159
Monsieur Bossu's Treatise
OF THE
EPICK POEM.
BOOK IV.
Concerning the Manners of the
Epick Poem.
CHAP. I.
Concerning the Manners in General.
Under the name of Manners we comprehend all the natural or acquired inclinations, which carry us on to good, bad, or indifferent actions. This Definition contains three things, The first is the Manners themselves which we call Inclinations, whether they have their source and origin in our Souls, such as the Love of Sciences and Vertue; or whether they proceed from the constitution of the Body, as Anger, and the Rest, which we have in common with the Brutes. The second thing is the cause of those Manners, which is either Nature, or our Choice, and Industry, according as they are either natural or acquir'd. The third thing, is the effect of the Manners, namely
Actions
