The Poetic of Aristotle (Paperback)

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1788. Excerpt: ... CHAP. XXIII. OF EPIC POETRY. A S to imitations that are solely pro*, duced by narration and verse, it is evident that even there, as in tragedy, the fables should have a dramatic form, and relate to one entire and complete action, which has a beginning, a middle, and an end; and that, like one perfect animal, it should produce its peculiar delight, and not follow the custom of history, tory, in which it is not necessary to confine the subject to one action, but to one period of time; and where every thing may be introduced that happened in that time, whether relating to one or more persons, or whatever casual connexion the events may have with each other. For as the sea-fight at Salamis, and the battle with the Carthagenians in Sicily, though they happened at the lame(i) time; by no means conduced to the same end; so, in after-times also, one event occasionally (l) Herodotus fays the victory obtained by Gelo over the Carthagenians happened the fame day with the battle of Salamis; but Diodorus Siculus fays, on the fame day with the battle of Thermopylae. haphappens at the same (a) period with aru> ther, without any single consequence proceeding from them. This manner is nevertheless pursued by the generality of poets. (2) (c)aTEgo? (LiTa. flaTsga. " Interpreters have fol" lowed one another in rendering this passage fit " units post alttrum. This construction must be er roneous, since ftsTa with a genitive, signifies ' in " conjunction with.' The passage should be ren** dered thus: ' For as the sea-fight at Salamis, " and the engagement with the Carthagenians at " Sicily, happened xaTa ra; avTut xgora;, at the " fame time, though not at all tending to the fame " end; so *ai is ToT- ygamt, in after-times also, " own yUiTut SaTtMi f* T- 8