Sydney Owenson, The Novice of Saint Dominick

The narrator describes excellent improvisatory performances by Imogen and De Servin, who are fictional characters.

Performer Name:
 
Performance Venue:
 
Performance Date:
 
Author:
Owenson, Miss [Sydney]
Date Written:
 
Language:
English
Publication Title:
The Novice of Saint Dominick
Article Title:
 
Page Numbers:
3:261; 4:78-9
Additional Info:
3rd edition
Publisher:
Phillips
Place of Publication:
London
Date Published:
1808

Text:

[3: 261] Animated by applause, stimulated by success, her genius seemed almost to rise above itself; the happiest, the most original poetic flights, soon obtained her a distinguished rank among the first improvisatori of fashion. The brilliancy of her repartees, and the playful vein of her frolic humour, an early initiation into the attic society of the humoristi, and her exquisite musical skill, with the addition of her extraordinary vocal powers, and her chaste and correct taste in painting and sculpture, obtained her the flattering title of the 'Muse of the Arno'.

[4: 78] De Servin was an excellent improvisatore: he took up a lute, and after striking a few chords, sung an [79] address to his charming hostess, in which the strongest flattery was chastened by the most delicate taste.

[High praise follows, and De Servin passes the lute to the rake De Sancy, who "sung an extempore replication to his strains" (4: 79).]

Notes:

 
Collected by:
AE