After these definitions we must next discuss the proper arrangement of the incidents since this is the first and most important thing in tragedy.

We have laid it down that tragedy is a representation of an action that is whole and complete and of a certain magnitude, since a thing may be a whole and yet have no magnitude.

A whole is what has a beginning and middle and end.

A beginning is that which is not a necessary consequent of anything else but after which something else exists or happens as a natural result.

An end on the contrary is that which is inevitably or, as a rule, the natural result of something else but from which nothing else follows;

a middle follows something else and something follows from it.

Well constructed plots must not therefore begin and end at random, but must embody the formulae we have stated.

Moreover, in everything that is beautiful, whether it be a living creature or any organism composed of parts, these parts must not only be orderly arranged but must also have a certain magnitude of their own;

for beauty consists in magnitude and ordered arrangement. From which it follows that neither would a very small creature be beautiful—for our view of it is almost instantaneous and therefore confused ¹ —nor a very large one, 1451a 1 since being unable to view it all at once, we lose the effect of a single whole; for instance, suppose a creature a thousand miles long.

As then creatures and other organic structures must have a certain magnitude and yet be easily taken in by the eye, so too with plots: they must have length but must be easily taken in by the memory.

The limit of length considered in relation to competitions and production ² before an audience does not concern this treatise. Had it been the rule to produce a hundred tragedies, the performance would have been regulated by the water clock, as it is said they did once in other days.

But as for the natural limit of the action, the longer the better as far as magnitude goes, provided it can all be grasped at once. To give a simple definition: the magnitude which admits of a change from bad fortune to good or from good fortune to bad, in a sequence of events which follow one another either inevitably or according to probability, that is the proper limit.

Having thus distinguished the parts, let us now consider
the proper construction of the Fable or Plot, as that is at
once the first and the most important thing in Tragedy.

We have laid it down that a tragedy is an imitation of an
action that is complete in itself, as a whole of some magni-
tude;
for a whole may be of no magnitude to speak of.

Now a whole is that which has beginning, middle, and end.

A beginning is that which is not itself necessarily after
anything else, and which has naturally something else after
it;

an end is that which is naturally after something itself,
either as its necessary or usual consequent, and with nothing
else after it;

and a middle, that which is by nature after
one thing and has also another after it.

A well-constructed
Plot, therefore, cannot either begin or end at any point one
likes; beginning and end in it must be of the forms just
described.

Again: to be beautiful, a living creature, and
every whole made up of parts, must not only present a
certain order in its arrangement of parts, but also be of
a certain definite magnitude.

Beauty is a matter of size
and order, and therefore impossible either (1) in a very
minute creature, since our perception becomes indistinct as
it approaches instantaneity; or (2) in a creature of vast
size-one, say, 1000 miles long-as in that case, instead of
the object being seen all at once, the unity and wholeness
of it is lost to the beholder.

Just in the same way, then,
as a beautiful whole made up of parts, or a beautiful living
creature, must be of some size, a size to be taken in by the
eye, so a story or Plot must be of some length, but of
a length to be taken in by the memory.

As for the limit
of its length, so far as that is relative to public performances
and spectators, it does not fall within the theory of poetry.
If they had to perform a hundred tragedies, they would
be timed by water-clocks, as they are said to have been
at one period.

The limit, however, set by the actual nature
of the thing is this: the longer the story, consistently with
its being comprehensible as a whole, the finer it is by
reason of its magnitude. As a rough general formula, 'a
length which allows of the hero passing by a series of
probable or necessary stages from misfortune to happiness,
or from happiness to misfortune,' may suffice as a limit for
the magnitude of the story.

