DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.48955#0155
Ch. XXII. COMPOSITIONS. j4g
at the close, upon finding, from the charsders and
situations exhibited at the commencement, that
every incident down to the final catastrophe is na-
tural and that the whole in conjuiidion make a
regular chain of causes and effeds.
Considering that an epic and a dramatic poem
are the same in substance, and have the same aim
or end, one will readily imagine, that subjeds
proper for the one mustbe equally proper for the
other. But considering their disference as to form,
there will be found reason to corred that conjec-
ture, at leas! in some degree. Many subjeds may
indeed be treated with equal advantage in either
form ; but the subjeds are still more numerous for
which they are not equally qualified ; and there
are subjeds proper for the one , and not for the
other. To give some ssight notion of the differ-
ence , as there is no room here for enlarging up-
on every article, I observe, that dialogue is better
qualified for expressing sentiments, and narrative
for displaying fads. Heroism, magnanimity, un-
daunted courage, and other elevated virtues 5
figure best in adion : tender passions, and the
whole tribe of sympathetic affedions, iigure best
in seniiment. It clearly sollows, that tenoer pas-
sions are more peculiarly the province of - tragedy^
grand and heroic adions os epic poetry .
6 In Racine tender sentiments prevail; in Gor.n elite, grand
and heroic manners. Hence clearly the preierence of th -
X 3
at the close, upon finding, from the charsders and
situations exhibited at the commencement, that
every incident down to the final catastrophe is na-
tural and that the whole in conjuiidion make a
regular chain of causes and effeds.
Considering that an epic and a dramatic poem
are the same in substance, and have the same aim
or end, one will readily imagine, that subjeds
proper for the one mustbe equally proper for the
other. But considering their disference as to form,
there will be found reason to corred that conjec-
ture, at leas! in some degree. Many subjeds may
indeed be treated with equal advantage in either
form ; but the subjeds are still more numerous for
which they are not equally qualified ; and there
are subjeds proper for the one , and not for the
other. To give some ssight notion of the differ-
ence , as there is no room here for enlarging up-
on every article, I observe, that dialogue is better
qualified for expressing sentiments, and narrative
for displaying fads. Heroism, magnanimity, un-
daunted courage, and other elevated virtues 5
figure best in adion : tender passions, and the
whole tribe of sympathetic affedions, iigure best
in seniiment. It clearly sollows, that tenoer pas-
sions are more peculiarly the province of - tragedy^
grand and heroic adions os epic poetry .
6 In Racine tender sentiments prevail; in Gor.n elite, grand
and heroic manners. Hence clearly the preierence of th -
X 3