# Monsieur Bossu's Treatise of the Epick Poem/Chapter 24

CHAP. VI.
The Definition of Episodes.
After what has been said, we may very well infer, That Episodes are necessary Parts of the Action, extended by probable Circumstances.
An Episode is but a part of an Action, and not an entire one; like that of Hypsipyle in Statius, which renders this Poem defective and Episodical.
That part of the Action which serves for a Foundation to the Episode, ought not to continue in its Simplicity; such as it is in the General related in the first Draught of the Fable. Aristo​tle having recounted the Parts of the Odysseïs, says expresly, that they are proper: and in this Case distinguishes them from the Episodes. Thus in the Instance of Oedipus which we produc'd, we said, that the Cure of the Thebans is not an Episode, but only the Foundation and Subject of an Episode, which the Poet made no use of. And Aristotle (by saying that Homer in the Iliad has taken but a few Things for his Subject, but that he has made use of a great many Episodes) does inform us, that the Subject contains in it self a great many Episodes, which the Poet may or may not make use of. That is, it contains the Foundation of them, which one may leave in its general and simple Brevity, as Seneca has done the Cure of the Thebans; or which one may enlarge and explain, as the same Author has done the Chastisement of Oedipus. In this last way 'tis that the Poet makes use of them, and forms just Episodes out of them.
The Subject of a Poem may be long after two ways: the first is, when the Poet makes use of a great many of its Episodes: and the other is, when he gives to each a considerable Extent. 'Tis by this Method, that the Epick Poets extend their Poems a great deal more than the Dramatick.
We must likewise take notice, that there are some parts of an Action which of themselves do naturally present us but with one single Episode; as, the Death of Hector, that of Turnus, &c. There are likewise more fertile parts of the Fable, which oblige the Poet to form several Episodes of each part, though in the first Model they are exprest in as simple a manner as the rest. Such are, the Fight between the Trojans and the Grecians; the Absence of Ulysses; the Travels of Æneas, &c.
For the Absence of Ulysses from his own Country during so many Years together, does necessarily require his Presence elsewhere; and the Design of the Fable obliges him to be cast into several Dangers, and upon several States. Now each Danger, and each State, furnishes Matter for an Episode, which the Poet may make use of, if he please.
We conclude then, that Episodes are not Actions, but the parts of an Action: That they are not added to the Action, and the Matter of the Poem; but that they constitute this Action and this Matter, as the Members of the Body constitute the Matter of it: That upon this Account they are not deduc'd from any thing else, but the very Foundation of the Action: That they are not united and connected to the Action, but to one another: That all the parts of an Action are not so many Episodes; but only such as are amplified and extended by particular Circumstances, and in the manner whereby the Poet rehearses a Thing: And lastly, That this Union between each other, is necessary in the Foundation of the Episode, and probable in the Circumstances.
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