Page:Monsieur Bossu's Treatise of the epick poem - Le Bossu (1695).djvu/92

48 Hero; because One Man may have perform'd several Adventures, which 'tis impossible to reduce under any One and simple head. This reducing of all things to Unity and Simplicity is what Horace likewise makes his first Rule.

According to these Rules then, it will be allowable to make use of several Fables; or (to speak more correctly) of several Incidents which may be divided into several Fables; provided they are so order'd, that the Unity of the Fable be not spoil'd thereby. This Liberty is still greater in the Epick Poem, because 'tis of a larger Extent than ordinary Poems, and ought to be Entire and Compleat.

I will explain my self more distinctly by the practice of our Poets.

No doubt but one might make four distinct Fables out of these four following Instructions.

1. Division between those of the same party exposes them to the fury of their Enemies.

2. Conceal your weakness, and you will be dreaded as much, as if you had none of these Imperfections, which they know nothing of.

3. When your strength is only feign'd, and founded only in the Opinion of others; never venture so far, as if your strength was real.

4. The more you agree together, the less hurt will your Enemies do you.

'Tis plain, I say, that each of these particular Maxims, might serve for the Ground-work of a Fiction, and one might make four distinct Fables out of them. May not a Man therefore put all these into one single Epopéa? No: Our Masters forbid that, unless he could make one single Fable out of them all.

But they do not at all forbid it, if the Poet has so much skill as to unite all into one Body, as Members and Parts, each of which taken asunder would be imperfect; and if he joins them so, as that this Conjunction shall be no hinderance at all to the Ʋnity and the Regular simplicity of the Fable. This is what Homer has done with such success in the Composition of the Iliad.

1. The Division between Achilles and his Allies tended to the ruin of their Designs. 2. Patroclus comes to their Relief in the Armour of this Hero, and Hector retreats. 3. But this young man pushing the Advantage, which his Disguise gave him, too far, ventures to engage with Hector himself; but not being Master of Achilles's strength (whom be only represented in outward appearance) he is killed, and by this means leaves the Grecian Affairs in the same disorder, which he in that Disguise came to free them from. 4. Achilles provoked at the Death of his friend, is reconciled, and revenges his loss by the Death of Hector. These various Inci-