[1] ¹ 7.1 THESE things being defined, let us in the next place show what the combination of the incidents ought to be, since this is the first and greatest part of tragedy. ² 7.2 But it is granted to us, that tragedy is the imitation of a perfect and whole action, and of one which possesses a certain magnitude; for there may be a whole which has no magnitude. ³ 7.3 But a whole is that which has a beginning, middle, and end. 7.4 And the beginning is that which necessarily is not itself posterior to another thing; but another thing is naturally expected to follow it. 7.5 On the contrary, the end is that which is itself naturally adapted to be posterior to another thing, either from necessity, or for the most part; but after this there is nothing else. But the middle is that which is itself after another thing, and after which there is something else. Hence, it is necessary that those who compose fables properly, should neither ⁴ begin them casually, nor end them casually, but should employ the above-mentioned forms [of beginning, middle, and end]. ⁵ 7.6 Further still, 7.7 since that which is beautiful, whether it be an animal, or any thing else which is composed from certain parts, ought not only to have these parts arranged, 7.8 but a magnitude also which is not casual For the beautiful consists in magnitude and order. Hence, neither can any very small animal be beautiful; for the survey of it is confused, since it is effected in a time nearly insensible. Nor yet a very large animal; for it is not surveyed at once, but its subsistence as one and a whole escapes the view of the spectators; such as if, for instance, it should be an animal of ten thousand stadia in length. ⁶ Hence, 7.9 as in bodies and in animals it is necessary there should be magnitude; but such as can easily be seen; 7.10 thus also in fables, there should be length, but this such as can easily be remembered 1. 7.11 The definition, however, of the length ⁷ with reference to contests and the senses, does not fall under the consideration of art. For if it were requisite to perform a hundred tragedies, [as is said to have been the case more than once 3,] the performance ought to be regulated by a clepsydra. ⁸ But the definition [of the length of the fable] according to the nature of the thing, is this, that the fable is always more beautiful the greater it is, if at the same time it is perspicuous. Simply defining the thing, however, we may say, [that a fable has an appropriate magnitude,] when the time of its duration is such as to render it probable that there can be a transition from prosperous to adverse, 7.12 or from adverse to prosperous fortune, according to the necessary or probable order ^{9 10 11} of things as they take place. This is a sufficient definition of magnitude. of

Quibus expositis, dicamus iam qualem esse oporteat compositionem factorum, quandoquidem hoc et primum et maximum in tragoedia est.

certum autem nobis est tragoediam esse imitationem absolutae et totius actionis quae aliquam magnitudinem habeat: est enim totum etiam quod nullam magnitudinem habeat.

totum autem est quod habet principium et medium et finem.

principium est quod ipsum quidem haud necessario post aliud est, post illud' autem aliud oportet esse aut fieri;

finis autem contrarium, quod ipsum post aliud oportet esse, sive necessario sive ut plurimum, post hoc autem aliud nihil;

medium autem quod et ipsum post aliud et post illud aliud.

oportet igitur fabulas bene compositas neque unde fors tulerit incipere neque ubicumque desinere, sed ex formis ante dictis constitutas esse.

porro quoniam quod pulchrum sive animal sive quaecumque res quae ex quibusdam partibus constat, non solum has dispositas habeat necesse est, sed etiam magnitudinem non quamcumque:

- pulchrum enim in magnitudine et ordine est, ita ut neque perexiguum animal pulchrum fieri possit (confunditur enim contemplatio cum prope ad insensibile tempus accedit) neque permagnum: non enim simul contemplatio fit, sed elabitur contemplantibus unum et totum ex contemplatione,

veluti si sexcentorum stadiorum esset animal, itaque quemadmodum oportet in corporibus et animalibus esse quidem magnitudinem, hanc vero facile conspiciendam esse, sic etiam in fabulis adesse quidem longitudinem, sed quae facile memoria comprehendatur.

sed longitudinis terminus ratione habita ad certamina et perceptionem, artis non est: si enim centum tragoedias certare oporteret, ad clepsydram sane certarent [, quomodo aliquando et alias dicunt].

sed qui ex ipsa natura facti consequitur terminus, semper quidem amplior, dummodo perspicuus sit, pulchrior est sccundum magnitudinem, sed ut simpliciter definiendo dicamus, quo spatio temporis, secundum probabilitatem vel necessitatem rebus succedentibus, accidit in felicitatem ex infelicitate aut ex felicitate in infelicitatem mutationem fieri, sufficiens terminus est magnitudinis.

