhered on the Stage by a large Troop of half a dozen Scene-hifters; and how neceary thee are imagined to his Appearance, may be concluded from the following Theatrical Story.