This she did, for instance, in the stupid "Sophonisba" of James Thomson, who could write delightful poetry about nature without being able to carry any of that nature into the art of play-making.

It was in this artificial tragedy that the famous line occurred: "Oh Sophonisba! Sophonisba, o!" which was afterwards parodied by "Oh! Jemmy Thomson! Jemmy Thomson, oh!" and it was in the same ill-fated compilation that Cibber had the distinction of being hissed off the stage.

The latter, unlike Oldfield, had a sneaking fondness for tragedy, and when "Sophonisba" was first read in the green room he appropriated to his own use the dignified character of Scipio.

His egotism and foolishness had their full reward.

For two nights successively, as Davies tells us, "Cibber was as much exploded as any bad actor could be.