Lectures On Dramatic Art And Literature

theory of Dramatic Art with its history, and to bring before my auditors at once its principles and its models. It belongs to the general philosophical theory of poetry, and the other fine arts, to establish the fundamental laws of the beautiful. Every art, on the other hand, has its own special theory, designed to teach the limits, the difficulties, and the means by which it must be regulated in its attempt to realize those laws. For this purpose, certain scientific investigations are indispensable to the artist, although they have but little attraction for those whose admiration of art is confined to the enjoyment of the actual productions of distinguished minds. The general theory, on the other hand, seeks to analyze that essential faculty of human nature?the sense of the beautiful, which at once calls the fine arts into existence, and accounts for the satisfaction which arises from the contemplation of them; and also points out the relation which subsists between this and all other sentient and cognizant faculties of man. To the man of thought and speculation, -herefore, it is of the highest importance, but by itself alone it is quite inadequate to guide and direct the essays and practice of art. Now, the history of the fine arts informs us what has been,18 SPIRIT OP TRUE CRITICISM. and the theory teaches what ought to be accomplished by them. But without some intermediate and connecting link, both would remain independent and separate from one and...