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that_o divers_a poem_n of_o the_o ancient_n have_v be_v translate_v and_o act_v upon_o our_o stage_n with_o very_o ill_a success_n four_o that_o divers_a of_o our_o modern_a play_n though_o quite_o contrary_a to_o these_o rule_n have_v be_v act_v with_o great_a applause_n and_o last_o of_o all_o that_o if_o these_o rigorous_a maxim_n shall_v be_v follow_v we_o shall_v very_o often_o lose_v the_o great_a beauty_n of_o all_o true_a story_n their_o incident_n have_v most_o common_o happen_v at_o different_a time_n and_o in_o different_a place_n as_o to_o the_o first_o objection_n i_o answer_v that_o the_o rule_n of_o the_o state_n be_v not_o found_v upon_o authority_n but_o upon_o reason_n they_o be_v not_o so_o much_o settle_v by_o example_n as_o by_o the_o natural_a judgement_n of_o mankind_n and_o if_o we_o call_v they_o the_o rule_n and_o the_o art_n of_o the_o ancient_n it_o be_v only_a because_o they_o have_v practise_v they_o with_o great_a regularity_n and_o much_o to_o their_o 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answer_v it_o be_v every_o one_o natural_a judgement_n and_o it_o may_v happen_v that_o a_o drama_n may_v be_v so_o lucky_o contrive_v that_o the_o preparation_n of_o the_o incident_n and_o the_o variety_n of_o the_o passion_n shall_v correct_v the_o defect_n of_o the_o abundance_n of_o they_o and_o that_o the_o art_n of_o the_o machine_n shall_v be_v so_o well_o understand_v that_o they_o may_v easy_o be_v make_v use_n of_o in_o every_o act_n as_o i_o former_o propound_v to_o cardinal_n richelieu_n but_o hitherto_o they_o be_v little_a in_o use_n in_o our_o ordinary_a theatre_n it_o be_v beside_o most_o common_o ask_v here_o how_o far_o the_o poet_n may_v venture_v in_o the_o alteration_n of_o a_o true_a story_n 15._o in_o order_n to_o the_o fit_v of_o it_o for_o the_o stage_n upon_o which_o we_o find_v different_a opinion_n among_o both_o the_o ancient_n and_o modern_a critic_n 2._o but_o my_o opinion_n be_v that_o he_o may_v do_v it_o not_o only_o in_o the_o circumstance_n but_o 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to_o be_v give_v the_o actor_n who_o ought_v not_o to_o be_v represent_v different_a from_o what_o they_o be_v believe_v as_o it_o will_v be_v to_o make_v caesar_n a_o coward_n or_o messalina_n chaste_a and_o this_o vossius_fw-la have_v well_o observe_v in_o his_o poetic_a art_n and_o i_o wonder_v that_o people_n shall_v be_v abuse_v by_o citation_n apply_v quite_o contrary_a to_o the_o sense_n of_o the_o author_n and_o yet_o i_o be_o not_o of_o opinion_n that_o a_o know_a story_n yet_o fresh_a in_o the_o mind_n of_o the_o people_n can_v suffer_v to_o be_v considerable_o change_v without_o great_a caution_n but_o in_o such_o a_o case_n i_o shall_v advise_v the_o poet_n rather_o to_o abandon_v such_o a_o subject_n than_o to_o make_v a_o ill_a play_n of_o it_o out_o of_o a_o humour_n of_o follow_a truth_n or_o at_o least_o to_o manage_v it_o so_o as_o to_o check_v direct_o the_o receive_a opinion_n among_o the_o vulgar_a if_o we_o examine_v well_o the_o sense_n of_o aristotle_n i_o 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propose_v three_o sort_n of_o subject_n the_o first_o consist_v of_o incident_n intrigue_n and_o new_a event_n