Note 86 — Chapter X

Macklyn, in general a disagreeable actor, was liked in Iago, and extremely admired in Shylock the Jew. He had been tried and honourably acquitted for the murder of another actor, but his character was not popular. He played the Scotchman himself in his own farce, but not well; however, its not being printed, nor played but when he pleased, made it always draw crowded audiences; which, with having a daughter who was a pretty good actress, and of an excellent character, made him never rejected by the theatres, though of a quarrelsome temper. He continued to play for twenty years, and, though past fourscore, retained so much vigour and parts, that he wrote another piece, not less severe on the Scotch, though it was much curtailed before he could obtain permission to have it acted; and though it succeeded, it was not near so much liked as his Love à la Mode.