1. 7.1 Ces choſes étant expliquées, voyons quelle doit être la conſtitution du ſujet, puiſque c'eſt la premiere & la principale partie de la Tragedie.

2. 7.2 Nous avons dit que la Tragedie eſt une imitation d'une action, qui fait un tout parfait & entier, & d'une juſte grandeur, car il y a telle choſe qui fait un tout, & qui cependant n'a pas une juſte étenduë; 7.3 j'appelle donc un tout, ce qui a un commencement, un milieu, & une fin.

3. 7.4 Le commencement eſt ce qui ne ſuppoſe rien neceſſairement avant ſoy; & qui exige aprés foy quelqu'autre choſe qui eſt, ou qui doit être. 7.5 La fin eſt tout le contraire, car elle n'exige plus rien aprés foy, mais elle ſuppoſe neceſſairement quelque choſe qui la précede. 7.6 Et le milieu, c'eſt ce qui ſuppoſe quelque choſe qui doit préceder, & qui exige quelqu'autre choſe qui doit ſuivre.

4. 7.7 Ceux donc qui veulent bien dreſſer un ſujet ne peuvent ny commancer ny finir par tout où il leur plaiſt, mais ils doivent ſuivre l'idée que nous leur avons donnée.

5. 7.8 Ajoûtez à cela que tout ce qu'il y a de beau parmy les hommes, & parmy les autres êtres, s'il eſt compoſé de parties, doit avoir non ſeulement un ordre, mais encore une grandeur juſte & raiſonnable, car le beau conſiſte dans l'ordre & dans la grandeur. 7.9 C'eſt pourquoy rien de trop petit ne peut être beau, parce que la veuë ſe confond dans un objet qu'on voit en un moment preſque inſenſible. 7.10 Rien de trop grand ne peut être beau nonplus, parce qu'on ne le voit pas d'un coup d'œil, & qu'en voyant ſes parties ſucceſſivement l'une aprés l'autre, le ſpectateur perd l'idée du tout, comme s'il voyoit un animal de dix mille ſtades. Ainſi donc comme tous les animaux & tous les autres êtres, doivent avoir une étenduë, que l'œil puiſſe comprendre & meſurer aiſement, & tout-d'un-coup, de même il faut que le ſujet des pieces dramatiques ayt une étenduë que la memoire puiſſe embraſſer & retenir ſans peine.

6. 7.11 Or la meſure préciſe de cette grandeur, pour ce qui regarde la durée de la repreſentation & de l'attention du ſpectateur, ne peut être décidée par des regles certaines & fixes, car s'il falloit joüer, par exemple, cent Tragedies dans un jour, il faudroit meſurer le temps de chacune à la Clepſydre, comme on dit que cela ſe pratiquoit autrefois. 7.12 Il faut donc la regler par la nature même de ce Poëme, & aſſeurer que plus une piece aura d'étenduë, plus elle ſera belle dans ſa grandeur, pourvû qu'elle ne croiſſe que juſques à ce que le ſujet puiſſe être vû tout enſemble, ſans que la veuë s'égare ny ſe confonde. Ainſi donc on peut déterminer en general, que cette meſure dépend de la neceſſité, ou de la vray-ſemblance. C'eſt-à-dire, qu'une piece pour avoir ſa juſte étenduë, doit occuper autant de temps qu'il en faut ou neceſſairement ou vray-ſemblablement, pour bien amener tous les incidens, juſques à ce que le dénoüement expoſe le dernier bonheur, ou le dernier malheur des principaux Perſonnages. Car c'eſt là préciſément la juſte meſure de la grandeur.

Stato preſuppoſto da noi, che la Tragedia imiti vna attione intera, et perfetta; et che habbia qualche grandezza. Io dico queſto, perchè e ſi dà vn'intero, & vn' tutto, che nó ha grandezza alcuna. ¹

Tutto è quello, che ha principio, mezo, & fine. Principio frdice effer quello, che per neceſsità non è doppo vnaltra coſa; ma à cui benne conſeguita doppo vnaltra, che fia, ò che ſi faccia.. Il fine allincontro è quello, che per natura è atto à effere doppo vnaltra coſa, ò neceffariamen te, ò il più delle volte; & à cui neſſun altra coſa confe guita doppo.

