ACT, in Dramatic Poetry, signifies a certain division or part of a play, designed to give some respite both to the actors and spectators. The Romans were the first who divided their theatrical pieces into acts; for no such divisions appear in the works of the first dramatic poets. Their pieces indeed consisted of several parts or divisions, which they called protasis, epitasis, catastasis, and catastrophe; but these divisions were not marked by any real interruptions in the theatre. Nor does Aristotle mention anything of acts in his Art of Poetry. But, in the time of Horace, all regular and finished pieces were divided into five acts.
Nec minor, nec ut quinto productior actu
Fabula, quam posci vult, et spectata reponi.
If you would have your play deserve success,
Give it five acts complete, nor more nor less.
The first act, according to some critics, besides introducing upon the stage the principal characters of the play, ought to propose the argument or subject of the piece; the second, to exhibit this to the audience, by carrying the fable into execution; the third, to raise obstacles and difficulties; the fourth to remove these, or raise new ones in the attempt; and the fifth to conclude the piece, by introducing some ac-
cident that may unravel the whole affair. This division, however, is not essentially necessary, but may be varied according to the humour of the author or the nature of the subject.