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Show 152 THE CODE OF TERPSICHORE. we have been speaking. Metastasio, in his observations upon the Poetics of Aristotle, clearly demonstrates to us the defects of the most celebrated of ancient poets. Here then we must admire the genius of Shakspeare; but let us avoid following his system in every particular, or in adopting that of his imitators, in the same manner as we should avoid the renowned Schlegel, and his romantic sect. CHAPTER V. ON THE DIVISIONS OF DRAMATIC PIECES. " Neve minor quinto : neu sit productior Actu Fabula, qua; posci vult, et spectata reponi."-HOR. THIS is the precept of the Roman satirist. Vossius makes the same division of dramatic productions " Fabula, sive tragica, sive comica quinque actus habere debet." ASCONIUS PEDIANUS. It is indeed an established law, that all the greater pieces should be divided into five acts. But there is a certain class of dramas, in which may be ranked the Ballet, that requires an exception to this rule. The Grand Ballet is capable of the same division as a tragedy |
