Some plots are simple and some complex, as indeed the actions represented by the plots are obviously such.

By a simple action I mean one that is single and continuous in the sense of our definition above, ¹ wherein the change of fortune occurs without reversal or discovery;

by a complex action I mean one wherein the change coincides with a discovery or reversal or both.

These should result from the actual structure of the plot in such a way that what has already happened makes the result inevitable or probable; 20 for there is indeed a vast difference between what happens propter hoc and post hoc.

Plots are either Simple or Complex, for the actions
in real life, of which the plots are an imitation, obviously
show a similar distinction.

An action which is one and
continuous in the sense above defined, I call Simple, when
the change of fortune takes place without Reversal of
the Situation and without Recognition.

A Complex
action is one in which the change is accompanied by such
Reversal, or by Recognition, or by both.

These last should arise from the internal
structure of the plot, so that what follows should be the
necessary or probable result of the preceding action. It
makes all the difference whether any given event is a
case of propter hoc or post hoc.

[1] ¹ OF fables, however, some are simple, 10.1 and others complex; for so also are the actions of which fables are the imitations. ² 10.2 But I call the action simple, ^{3 4 5 6} from which taking place, as it has been defined, with continuity and unity, there is a transition without either revolution or discovery; but complex, from which there is a transition, together with discovery, 10.3 or revolution, or both. ⁷ It is necessary, however, that these should be effected from the composition itself of the fable, so that from what has formerly happened it may come to pass that the same things take place either necessarily or probably. 10.4 For it makes a great difference whether these things are effected on account of these, or after these.

Sunt autem fabularum aliae simplices aliae implicatae: nam actiones quoque, quarum imitationes fabulae sunt, utique ita comparatae sunt.

dico autem simplicem actionem, cuius, dum, ut definitum, continua evenit et una, sine peripetia vel agnitione mutatio fit,

implicatam autem, ex qua cum agnitione vel peripetia vel utraque mutatio fit.

haec vero ex ipsa compositione fabulae evenire debent, ut ex anteactis sive necessario sive verisimiliter fieri videantur: differt enim multum, utrum haec fiant ob haec an post haec.

1.

10.1 LEs fables ſont ſimples, ou implexes, car toutes les actions que les fables imitent, ont neceſſairement l'une ou l'autre de ces qualitez.

2.

10.2 J'appelle ſimples, les actions qui étant continues & unies, finiſſent ſans reconnoiſſance & ſans péripetie: 10.3 Et J'appelle implexes, celles qui ont ou la péripetie ou la reconnoiſſance, ou toutes les deux.

3.

10.4 Or l'une & l'autre doivent naître de la conſtitution même du ſujet, de telle maniere, que ce qui précede les produiſe, ou neceſſairement ou vray-ſemblablement, car il y a une tres grande difference entre des incidens qui naiſſent les uns des autres, & des incidens qui viennent ſimplement les uns aprés les autres.

Ma delle Fauole, certe ne fono fcempie, & certe ne ſono intrecciate; ſicome anchora interuiene nelle Attioni, che da eſſe Fauole ſono imitate: le quali fi trouano dell'una, & dell'altra forte.

Io chiamo Attione ſcempia quella, che eſſendo vna fola, & fucceduta continuatamente (ſicome è ſtato determi nato) vi ſi fa dentro il tranſito ſenza la Peripetia, & fen za la recognitione.

Et chiamo intrecciata quella, doue ſi fa il tranſito ò con la Recognitione,ò có la Peripetia;

ò con l'unajò con l'altra:doue tai coſe debbono ſeguirui mediante la conſtitutione d'effa Fauola, di tal manie ra, che per le coſe ſeguite innanzi elle vi fuccedin' dappoi ò verifimilmente,ò neceflariamente. Perchè egli è vna gran differenza, che e'ſucceda vn' caſo, ò per via d'una tal coſa; ò doppo vnatal cofa.

Ac fabularum aliae simplices sunt aliae implexae. etenim actiones quarum imitationes fabulae sunt, ne aliud quaeramus, sunt tales.

appello simplicem actionem, qua facta, ut definitum est, continua et una, transitus fit sine peripetia vel agnitione.

implexa est, ex qua cum agnitione aut peripetia aut ambabus transitus fit haec autem oportet fieri ex ipsa constitutione fabulae,

ut ex anteactis ant aut ex necessitate aut secundum verisimile haec fieri contingat. differt enim multum utrum haec propter haec an post haec fiant.

Sunt autem fabularum hee quidem simplices, hee autem complexe ; et enim actiones, quarum imitationes sunt fabule, existunt mox entes tales.

Dico autem simplicem quidem actionem qua existente, ut determinatum continua et una sine peripetia et anagnorismo transitio fit,

complexa autem locutio cum anagnorismo aut peripeteia aut ambobus transitio est.

Hec autem oportet fieri ex ipsa consistentia fabule, quare ex pregestis accidit aut ex necessitate aut secundum verisimile fieri hec ; differt enim multum fieri hec propter hec aut post hec. —

‏وقد يوجد مركبة وذلك ان الاعمال هى ٮسببها ومحاكاة للاعمال بتوسط الخرافات

‏اعنى بالعمل البسيط لذاك الذى عند ما يكون هى كما حدث هى واحدة متصلة يكون الانتقال بلا الٮرويرا والاستدلال

‏والمركبات تعد تلك التى يكون الانتقال فيها مع الاستدلال او الاراده او مع كليهما

‏ونقول ان هذه تكون من قوام الخرافة نفسها حتى انها من الاشيا التى تقدم كونها وذلك اما من الضرورة واما على طريق الحقيقة وبين ان يكون هذه من اجل هذه وبين ان تكون بعد هذه فرق كبير

‏وقد يوجد مركبة وذلك ان الاعمال هى ٮسببها ومحاكاة للاعمال بتوسط الخرافات

‏اعنى بالعمل البسيط لذاك الذى عند ما يكون هى كما حدث هى واحدة متصلة يكون الانتقال بلا الٮرويرا والاستدلال والمركبات تعد تلك التى يكون الانتقال فيها مع الاستدلال او الاراده او مع كليهما

‏ونقول ان هذه تكون من قوام الخرافة نفسها حتى انها من الاشيا التى تقدم كونها وذلك اما من الضرورة واما على طريق الحقيقة وبين ان يكون هذه من اجل هذه وبين ان تكون بعد هذه فرق كبير