Mezo è quello, che ſta doppo vnaltra cofa; & à cui doppo ne conſeguita vnaltra.

Dico adunche con tai coſe preſuppoſte, che le Fauole ben' teſſute nó debbon' cominciare onde vno ſi voglias nè allincontro finire ouunche vn' fi voglia: ma debbono vſare in ciò i fopradetti termini.

Oltradiqueſto, perchè ogni coſa bel la,ò animale, o altro che egli ſi ſia di piu parti compofto, non pur' debba hauere eſſe parti bene ordinate; ma anchora debba hauere la grandezza, ma non già qual fi voglia:

perchè la bellezza confute nella grandezza,& nell'ordine.

Però non mai potrà eſſer bello animale quello, che ſia troppo piccolo; perchè la viſta vi ſi confonde, effendoui fatta quafi, che in vn' tempo inſenſibile.

Ne anchora potrà eſſer bello allincotro quello, che fia troppo grande; perchè la viſta di lui non vi fi fa tut ta inſieme: ma quel tutto, & quell'uno piutoſto sfugge la con D'ARISTOTI la confideratione, che di lui fi fa:com'è dire quando vn animale fuſſe lungo vn' miglio.

Onde fi conchiude che cofi come auuiene nei corpi, & negli animali, che e' deb bino cioè hauer grandezza, che ſia attaåben poterſi vedere,parimete che le Fauole debbino hauer lunghez za atta à ben poterſene ricordare il cui termino per quanto ſe n'aſpetta allo ſpettacolo, & al ſenſo, non è vf fitio dell'arte.

Imperchè quando e bifognafle recitar cento Tragedie, elle ſi potrebbon' recitare tutte infra quello ſpatio di tempo, che miſura l'horihuolo d'acqua; come fi dicey che gia altroue è ſtato v ſato di farfi.

Mail termino della lunghezza, che di fua natura ha la Fauo la; fempre il maggiore è piu bello che ſi produce in lun ghezza: infino à tanto che in tal lunghezza el fia manifeſto.

Et per dir queſta materia aſſolutamente, quanto cioè debba effere il termino della lunghezza conue niente alla Fauola; dico che egli è quello, doue ſeguite le coſe per via del verifimile & del neceffario, fuccefsiuamente v'accade fare il trapaflamento dimiferia in fe licità, ò di felicità in miferiadaniolum

Explicatis autem his, dicamus deinceps qualem esse oporteat rerum compositionem, quoniam iam hoc et primum et maximum tragoediae est. positum autem est a nobis perfectae atque totius actionis esse imitationem, habentis aliquam magnitudinem.

totum autem est habens principium et medium et finem. ac principium est, quod ipsum ex necessitate post aliud non est, post illud vero aliud naturaliter est aut fit.

finis contrarium, quod ipsum post so aliud naturaliter est, aut ex necessitate aut plerunque, post hoc autem aliud nihil.

medium, quod et ipsum post aliud est et post illud aliud. oportet igitur bene compositas fabulas neque unde libet incipere, neque ubi libet finire, sed uti dictis formis.

praeterea vero, quoniam pulchrum et animal et omnem rem, quae ex quibusdam composita est, non solum haec ordinata habere oportet, verum etiam esse magnam, sed non quomodo libet:

nam pulchrum in magnitudine et ordine consistit;

unde neque omnino parvum animal esse potest pulchrum (confunditur enim spectatio, quae prope insensibili tem pore fiat) neque omnino magnum (non enim simul spectatio fit,

sed perit spectantibus unum et totum ex spectatione, ut si decem milium stadiorum sit animal), propterea oportet, quemadmodum in corporibus et in animalibus inesse quidem magnitudinem, sed eam quae facile conspici possit,

sic et in fabulis inveniri quidem longitudinem, sed eam quae facile retineri memoria possit. longitudinis autem terminus ad contentiones et sensum non artis est:

si enim termino opus esset causa tragoedias recitandi, ad clepsydras contenderent, quemadmodum quondam et aliis temporibus factum esse affirmant.

terminus autem rei secundum ipsam naturam semper quidem, qui maior est, quatenus simul patet, pulchrior est secundum magnitudinem.

verum ut simpliciter re definita dicam, in quanta magnitudine secundum verisimile et necessarium deinceps nascentibus rebus contingit in prosperam fortunam ex adversa aut ex prospera in adversam mutari, sufficiens terminus est magnitudinis.

