OCR Text |
Show 244 THE CODE OF TERPSICHORE. NOTES TO PART THE FOURTH. 1. Episode is a poetical term, signifying an action of a different nature from the principal action, but connected with it. An episode should be skilfully treated, and its connexion should be made with every appearance of probability. It must not divert the attention of either the spectator or reader; it should, therefore, not continue too long a time, but should be proportioned to the nature of the subject. After having made a well-contrived progress, and produced its effect, it should disappear. Poets have employed episodes with great propriety, to acquaint their readers with those events that have preceded the action of the poem ; showing h ow the hero arrived in that position in which he appears at the beginning of the piece. This artifice is used by the greatest poets, in order that unity of action may be preserved, and that whatever is requisite to be known may not be left in uncertainty and obscurity. 2. The centre division was called the Imperial Gate, through which persons of distinction passed ; the other two divisions on each side were termed the Strangers' Gates, being constructed for foreigners; the lower class of people, also, went in by these latter named entrances. The scenery generally represented merely a street, a public square, oi the country. 3. Some regard Despr<5aux as the lawgiver of Parnassus, as the restorer of good taste, and as the first w h o wrote good verses. This, however, is wrong; for Corneille, Moliere, Racine, and La Fontaine had already produced their masterpieces, when, as a certain author remarks, Boileau had not yet written but a few indifferent satires. H e afterwards instructed young persons by describing to them the beauties of those great originals. While waging war against bad writers, he certainly merited the title of preserver of true taste, rather than restorer. This great and celebrated versifier might be followed on every subject, had he not been guilty of some false criticisms, which may be found in what he has said against Quiuault, as good a poet as himself, and possessing all the sweetness w e admire in Metastasio. But when Boileau was jealous, he traduced the greatest geniuses of Italy, England, and even of France. 4. Iu other respects w e are not insensible to the beauties of this great pro- |