when_o almost_o from_o act_n to_o act_n there_o be_v some_o sudden_a change_n upon_o the_o stage_n which_o alter_v all_o the_o face_n of_o affair_n when_o almost_o all_o the_o actor_n have_v different_a design_n and_o the_o mean_n they_o take_v to_o make_v they_o succeed_v come_v to_o cross_v one_o another_o and_o produce_v new_a and_o unforeseen_a accident_n all_o which_o give_v a_o marvellous_a satisfaction_n to_o the_o spectator_n it_o be_v a_o continual_a diversion_n accompany_v with_o a_o agreeable_a expectation_n of_o what_o the_o event_n will_v be_v the_o second_o sort_n of_o subject_n be_v of_o those_o raise_v out_o of_o passion_n when_o out_o of_o a_o small_a fund_z the_o poet_n do_v ingenious_o draw_v great_a sentiment_n and_o noble_a passion_n to_o entertain_v the_o auditory_a and_o when_o out_o of_o incident_n that_o seem_v natural_a to_o his_o subject_n he_o take_v occasion_n to_o transport_v his_o actor_n into_o extraordinary_a and_o violent_a sentiment_n by_o which_o the_o spectator_n be_v ravish_v and_o their_o soul_n continual_o move_v with_o some_o new_a impression_n the_o last_o sort_n of_o subject_n be_v the_o mix_v or_o compound_v of_o incident_n and_o passion_n when_o by_o unexpected_a event_n but_o noble_a one_o the_o actor_n break_v out_o into_o different_a passion_n and_o that_o infinite_o delight_v the_o auditory_a to_o see_v at_o the_o same_o time_n surprise_v accident_n and_o noble_a and_o move_a sentiment_n to_o which_o they_o can_v but_o yield_v with_o pleasure_n now_o it_o be_v certain_a that_o in_o all_o these_o three_o sort_n of_o subject_n the_o poet_n may_v succeed_v provide_v the_o disposition_n of_o his_o play_n be_v ingenious_a but_o yet_o i_o have_v observe_v
no_o actor_n upon_o the_o stage_n that_o be_v not_o know_v to_o the_o spectator_n as_o soon_o as_o he_o appear_v and_o that_o not_o only_o as_o to_o his_o name_n and_o person_n but_o also_o as_o to_o the_o sentiment_n he_o bring_v upon_o the_o stage_n else_o the_o spectator_n will_v be_v puzzle_v and_o the_o poet_n fine_a discourse_n will_v be_v lose_v because_o the_o audience_n will_v not_o know_v how_o to_o apply_v they_o and_o i_o have_v see_v often_o 20_o or_o 30_o noble_a verse_n throw_v away_o because_o the_o spectator_n know_v not_o he_o that_o speak_v they_o nor_o how_o to_o apply_v they_o the_o ancient_n never_o fail_v in_o this_o to_o which_o the_o chorus_n be_v a_o great_a help_n to_o they_o for_o they_o never_o leave_v the_o stage_n general_o as_o soon_o as_o a_o new_a actor_n come_v on_o they_o name_v he_o with_o some_o expression_n of_o fear_n astonishment_n or_o joy_n according_a as_o the_o subject_a require_v but_o if_o he_o be_v a_o stranger_n and_o unknown_a to_o the_o chorus_n than_o he_o name_v himself_o give_v some_o account_n of_o his_o good_a or_o bad_a fortune_n or_o some_o confident_a of_o his_o declare_v it_o without_o affectation_n either_o by_o pity_v he_o or_o seem_v to_o be_v concern_v for_o the_o doubtful_a success_n of_o his_o enterprise_n as_o for_o we_o who_o have_v no_o chorus_n we_o must_v instead_o of_o they_o make_v some_o of_o those_o actor_n speak_v who_o be_v already_o upon_o the_o stage_n and_o know_v and_o if_o we_o open_v a_o act_n with_o person_n unknown_a they_o must_v themselves_o declare_v their_o condition_n