Determinatis autem hiis, dicamus post hec qualem quandam oportet consistentiam esse rerum, quoniam hoc et primum et maximum est tragodie.

Supponitur autem nobis tragodiam perfecte et totalis actionis esse imitationem habentis aliquam magnitudinem ;

est enim totum et nullam habens magnitudinem. Totum autem est habens principium medium et finem.

Principium autem est quod ipsum quidem non ex necessitate post aliud est, post illud autem alterum natum est esse aut fieri.

Finis autem contrarium quod et ipsum post aliud natum est esse aut ex necessitate aut ut in pluribus, post hoc autem aliud nullum;

medium autem quod et ipsum post aliud et post illud alterum.

Oportet igitur constituentes bene fabulas neque undecumque contingit incipere, neque ubicumque contingit terminare, sed uti dictis speciebus. —

Adhuc autem quoniam quod pulchrum, et animal et omnem rem que constat ex aliquibus, non solum hec ordinata oportet habere, sed et magnitudinem existere non quamcumque ; nam quod pulerum in magnitudine et ordine est; propter quod

neque omnino parvum utique aliquid fiet pulcrum animal (adiacet enim speculatio prope insensibile tempus facta), neque omnino magnum ; non enim simul speculatio fit, sed cedit speculantibus unum et totum ex speculatione, velut si decem milium stadiorum sit animal.

Quare oportet, sicut in corporibus et in animalibus habere quidem magnitudinem, hanc autem facile conspicabilem esse, sic et in fabulis habere quidem longitudinem, hanc autem facile memorabilem esse.

Longitudinis terminus quidem ad agones et ad sensum, non artis est; si enim oportebat centum tragodias agonizari, ad klepsydras utique agonizarent, sicut aliquando et alias aiunt. —

Qui autem secundum ipsam naturam rei terminus, semper quidem qui maior usquequo commanifestus sit melior est secundum magnitudinem, ut autem simpliciter determinantes dicere est, in quanta magnitudine secundum verisimile aut necessa- rium consequenter factis accidit 1n eufortunium ex iniortunio aut ex eufortunio in infortunium transmutari, sufficiens terminus est magnitudinis. —

‏فاذ قد حددت هذه الاشيا فلنتكلم بعدها مثل اى شى هو قوام الامور من قبل ان هذا مقدم وهو اعظم من صناعة المديح

‏وقد وصفنا صناعة المديح انها استتمام وغاية جميع العمل والتشبيه والمحاكاة وان لها عظم ما وهى كلها وان ليس لها شى [شيا] من العظم

‏والكل هو اما له ابتدا ووسط واخر

‏والمبدا هو ما كان اما هو فليس من الضرورة مع الاخر واما مع الاخر فمن شانه ان يكون ليكون مع هذا

‏واما الاخر فبالعكس اعنى انما هو فمن شانه ان يكون مع اخر من الاضطرار او على اكثر الامر واما بعده فليس شى اخر

‏واما الوسط فهو مع اخر ويتبعها اخر ايضا

‏ومن الان الذين هم يقومون هم ايجاد من حيث يبتدى به يوجد ولا اين يجعل الامر يجد بل انهم يستعملون الصور والخلق التى قيلت

‏وايضا على الحيون الخير وكل امر لا يتركب شى وليس انما ينبغى ان تكون هذه فقط منتظمة مرتبة لكن قد ينبغى ان يكون العظم لا اى عظم اتفق من قبل ان معنى لا وجود انما يكون بالعظم والترتيب

