To suit the dress demands the actor’s art,
    Yet there are some who overdress the part. 
    To some prescriptive right gives settled things—­
    Black wigs to murderers, feathered hats to kings. 
    But Michael Cassio might be drunk enough,
    Though all his features were not grimed with snuff. 
    Why should Poll Peachum shine in satin clothes? 
    Why every devil dance in scarlet hose?

Thus, in regard to the conventionalism of stage costumes, wrote Churchill’s friend, Robert Lloyd, in his poem of “The Actor,” 1762.  And something he might have added touching the absurd old fashion of robing the queens of tragedy invariably in black, for it seemed agreed generally that “the sceptred pall of gorgeous tragedy” should be taken very literally, and should “sweep by” in the funereal fashion of sable velvet.  “Empresses and queens,” writes Mrs. Bellamy, the actress, in 1785, “always appeared in black velvet, with, upon extraordinary occasions, the additional finery of an embroidered or tissue petticoat; the younger actresses in cast gowns of persons of quality, or altered habits rather soiled; whilst the male portion of the dramatis personae strutted in tarnished laced coats and waistcoats, full bottom or tie wigs, and black worsted stockings.”  Yet the lady once ventured to appear as Lady Macbeth, and to wear the while a dress of white satin.  This took place at Edinburgh, and the startling innovation was only to be accounted for by the fact that the wardrobes of the actresses and of the company she had joined had been accidentally consumed by fire.  Some portion of the theatre had been also destroyed, but boards were hastily nailed down and covered with carpets, so as to form a temporary stage until the damage could be repaired.  Meantime appeal was made to the ladies of Edinburgh to lend clothes to the “burnt out” actress, who estimated the loss of her theatrical finery at L900, there being among the ashes of her property “a complete set of garnets and pearls, from cap to stomacher.”  Dresses of various kinds poured in, however.  “Before six o’clock I found myself in possession of above forty, and some of these almost new, as well as very rich.  Nor did the ladies confine themselves to outward garments only.  I received presents of all kinds and from every part of the adjacent country.”  But inasmuch as “no black vestment of any kind had been sent among the numerous ones of different colours which had been showered upon me by the ladies,” the necessity arose for dressing Lady Macbeth for the very first time in white satin.