[Greek:  Stae d’ar hap Aiautos sakei Telamoniadao], &c.

    He stood beneath his brother’s ample shield;
    And, covered there, shot death through all the field.

The words of my noble adversary are these—­

But if we examine the general Rules laid down for Plays, by strict Reason, we shall find the errors equally gross:  for the great Foundation which is laid to build upon, is Nothing, as it is generally stated:  as will appear upon the examination of the particulars.

These particulars, in due time, shall be examined.  In the meanwhile, let us consider, what this great Foundation is; which, he says, is “Nothing, as it is generally stated.”

I never heard of any other Foundation of Dramatic Poesy, than the Imitation of Nature:  neither was there ever pretended any other, by the Ancients or Moderns, or me who endeavoured to follow them in that Rule.  This I have plainly said, in my Definition of a Play, that IT IS A JUST AND LIVELY IMAGE OF HUMAN NATURE, &c.

Thus ‘the Foundation, as it is generally stated,’ will stand sure, if this Definition of a Play be true.  If it be not, he ought to have made his exception against it; by proving that a Play is not an Imitation of Nature, but somewhat else, which he is pleased to think it.

But ’tis very plain, that he has mistaken the Foundation, for that which is built upon it; though not immediately.  For the direct and immediate consequence is this.  If Nature be to be imitated, then there is a Rule for imitating Nature rightly; otherwise, there may be an End, and no Means conducing to it.

Hitherto, I have proceeded by demonstration.  But as our Divines, when they have proved a Deity (because there is Order), and have inferred that this Deity ought to be worshipped, differ, afterwards, in the Manner of the Worship:  so, having laid down, that “Nature is to be imitated;” and that Proposition [p. 577] proving the next, that, then, “there are means, which conduce to the imitating of Nature”; I dare proceed no farther, positively, but have only laid down some opinions of the Ancients and Moderns, and of my own, as Means which they used, and which I thought probable, for the attaining of that End.

Those Means are the same, which my antagonist calls the Foundations:  how properly the World may judge!  And to prove that this is his meaning, he clears it immediately to you, by enumerating those Rules or Propositions, against which he makes his particular exceptions, as namely, those of TIME and PLACE, in these words.

First, we are told the Plot should not be so ridiculously contrived, as to crowd several Countries into one Stage.  Secondly, to cramp the accidents of many years or days, into the Representation of two hours and a half.  And, lastly, a conclusion drawn that the only remaining dispute, is concerning Time; whether it should be contained in Twelve or Four and twenty hours; and the Place to be limited to the spot of ground, [either in town or city] where the Play is supposed to begin.  And this is called, nearest to Nature.  For that is concluded most natural; which is most probable and nearest to that which it presents.