我建议把诗本身及其各种注意到每个基本素质，调查作为必要的，以一首好诗情节结构，把数量和性质，其中部分是由一首诗;，同样成任何其他在同一调查范围。以下内容，然后，自然秩序，让我们首先的原则是第一位的。史诗和悲剧，喜剧也和Dithyrambic诗歌，以及音乐和长笛的表格的竖琴，是在模仿模式的一般概念。他们不同，但彼此，在三个方面，中期，对象，方式或模仿的方式，在每种情况下是不同的。为有人谁，有意识的艺术或仅仅是习惯，模仿和代表通过色彩和形式，或再由声音中的各种对象，因此在上述提到的艺术，
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    I PROPOSE to treat of Poetry in itself and of its various kinds, noting the essential quality of each, to inquire into the structure of the plot as requisite to a good poem; into the number and nature of the parts of which a poem is composed; and similarly into whatever else falls within the same inquiry. Following, then, the order of nature, let us begin with the principles which come first. Epic poetry and Tragedy, Comedy also and Dithyrambic poetry, and the music of the flute and of the lyre in most of their forms, are all in their general conception modes of imitation. They differ, however, from one another in three respects- the medium, the objects, the manner or mode of imitation, being in each case distinct. For as there are persons who, by conscious art or mere habit, imitate and represent various objects through the medium of color and form, or again by the voice; so in the arts above mentioned,