or_o some_o of_o their_o follower_n must_v by_o the_o by_o and_o without_o affectation_n insinuate_v it_o but_o if_o it_o be_v necessary_a that_o a_o actor_n shall_v be_v incognito_o both_o as_o to_o his_o name_n and_o quality_n in_o order_n to_o his_o be_v know_v with_o more_o pleasure_n towards_o the_o end_n of_o the_o play_n than_o the_o spectator_n must_v at_o least_o know_v that_o he_o be_v incognito_o and_o in_o a_o word_n all_o confusion_n must_v be_v avoid_v and_o it_o will_v be_v well_o if_o the_o spectator_n conceive_v something_o in_o general_a concern_v the_o inteterest_n of_o this_o new_a actor_n not_o indeed_o so_o far_o as_o to_o discover_v or_o prevent_v a_o incident_a but_o so_o much_o as_o be_v necessary_a to_o facilitate_v their_o easy_a comprehend_v all_o that_o be_v to_o be_v say_v afterward_o the_o three_o observation_n be_v that_o the_o actor_n do_v always_o come_v on_o and_o go_v off_o of_o the_o scene_n with_o some_o probable_a reason_n which_o make_v it_o more_o proper_a for_o they_o to_o do_v so_o than_o otherwise_o and_o yet_o that_o must_v not_o be_v do_v gross_o but_o by_o nice_a and_o natural_a pretext_n for_o any_o art_n that_o discover_v itself_o too_o much_o lose_v its_o grace_n and_o yet_o it_o be_v not_o necessary_a that_o the_o reason_n which_o make_v the_o actor_n go_v on_o and_o off_o shall_v always_o take_v effect_n quite_o contrary_a the_o less_o thing_n succeed_v according_a to_o their_o first_o appearance_n the_o more_o please_a and_o surprise_v they_o be_v it_o be_v one_o of_o the_o beauty_n of_o the_o stage_n that_o thing_n cross_v one_o another_o and_o so_o produce_v unforeseen_a event_n and_o when_o a_o actor_n be_v upon_o the_o stage_n his_o good_a or_o bad_a fortune_n be_v in_o the_o poet_n hand_n though_o the_o reason_n that_o bring_v he_o on_o be_v not_o at_o all_o conformable_a to_o what_o he_o meet_v with_o there_o as_o for_o the_o practice_n of_o this_o rule_n i_o must_v desire_v our_o poet_n to_o have_v recourse_n to_o the_o ancient_n and_o to_o observe_v with_o what_o be_v they_o govern_v themselves_o for_o the_o read_n of_o one_o poem_n of_o they_o particular_o of_o sophocles_n will_v give_v they_o more_o light_a in_o this_o matter_n than_o all_o the_o allegation_n with_o which_o i_o may_v swell_v this_o treatise_n the_o four_o observation_n be_v about_o a_o dispute_n which_o i_o have_v often_o be_v witness_n to_o which_o be_v whether_o or_o no_o in_o the_o same_o act_n the_o same_o actor_n may_v appear_v more_o than_o once_o first_o to_o answer_v this_o question_n right_a it_o be_v necessary_a to_o distinguish_v the_o play_n for_o in_o a_o comedy_n the_o subject_a whereof_o be_v take_v from_o the_o mean_a sort_n of_o people_n it_o will_v not_o be_v amiss_o that_o the_o person_n concern_v shall_v appear_v more_o than_o once_o in_o a_o act_n because_o they_o be_v people_n who_o business_n be_v not_o weighty_a their_o action_n quick_a and_o the_o manner_n of_o their_o life_n unquiet_a and_o their_o intrigue_n most_o of_o they_o happen_v in_o the_o neighbourhood_n so_o that_o they_o need_v but_o a_o little_a time_n to_o go_v and_o come_v but_o in_o a_o tragedy_n where_o they_o be_v most_o common_o king_n and_o prince_n where_o their_o manner_n of_o live_v be_v very_o different_a their_o action_n