DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.48955#0175
Ch? XXII. COMPOSITIONS. i6g
ed , though it is not entirely of the same nature with
what I have been condemning: in a work com-
prehending the achievements of superior beings,
there is more room for fancy than where it is con-
fined to human afiions.
What is the true notion of an episode ? or how
is it to be disfinguissied from the principal ast ion?
Every incident that promotes or retards the ca-
tastrophe, must be part of the principal aftion.
This clears the nature of an episode; which may
be defined, “ An incident connefted with the
“ principal aftion, but contributing neither to ad-
“ vance nor to retard it. ” The descent of /Eneas
into hell doth not advance nor retard the cata-
ssrophe, and therefore is an episode. The story
of Nisus and Euiyalus, producing an alteration in
the affairs of the contending parties , is a part of
the principal aftion. The family scene in the sixth
book os the Iliad is of the same nature; for by
Heftor’s retiring from the field of battle to visit
his wife, the Grecians had opportunity to breathe,
and even to turn upon the Trojans. The unavoid-
able effeft of an episode , according to this defini-
tion , muss be, to break the unity of action; and
therefore it ought never to be indulged, unless to
unbend the mind after the fatigue of a long nar-
ration. An episode, when such is its purpose, re-»
quires the sollowing conditions: It ought to be
well connefted with the principal aftion: it ought
to be lively and interesting: it ought to be fliort:
ed , though it is not entirely of the same nature with
what I have been condemning: in a work com-
prehending the achievements of superior beings,
there is more room for fancy than where it is con-
fined to human afiions.
What is the true notion of an episode ? or how
is it to be disfinguissied from the principal ast ion?
Every incident that promotes or retards the ca-
tastrophe, must be part of the principal aftion.
This clears the nature of an episode; which may
be defined, “ An incident connefted with the
“ principal aftion, but contributing neither to ad-
“ vance nor to retard it. ” The descent of /Eneas
into hell doth not advance nor retard the cata-
ssrophe, and therefore is an episode. The story
of Nisus and Euiyalus, producing an alteration in
the affairs of the contending parties , is a part of
the principal aftion. The family scene in the sixth
book os the Iliad is of the same nature; for by
Heftor’s retiring from the field of battle to visit
his wife, the Grecians had opportunity to breathe,
and even to turn upon the Trojans. The unavoid-
able effeft of an episode , according to this defini-
tion , muss be, to break the unity of action; and
therefore it ought never to be indulged, unless to
unbend the mind after the fatigue of a long nar-
ration. An episode, when such is its purpose, re-»
quires the sollowing conditions: It ought to be
well connefted with the principal aftion: it ought
to be lively and interesting: it ought to be fliort: