But
there is no possible apology for improbability of Plot or depravity of
character, when they are not necessary and no use is made of them,
like the improbability in the appearance of Aegeus in _Medea_ and the
baseness of Menelaus in _Orestes_.
The objections, then, of critics start with faults of five kinds: the
allegation is always that something i.e.ther (1) impossible, (2)
improbable, (3) corrupting, (4) contradictory, or (5) against
technical correctness. The answers to these objections must be sought
under one or other of the above-mentioned heads, which are twelve in
number.
26
The question may be raised whether the epic or the tragic is the
higher form of imitation. It may be argued that, if the less vulgar is
the higher, and the less vulgar is always that which addresses the
better public, an art addressing any and every one is of a very vulgar
order. It is a belief that their public cannot see the meaning, unless
they add something themselves, that causes the perpetual movements of
the performers--bad flute-players, for instance, rolling about, if
quoit-throwing is to be represented, and pulling at the conductor, if
Scylla is the subject of the piece.
Pages:
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98