DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.48955#0185
Ch. XXIII. THE THREE UNITIES. 179
fore , and the Cattse of what follows: one incident
may affed us more, another less; but all of them
are links in the universal chain, the mind, in
viewing these incidents, cannot rest or settle ulti-
mately upon any one; but is carried along in the
train without any close.
But when the intelledual world is taken under
view, in conjunction with the material; thescene
is varied. Man ads with deliberation , will, and
choice: he aims at some end, glory, for example,
or riches, or conquesl, the procuring happiness to
individuals, or to his country in general: he pro-
poses means,' and lays plans to attain the end pur-
posed. Here are a number of fads or incidents
leading to the end in view, the whole competing
one chain by the relation of cause and died. In.
running over a series of such fads or incidents,
we cannot \est upon any one; bficause they are
presented to us as means only, leading to some
end: but we rest with satistadion upon the end or
ultimate event; because there the purpose or aim
of the chief peison or perlons is accomplished.
This indicates the beginning, the middle, and the
end , of what Aristotle calls an entire action
The story naturally begins with describing those
circumstances which move the principal pers'on
to form a plan , in order to corapass some desi-
red event: the prosecution of that plan and the
’ Poet. cap. 6, 'See also ca^>. 7.
M 2
fore , and the Cattse of what follows: one incident
may affed us more, another less; but all of them
are links in the universal chain, the mind, in
viewing these incidents, cannot rest or settle ulti-
mately upon any one; but is carried along in the
train without any close.
But when the intelledual world is taken under
view, in conjunction with the material; thescene
is varied. Man ads with deliberation , will, and
choice: he aims at some end, glory, for example,
or riches, or conquesl, the procuring happiness to
individuals, or to his country in general: he pro-
poses means,' and lays plans to attain the end pur-
posed. Here are a number of fads or incidents
leading to the end in view, the whole competing
one chain by the relation of cause and died. In.
running over a series of such fads or incidents,
we cannot \est upon any one; bficause they are
presented to us as means only, leading to some
end: but we rest with satistadion upon the end or
ultimate event; because there the purpose or aim
of the chief peison or perlons is accomplished.
This indicates the beginning, the middle, and the
end , of what Aristotle calls an entire action
The story naturally begins with describing those
circumstances which move the principal pers'on
to form a plan , in order to corapass some desi-
red event: the prosecution of that plan and the
’ Poet. cap. 6, 'See also ca^>. 7.
M 2