| OCR Text |
Show 186 THE CODE OF TERPSICHORE. programme. W e shall conclude this chapter by recommending young composers always to show a reason for the entry of a character, and motive for its exit, since nothing can be imagined more improbable or preposterous, than that a character should appear and withdraw, because the author may have his own particular reasons for so doing. CHAPTER XIV. ON DRAMATIC MORAL. " Se nessun componimento dee essere rettamente accostumato, e sano; cio si conviene a quelli, che debbono essere recitati in pubblico." G. Gozzi. THE drama may be said to have two principal objects in view-to please and to instruct; to compass such ends, therefore, works of a decorous character should be produced, tending rather to correct than to demoralize manners. T o authors and artists, therefore, should not be adjudged the palm of merit, except, after having realized this important intention as expressed by Horace, that is, by uniting the useful and amusing. Every artist of celebrity, and almost all great poets have conformed themselves to this wise regulation. Voltaire, Matastasio, Racine, |