all_o full_a of_o gravity_n and_o weight_n it_o do_v not_o appear_v easy_a nor_o reasonable_a to_o make_v they_o appear_v more_o than_o once_o in_o a_o act_n for_o their_o intrigue_n be_v general_o with_o person_n remote_a their_o design_n great_a and_o which_o be_v not_o to_o be_v bring_v to_o pass_v but_o by_o slow_a mean_n and_o with_o great_a circumspection_n so_o that_o more_o time_n be_v regular_o require_v to_o move_v all_o the_o spring_n of_o their_o affair_n second_o in_o both_o these_o sort_n of_o poem_n one_o must_v consider_v the_o condition_n of_o the_o person_n for_o in_o a_o slave_n or_o servant_n it_o will_v be_v nothing_o to_o see_v he_o often_o in_o a_o act_n but_o it_o will_v be_v something_o strange_a in_o a_o man_n or_o woman_n of_o quality_n if_o some_o very_a extraordinary_a reason_n do_v not_o oblige_v they_o to_o precipitate_v their_o action_n three_o we_o be_v to_o consider_v how_o far_o a_o actor_n go_v and_o if_o the_o thing_n he_o go_v about_o require_v much_o time_n or_o if_o he_o have_v some_o reason_n to_o return_v so_o soon_o for_o the_o place_n he_o go_v to_o be_v near_o and_o have_v but_o a_o short_a business_n and_o be_v oblige_v to_o return_v immediate_o all_o these_o be_v circumstance_n which_o may_v bring_v a_o actor_n upon_o the_o stage_n twice_o in_o a_o act_n without_o offend_v against_o the_o rule_n plautus_n do_v it_o very_o ingenious_o in_o many_o of_o his_o comedys_n but_o i_o know_v no_o example_n of_o it_o in_o any_o tragedys_n of_o the_o ancient_n mounseur_fw-fr corneille_n indeed_o in_o his_o horatius_n bring_v his_o hero_n twice_o on_o in_o the_o same_o act_n because_o he_o go_v but_o from_o the_o hall_n of_o his_o palace_n to_o his_o father_n chamber_n to_o take_v his_o leave_n of_o he_o before_o he_o engage_v in_o the_o combat_n between_o the_o six_o brother_n but_o for_o my_o part_n i_o shall_v counsel_v the_o poet_n to_o do_v it_o as_o little_a as_o possible_a and_o with_o great_a circumspection_n for_o methinks_v it_o be_v a_o little_a undecent_a to_o see_v a_o person_n of_o quality_n go_v and_o come_v so_o sudden_o and_o act_n with_o so_o much_o appearance_n of_o precipitation_n the_o five_o observation_n be_v about_o a_o thing_n which_o the_o ancient_n never_o fail_v in_o and_o the_o modern_a writer_n often_o have_v which_o be_v to_o bring_v their_o principal_a actor_n on_o upon_o the_o open_n of_o the_o stage_n and_o indeed_o with_o a_o great_a deal_n of_o reason_n because_o their_o person_n be_v consider_v as_o the_o principal_a subject_n of_o all_o the_o adventure_n of_o the_o play_n and_o as_o the_o centre_n to_o which_o all_o the_o other_o line_n be_v to_o be_v draw_v the_o spectator_n desire_v to_o see_v they_o at_o first_o and_o all_o that_o be_v say_v or_o do_v before_o their_o arrival_n give_v they_o more_o impatience_n than_o pleasure_n and_o be_v often_o reckon_v for_o nothing_o and_o beside_o they_o often_o take_v the_o first_o actor_n of_o quality_n for_o the_o hero_n of_o the_o play_n and_o when_o they_o be_v undeceive_v find_v themselves_o in_o confusion_n and_o perplex_v therefore_o those_o author_n who_o bring_v not_o on_o their_o chief_a actor_n till_o the_o three_o or_o four_o act_n be_v much_o to_o blame_v for_o that_o cause_n in_o the_o audience_n so_o much_o impatience_n and_o uncertainty_n that_o it_o be_v afterward_o very_o hard_o to_o satisfy_v they_o not_o but_o that_o in_o some_o occasion_n one_o may_v lucky_o defer_v the_o bring_n on_o a_o chief_a actor_n for_o a_o while_n but_o then_o that_o must_v give_v some_o extraordinary_a grace_n to_o the_o play_n and_o be_v order_v so_o as_o not_o to_o confound_v the_o spectator_n application_n the_o six_o observation_n be_v that_o the_o chief_a actor_n ought_v to_o appear_v as_o often_o ans_fw-fr stay_n as_o long_o as_o possible_a upon_o the_o stage_n first_o because_o they_o be_v
to_o himself_o yet_o that_o be_v a_o gross_a imprudence_n ought_v not_o to_o be_v represent_v upon_o the_o stage_n therefore_o in_o these_o case_n one_o must_v either_o find_v out_o a_o probable_a reason_n to_o make_v the_o actor_n speak_v aloud_o which_o be_v very_o hard_a to_o do_v or_o else_o the_o poet_n ought_v to_o use_v such_o art_n in_o the_o composition_n of_o the_o monologue_n as_o that_o the_o actor_n shall_v sometime_o raise_v his_o voice_n in_o say_v certain_a word_n only_o and_o speak_v with_o a_o low_a voice_n in_o other_o that_o so_o the_o actor_n who_o be_v within_o hear_v may_v be_v suppose_v to_o hear_v some_o speak_v with_o passion_n and_o not_o the_o other_o as_o be_v speak_v soft_o and_o in_o the_o mean_a time_n the_o other_o actor_n upon_o what_o he_o do_v hear_v may_v make_v some_o exclamation_n and_o seem_v concern_v that_o he_o can_v not_o hear_v the_o rest_n nay_o when_o the_o actor_n who_o shall_v speak_v the_o monologue_n shall_v speak_v soft_o than_o the_o other_o actor_n shall_v observe_v all_o his_o action_n as_o of_o a_o man_n much_o take_v up_o with_o his_o own_o thought_n and_o in_o a_o deep_a study_n and_o it_o may_v be_v this_o way_n the_o probability_n of_o the_o stage_n may_v be_v preserve_v with_o some_o addition_n of_o ornament_n to_o the_o scene_n in_o hand_n but_o to_o execute_v this_o well_o one_o must_v not_o meet_v with_o proud_a impertinent_a player_n who_o take_v no_o advice_n but_o from_o their_o own_o ignorance_n and_o presumption_n think_v they_o perform_v all_o thing_n admirable_o well_o for_o a_o scene_n of_o this_o nature_n will_v hardly_o succeed_v except_o as_o docile_a actor_n as_o those_o of_o the_o new_a company_n of_o the_o marest_n be_v wont_a to_o be_v undertake_v it_o the_o three_o observation_n about_o monologue_n be_v to_o make_v they_o so_o as_o not_o to_o chock_v the_o probability_n of_o the_o circumstance_n of_o time_n &_o place_n for_o example_n it_o will_v be_v absurd_a to_o put_v a_o monologue_n in_o the_o mouth_n of_o a_o general_n of_o a_o army_n who_o shall_v be_v in_o the_o middle_n of_o a_o town_n just_o storm_v by_o his_o army_n there_o will_v be_v likewise_o little_a probability_n if_o a_o lover_n shall_v hear_v of_o some_o great_a danger_n his_o mistress_n be_v in_o and_o instead_o of_o run_v to_o her_o relief_n shall_v stand_v still_o and_o make_v a_o long_a complaint_n against_o the_o star_n he_o will_v be_v as_o little_o forgive_v in_o the_o representation_n as_o in_o the_o reality_n so_o that_o in_o a_o word_n all_o that_o can_v be_v do_v be_v still_o to_o keep_v to_o the_o rule_n of_o probability_n and_o decency_n as_o the_o only_a guide_n of_o the_o stage_n chapter_n the_o nine_o of_o a_o part_n or_o discourse_n