550 epifiled ; that chorus is here introduc'd after the Greek manner, not ancient only but modern, and Rill in ufe among the Italians. In the modelling therefore of this poem, with good reafon, the Ancients and Italians are rather follow'd, as of much more authority and fame. The meafure of verfe us'd in the chorus is of all forts, call'd by the Greeks Monoftrophic, or rather Apolelymenon, without regard had to Strophe, Antiftrophe, or Epod, which were a kind of ftanza's fram'd only for the mufic, then us'd with the chorus that fung ; not effential to the poem, and therefore not material ; or being divided into ftanza's or paufes, they may be called Allmoftropha. Divifion into aEt and fcene referring chiefly to the Rage (to which this work never was intended) is here omitted. It fuffices if the whole drama be found not produc'd beyond the fifth aet. Of the flile and uniformity, and that commonly call'd the plot, whether intricate or explicit, which is nothing indeed but fuch ceconomy, or difpofition of the fable as may Rand belt with verifimili. tude and decorum; they only will bell judge who are not unacquainted with /Efchylus, Sophocles, and k.tripides, the three tragic poets un- equal'd yet by any, and the belt rule to all who endeavour to write tragedy. The circumfcription of time, wherein the whole drama be- gins and ends, is according to ancient rule, and belt example, within the fpace of 24 hours. THE
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