[1]
1
CONCERNING the poetry, however, which is narrative and imitative in metre, it is evident that it ought to have dramatic fables, in the same manner as tragedy,
23.1
and should be conversant with one whole and perfect action, which has a beginning, middle, and end, in order that, like one whole animal, it may produce its appropriate pleasure 1; and that it may not be like the custom of histories, in which it is not necessary to treat of one action,
23.2
but of one time, viz. of such things as have happened in that time, respecting one or more persons, the relation of each of which things to the other is just as it may happen.
2
For as the sea-fight at Salamis,
23.3
and the battle with the Carthaginians in Sicily, though they happened at the same time, tend nothing to the same end; thus also in successive times, one thing may sometimes be connected with another, from which no one end is produced.
3
But nearly all poets do this. Hence, as we have before observed, in this respect also Homer will appear to be divine, when compared with other poets, because he did not attempt to sing of the whole of the Trojan war, though it had a beginning and an end. For if he had, it would have been very great, and not sufficiently conspicuous; or if it bad been of a moderate size, it would have been intricate through the variety of incidents 2. But now, having selected one part of the war, he has made use of many episodes; such as the catalogue of the ships,
23.4
and other episodes, with which he has adorned his
4
5
poem. Other poets, however, have composed a fable about one man,
23.5
and one time,
23.6
and one action, consisting of many parts; as the authors of the Cypriacs, and the Lesser Iliad. [With respect to the Iliad
6
and Odyssey, therefore, one or two tragedies only could be made from each. But many might be made from the Cypriacs; and from the Lesser Iliad more than eight;
23.7
such as the Judgment of the Arms 4, Philoctetes5, Neoptolemus, Eurypylus6, the Begging [of Ulysses], the Lacaenae, the Destruction of Troy, the Return of the Greeks, Sinon, and the Troades.