《沉思录·卷十一·灵魂的属性》第6条
At first tragedies were brought on the stage as means of reminding men of the things which happen to them, and that it is according to nature for things to happen so, and that, if you are delighted with what is shown on the stage, you should not be troubled with that which takes place on the larger stage. For you see that these things must be accomplished thus, and that even they bear them who cry out, "O Cithaeron." And, indeed, some things are said well by the dramatic writers, of which kind is the following especially:-- And again,-- And,-- And other things of the same kind. After tragedy the old comedy was introduced, which had a magisterial freedom of speech, and by its very plainness of speaking was useful in reminding men to beware of insolence; and for this purpose too Diogenes used to take from these writers. But as to the middle comedy, which came next, observe what it was, and again, for what object the new comedy was introduced, which gradually sank down into a mere mimic artifice. That some good things are said even by these writers, everybody knows: but the whole plan of such poetry and dramaturgy, to what end does it look?
注释摘要
奥勒留在这一段里做的事情，不是文学批评，而是道德训练。他把整个希腊戏剧史——从悲剧到老喜剧、中喜剧再到新喜剧——当作一个灵魂的退化史来读，读它的目的只有一个：看它还能不能提醒人该怎么活。他要追问的是，这些舞台上的东西，到底在帮人看清真相，还是只是让人分心。 他从悲剧开始。在他看来，悲剧最初的功能是提醒。舞台上那些人遭遇的放逐、背叛、死亡，不是怪事，而是自然…