OCR Text |
Show 14S THE CODE OF TERPSICHORE CHAPTER IV. OP T H E UNITIES. " Tous les beaux Arts ont quelque united d' objet, source du plaisir qu'ils donnent a 1'esprit: car 1'attention partage'e, ne se repose nulle part, et quand deux objets nous occupent c'est une preuve qu' aucun des deux ne nous satisfait."-J. J. R O U S S E A U . IN order that the plan and progress of dramatic pieces may appear natural and probable, and that nothing may be introduced foreign to the plot; that the sentiments may be exactly what they ought to be, and the passions such as arise from the whole, the unities of action, place, and time have been established as essential qualities of dramatic writing; a law, indeed, enacted by taste and judgment. Noverre does not wish to subject the Ballet to these three unities,- but, considering the progress in the art of dancing, we shall adhere to whatever maxims may appear more admissible than the opinion of this celebrated artist. W e shall, however, agree with him in a certain class of compositions, which we shall notice during the course of this work. The plots of the Grecian dramas are too simple, and they are consequently often barren of interest. The moderns have escaped this error, by introducing into their works an |