A truce, Mr.Cibber, what do you understand by an actor?
Tell me; for I am foolish enough to respect your opinion on these matters!" "An actor, young lady," said he, gravely, "is an artist who has gone deep enough in his art to make dunces, critics and greenhorns take it for nature; moreover, he really personates; which your mere _man of the stage_ never does.

He has learned the true art of self-multiplication.
He drops Betterton, Booth, Wilkes, or, ahem--" "Cibber," inserted Sir Charles Pomander.

Cibber bowed.
"In his dressing-room, and comes out young or old, a fop, a valet, a lover, or a hero, with voice, mien, and every gesture to match.

A grain less than this may be good speaking, fine preaching, deep grunting, high ranting, eloquent reciting; but I'll be hanged if it is acting!" "Then Colley Cibber never acted," whispered Quin to Mrs.Clive.
"Then Margaret Woffington is an actress," said M.W.; "the fine ladies take my Lady Betty for their sister.

In Mrs.Day, I pass for a woman of seventy; and in Sir Harry Wildair I have been taken for a man.