‏ولذلك ليس حيوان ما صغير هو جبد وذلك ان النظر هو مركب لقرب الزمان لغير محسوس من حيث يكون ليس فى الكل عظيم وذلك ان النظر ليس يكون معا لكن حالها حال يجعل الناظرين واحد وكل وذلك من النظر مثلا مثل ان يكون الحيوان على بعد عشرة الف ميدان

‏حتى يكون كما يجٮ على الاجسام وعلى الحيوان ان يكون عظم ما وهذا نفسه يكون سهل البيان وبهذا نفسه يكون فى الخرافة ايضا طول ويكون محفوظ فى الذكر

‏واما لطول نفسه فحده نحو الجهاد والاحساس الذى للصناعة وذلك انه ان كان كل واحد من الناس قد كان يجب ان يعمل بالمديح الجهاد نحو ثلاث ساعات الما لقد كان يستعمل الجهاد قلافسودرا كما من عادتنا ان نقول فى زمان ما

‏ومتى ولما كان الطبيعة الامور قد يظن انه يوجد الى ان يظهر كان هذا من الافضل فى العظم وكما حدوا على الاطلاق وقالوا فى كم من العظم على الحقيقة او تلك تدعوا الضرورة عند ما تكون فى هذه التى تكون على الاضطرار واحد فى اثر الاخر تنوب عند النجاح الكاين بعد رداوة البخت او تغير رداوة البخت الى الصلاح يكون العظم حد كافى

‏فاذ قد حددت هذه الاشيا فلنتكلم بعدها مثل اى شى هو قوام الامور من قبل ان هذا مقدم وهو اعظم من صناعة المديح

‏وقد وصفنا صناعة المديح انها استتمام وغاية جميع العمل والتشبيه والمحاكاة وان لها عظم ما وهى كلها وان ليس لها شى [شيا] من العظم

‏والكل هو اما له ابتدا ووسط واخر

‏والمبدا هو ما كان اما هو فليس من الضرورة مع الاخر واما مع الاخر فمن شانه ان يكون ليكون مع هذا واما الاخر فبالعكس اعنى انما هو فمن شانه ان يكون مع اخر من الاضطرار او على اكثر الامر واما بعده فليس شى اخر واما الوسط فهو مع اخر ويتبعها اخر ايضا

‏ومن الان الذين هم يقومون هم ايجاد من حيث يبتدى به يوجد ولا اين يجعل الامر يجد بل انهم يستعملون الصور والخلق التى قيلت

‏وايضا على الحيون الخير وكل امر لا يتركب شى وليس انما ينبغى ان تكون هذه فقط منتظمة مرتبة لكن قد ينبغى ان يكون العظم لا اى عظم اتفق من قبل ان معنى لا وجود انما يكون بالعظم والترتيب ولذلك ليس حيوان ما صغير هو جبد وذلك ان النظر هو مركب لقرب الزمان لغير محسوس من حيث يكون ليس فى الكل عظيم وذلك ان النظر ليس يكون معا لكن حالها حال يجعل الناظرين واحد وكل وذلك من النظر مثلا مثل ان يكون الحيوان على بعد عشرة الف ميدان

‏حتى يكون كما يجٮ على الاجسام وعلى الحيوان ان يكون عظم ما وهذا نفسه يكون سهل البيان وبهذا نفسه يكون فى الخرافة ايضا طول ويكون محفوظ فى الذكر

‏واما لطول نفسه فحده نحو الجهاد والاحساس الذى للصناعة وذلك انه ان كان كل واحد من الناس قد كان يجب ان يعمل بالمديح الجهاد نحو ثلاث ساعات الما لقد كان يستعمل الجهاد قلافسودرا كما من عادتنا ان نقول فى زمان ما

‏ومتى ولما كان الطبيعة الامور قد يظن انه يوجد الى ان يظهر كان هذا من الافضل فى العظم وكما حدوا على الاطلاق وقالوا فى كم من العظم على الحقيقة او تلك تدعوا الضرورة عند ما تكون فى هذه التى تكون على الاضطرار واحد فى اثر الاخر تنوب عند النجاح الكاين بعد رداوة البخت او تغير رداوة البخت الى الصلاح يكون العظم حد كافى