RICHARD BRINSLEY SHERIDAN1751-1816
Moore’sLifeof Sheridan.
“Ithas been seen, by a letter of his sister already given, that, when young, he was generally accounted handsome; but in later years his eyes were the only testimonials of beauty which remained to him. It was, indeed, in the upper part of his face that the spirit of the manchiefly reigned; the dominion of the world and the senses being rather strongly marked out in the lower. In his person, he was above the middle size, and his general make was, as I have already said, robust and well-proportioned. It is remarkable that his arms, though of powerful strength, were thin, and appeared by no means muscular. His hands were small and delicate; and the following couplet, written on the cast of one of them, very livelily enumerates both its physical and moral qualities:—
‘Good at a fight, better at a Play,God-like in giving, but—the Devil to pay!’â€
‘Good at a fight, better at a Play,God-like in giving, but—the Devil to pay!’â€
‘Good at a fight, better at a Play,
God-like in giving, but—the Devil to pay!’â€
Jerdan’sMen I haveknown.
“I have seen his large beautiful eyes speak sadly, even while his brilliant tongue was rehearsing the gayest sentiments and the finest wit.... What a portrait to pronounce of intellect is that by Sir Joshua! The head so fine, the expression so brilliant, and the lower part of the countenance, in the prime of life, without the sensuous encroachment of luxurious indulgenceupon later years. And how light-hearted the look.â€
Gantter’sStandard Poets ofGreat Britain.
“Sheridan was above the middle size, and of a make robust and well-proportioned. In his youth, his family said, he had been handsome; but in his latter years he had nothing left to show for it but his eyes. ‘It was, indeed, in the upper part of his face,’ says Mr. Moore, ‘that the spirit of the man chiefly reigned; the dominion of the world and the senses being rather strongly marked out in the lower.’â€