this,] our inclinations being changed, the age and spirit of manhood seeks after wealth, and [high] connections, is subservient to points of honor; and is cautious of committing any action, which he would subsequently be industrious to correct. Many inconveniences encompass a man in years; either because he seeks [eagerly] for gain,[1] and abstains from what he has gotten, and is afraid to make use of it; or because he transacts every thing in a timorous and dispassionate manner, dilatory, slow in hope, remiss, and greedy of futurity. Peevish, querulous, a panegyrist of former times when he was a boy, a chastiser and censurer of his juniors. Our advancing years[2] bring many advantages along with them. Many our declining ones take away. That the parts [therefore] belonging to age may not be given to youth, and those of a man to a boy, we must dwell upon those qualities which are joined and adapted to each person’s age.[3]
An action is either represented on the stage, or being done elsewhere is there related. The things which enter by the ear affect the mind more languidly, than such as are submitted to the faithful eyes, and what a spectator presents to himself. You must not, however, bring upon the stage things fit only to be acted behind the scenes: and you must take away from view many actions, which elegant description[4] may soon after deliver in presence [of the spectators]. Let not Medea murder her sons before the people; nor the execrable Atreus openly dress human entrails: nor let Progue be metamorphosed into a bird, Cadmus into a serpent. Whatever you show to me in this manner, not able to give credit to, I detest.
- ↑ “Quærit”=“quæstus facit,” as in Virg. Georg. i. “In medium qiærebant.”
- ↑ He returns to his first division of human life into two parts. “Anni venientea,” the years preceding manhood; “anni recedentes,” the years going back toward old age and death. The ancients reckoned the former by addition: the latter by subtraction. The French have an expression like this of “recedentes anni.” They say, “est sur son retour,” “he is upon his return,” when a person is declining in years. Dac.
- ↑ Semper in adjunctis. “Adjuncta ævo,” every thing which attends age; “apta sevo,” every thing proper to it.
- ↑ Fecundia præsens. The recital of an actor present, which ought to be made with all the pathetic; “facundia;” or a recital instead of the action, “facundia facti vicaria, qua rem quæ oculia præsentera sistit.” Dag.
