Page:The Theatre of the Greeks, a Treatise on the History and Exhibition of the Greek Drama, with Various Supplements.djvu/345

 (I) ARISTOTLE'S TKEATISE ON POETRY. (twining's tkanslation ; with occasional cokeections and notes on the original text.) A. General Introductioi M Y design is to treat of Poetry in general, and of its several species ; Cap. i. to inquire what is the proper effect of each; what construction of a Design of fable, or plot, is essential to a good poem ; of what, and how many parts, Sffferent' each species consists; with whatever else belongs to the same subject; poetry? which I shall consider in the order that most naturally presents itself (dpidfxevoL Kara cfivatv Trpcorov a7ro twv Trpwroov). Epic poetry, tragedy, comedy, dithyrambics, as also, for the most i. Means of part, the music of the flute and of the lyre ; all these are, in the most general view of them, Imitations {ovcrai [xifxija-eLq to avvoXov) : differing, however, from each other in three respects, according to the different means, the different objects, or the different manner, of their imitation. For as men, some through art, and some through habit, imitate various objects, by means of colour and figure [and others again by voice^, so with respect to the arts above-mentioned, rhythm, words, and melody {pvOixo^, Xoyos, dpixovia), are the different means by which, either single or variously combined, they all produce their imitation. For example : in the imitations of the flute and the lyre, and of any other instruments capable of producing a similar effect, as the syrinx or pipe, melody and rhythm only are employed. In those of dance, rhythm, alone, without melody, for there are dancers who, by rhythm applied to gesture, express manners, passions and actions. The Epopoeia imitates by words alone, or by verse, and that verse may be either composed of various metres, or confined, according to the ^ Passages inclosed within brackets are supposed to be interpolation .s. — J. W. D.