So in a fable, if the action be too
great, we can never comprehend the whole together in our
imagination. Again, if it be too little, there ariseth no pleasure
out of the object; it affords the view no stay; it is beheld, and
vanisheth at once. As if we should look upon an ant or pismire, the
parts fly the sight, and the whole considered is almost nothing.
The same happens in action, which is the object of memory, as the
body is of sight. Too vast oppresseth the eyes, and exceeds the
memory; too little scarce admits either.
What is the utmost bounds of a fable.--Now in every action it
behoves the poet to know which is his utmost bound, how far with
fitness and a necessary proportion he may produce and determine it;
that is, till either good fortune change into the worse, or the
worse into the better. For as a body without proportion cannot be
goodly, no more can the action, either in comedy or tragedy, without
his fit bounds: and every bound, for the nature of the subject, is
esteemed the best that is largest, till it can increase no more; so
it behoves the action in tragedy or comedy to be let grow till the
necessity ask a conclusion; wherein two things are to be considered:
first, that it exceed not the compass of one day; next, that there
be place left for digression and art.
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