make_v to_o one_o self_n in_o the_o presence_n of_o other_o it_o often_o happen_v upon_o the_o stage_n that_o one_o party_n speak_v in_o the_o presence_n of_o another_o who_o hear_v and_o see_v he_o and_o that_o nevertheless_o his_o word_n represent_v some_o thought_n know_v to_o no_o body_n but_o himself_o there_o be_v very_o few_o of_o those_o to_o be_v meet_v with_o in_o the_o greek_a poet_n and_o except_v a_o verse_n or_o two_o that_o the_o chorus_n speak_v after_o some_o long_a discourse_n of_o a_o actor_n or_o when_o a_o new_a actor_n come_v upon_o the_o stage_n i_o do_v not_o know_v of_o any_o other_o example_n and_o this_o may_v serve_v to_o give_v we_o a_o hint_n how_o cautious_a we_o be_v to_o be_v in_o observe_v the_o probability_n of_o the_o stage_n since_o in_o a_o matter_n of_o forty_o poem_n they_o have_v so_o rare_o take_v the_o liberty_n of_o represent_v a_o man_n secret_a thought_n by_o word_n speak_v aloud_o the_o roman_n have_v take_v much_o more_o licence_n in_o this_o kind_n terence_n not_o quite_o so_o much_o as_o plautus_n who_o make_v a_o part_n very_o frequent_o and_o often_o intolerable_o absurd_a seneca_n the_o tragedian_n be_v not_o more_o regular_a in_o this_o than_o in_o any_o other_o of_o the_o rule_n of_o the_o stage_n for_o in_o his_o agamemnon_n clytaemnestra_n make_v a_o a_o part_n of_o seventeen_o verse_n our_o modern_n who_o have_v imitate_v the_o ancient_n much_o more_o in_o their_o fault_n than_o in_o their_o excellency_n make_v likewise_o such_o absurd_a a_o part_n that_o the_o most_o gross_a among_o the_o common_a people_n can_v hardly_o bear_v they_o i_o know_v that_o those_o a_o part_n do_v sometime_o make_v very_o good_a sport_n upon_o the_o stage_n and_o it_o be_v often_o necessary_a to_o introduce_v they_o to_o make_v know_v to_o the_o spectator_n some_o secret_a thought_n of_o some_o actor_n without_o which_o they_o will_v be_v in_o the_o dark_a as_o for_o example_n when_o a_o actor_n dissemble_v but_o at_o the_o same_o time_n it_o seem_v a_o little_a hard_a to_o conceive_v though_o scaliger_n by_o a_o great_a indulgence_n for_o the_o stage_n allow_v it_o that_o a_o actor_n shall_v speak_v loud_a enough_o to_o be_v hear_v by_o the_o audience_n and_o yet_o not_o be_v overhear_v by_o another_o actor_n who_o stand_v by_o he_o and_o that_o which_o be_v worse_o be_v that_o to_o feign_v he_o do_v not_o hear_v he_o he_o be_v force_v to_o make_v twenty_o ridiculous_a grimaces_n let_v we_o see_v therefore_o if_o by_o art_n we_o can_v any_o way_n render_v these_o a_o part_n if_o not_o entire_o probable_a at_o least_o supportable_a to_o the_o stage_n in_o order_n to_o this_o i_o divide_v they_o into_o three_o sort_n the_o first_o when_o two_o actor_n each_o of_o they_o at_o one_o corner_n of_o the_o stage_n speak_v as_o it_o be_v to_o themselves_o of_o their_o own_o concern_v make_v as_o if_o they_o do_v neither_o see_v nor_o hear_v one_o another_o the_o second_o sort_n be_v when_o one_o actor_n speak_v suppose_v the_o other_o actor_n who_o he_o see_v and_o hear_v not_o to_o see_v nor_o hear_v he_o the_o three_o sort_n be_v when_o both_o actor_n hear_v and_o see_v one_o another_o one_o of_o they_o for_o some_o sudden_a consideration_n speak_v as_o if_o he_o 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