Page:Monsieur Bossu's Treatise of the epick poem - Le Bossu (1695).djvu/63

Book I. Homer then has taken for the Foundation of his Fable this great Truth; viz. That a Misunderstanding between Princes is the Ruin of their own States. "I sing (says he) the Anger of Achilles, so pernicious to the Grecians, and the Cause of so many Heroes Deaths, occasion'd by the Discord and Parting of Agamemnon and this Prince."

But that this Truth may be compleatly and fully known, there is need of a second to back it. For it may be question'd, whether the ill Consequences which succeed a Quarrel were caused by that Quarrel; and whether a right Understanding does re-adjust those Affairs which Discord has put out of Order: that is to say, these Assembled States must be represented first as labouring under a Misunderstanding, and the ill Consequences thereof; and then as United and Victorious.

Let us now see how he has dispos'd of these Things in one General Action.

"Several Princes, independant on one another, were united against a Common Enemy. He, whom they had Elected their General, offers an Affront to the most Valiant of all the Confederates. This offended Prince was so far provok'd, that he withdrew himself, and obstinately refused to fight for the Common Cause. This Misunderstanding gives the Enemy so much Advantage, that the Confederates are very near quitting their Design very dishonourably. He himself who is withdrawn is not exempt from sharing in the Misfortunes he brought upon his Allies. For having permitted his intimate Friend to succour them in a great Necessity, this Friend is kill'd by the Enemies General. Thus being both made wiser at their own Cost, are reconcil'd. And then this Valiant Prince gets the Victory, and revenges his own Wrongs by killing with his own hands him who had been the Death of his Friend."

This is the first Platform of the Poem, and the Fiction, which reduces into one important and universal Action, all the Particulars upon which it turns.

In the next place it must be render'd Probable by the Circumstances of Times, Places, and Persons; that is to say, If we would come up to the Precepts of our Masters, we must seek for some Persons already known by History, or other ways, by whom we may with Probability represent the Personages of this ''Fable. Homer has made choice of the Siege of Troy'', and feign'd that this Action happen'd there. He has given the Name of Achilles to a valiant and angry Phantom; that of Agamemnon to his General, that of Hector to the Enemies Commander, and others to the rest, as is to be seen in his Poem.

Besides, he was oblig'd to accommodate himself to the Manners, Customs, and Genius of the Greeks his Auditors, the better to