But as the painter finds himself obliged to strengthen the tone of color of the living subject, in order to counter-balance the material influences—­so the—­lyrical effusions of the Chorus impose upon the poet the necessity of a proportionate elevation of his general diction.  It is the Chorus alone which entitles the poet to employ this fulness of tone, which at once charms the senses, pervades the spirit, and expands the mind.  This one giant form on his canvas obliges him to mount all his figures on the cothurnus, and thus impart a tragical grandeur to his picture.  If the Chorus be taken away, the diction of the tragedy must generally be lowered, or what is now great and majestic will appear forced and overstrained.  The old Chorus introduced into the French tragedy would present it in all its poverty and reduce it to nothing; yet, without doubt, the same accomplishment would impart to Shakespeare’s tragedy its true significance.

As the Chorus gives life to the language—­so also it gives repose to the action; but it is that beautiful and lofty repose which is the characteristic of a true work of art.  For the mind of the spectator ought to maintain its freedom through the most impassioned scenes; it should not be the mere prey of impressions, but calmly and severely detach itself from the emotions which it suffers.  The commonplace objection made to the Chorus that it disturbs the illusion and blunts the edge of the feelings, is what constitutes its highest recommendation; for it is this blind force of the affections which the true artist deprecates this illusion is what he disdains to excite.  If the strokes which Tragedy inflicts on our bosoms followed without respite—­the passion would overpower the action.  We should mix ourselves up with the subject-matter, and no longer stand above it.  It is by holding asunder the different parts, and stepping between the passions with its composing views, that the Chorus restores to us our freedom, which would else be lost in the tempest.  The characters of the drama need this intermission in order to collect themselves; for they are no real beings who obey the impulse of the moment, and merely represent individuals—­but ideal persons and representatives of their species, who enunciate the deep things of Humanity.

Thus much on my attempt to revive the old Chorus on the tragic stage.  It is true that choruses are not unknown to modern tragedy; but the Chorus of the Greek drama, as I have employed it—­the Chorus, as a single ideal person, furthering and accompanying the whole plot—­is of an entirely distinct character; and when, in discussion on the Greek tragedy, I hear mention made of choruses, I generally suspect the speaker’s ignorance of his subject.  In my view the Chorus has never been reproduced since the decline of the old tragedy.

FOOTNOTES: 

[Footnote 63:  Permission G. Bell & Sons, Ltd., London, and The Macmillan Co., New York.]