It is not the subject Matter of the Poem, but 'tis necessary to clear up so surprizing a Miracle as was the Valour of that excellent Virago.
When an Adventure has not this Consequence, nor this necessary or Probable Connexion with some part or another of the Matter proper to the Poem; 'tis by no means to be inserted: And upon this account Homer has not said one word of the Counterfeit folly of Ulysses. Statius with a great deal more Reason should never have meddled with the story of Hypsipyle.
All the particular Incidents which compose the Action are called Episodes. We ought then to be well acquainted with the Nature, Union, and Qualities of them, if we would know what is the Action and the Subject Matter of the Epick Poem.
CHAP. II.
The better to know what an Episode is, and to comprehend what Aristotle has said about it, we must look back for it in its first beginning, and in the Rise of Tragedy, whereby it first began. I speak of it here thô Monsieur Hedelin has formerly writ about it.
Tragedy at first was only a Song in honor of Bacchus, which was performed by several persons (who made up the Musical Chorus) with dancing and playing upon Instruments.
Since this was too tedious, and might fatigue the singers, as well as disgust the Audience; they thought of dividing the Song of the Chorus into several parts, and of making some kind of Narrations between these Intervals. At first one single person spoke them: Then they brought in two speakers, because Dialogues are more diverting: And at last they increas'd the number to three, to give way for more Action. Those who made these Narrations upon the Scene or Stage were call'd Actors. And what they said being adventitious to the Song of the Chorus, these Narrations were no more than Ornaments added to a Ceremony, of which they were not a necessary part: And for this reason were they call'd Episodes.
Besides, as they were only added to refresh the Chorus, and their Assistants; it follows that the Chorus had sung before, and were to sing after them: So that these Episodes were always to be plac'd between the two Songs of the Chorus. Whatever was said before the first, or after the last Song, was not look'd upon as an Episode: But these new Additions were made for Reasons distinct from those which were
