A Defence of Poesie and Poems

第1章

IntroductionbyHenryMorleyADefenceofPoesiePoemsINTRODUCTION

PhilipSidneywasbornatPenshurst,inKent,onthe29thofNovember,1554.Hisfather,SirHenrySidney,hadmarriedMary,eldestdaughterofJohnDudley,DukeofNorthumberland,andPhilipwastheeldestoftheirfamilyofthreesonsandfourdaughters.

EdmundSpenserandWalterRaleighwereoflikeagewithPhilipSidney,differingonlybyaboutayear,andwhenElizabethbecamequeen,onthe17thofNovember,1558,theywerechildrenoffourorfiveyearsold.

Intheyear1560SirHenrySidneywasmadeLordPresidentofWales,representingtheQueeninWalesandthefouradjacentwesterncounties,asaLordDeputyrepresentedherinIreland.TheofficialresidenceoftheLordPresidentwasatLudlowCastle,towhichPhilipSidneywentwithhisfamilywhenachildofsix.InthesameyearhisfatherwasinstalledasaKnightoftheGarter.WheninhistenthyearPhilipSidneywassentfromLudlowtoShrewsburyGrammarSchool,wherehestudiedforthreeorfouryears,andhadamonghisschoolfellowsFulkeGreville,afterwardsLordBrooke,whoremaineduntiltheendofSidney"slifeoneofhisclosestfriends.

Whenhehimselfwasdyinghedirectedthatheshouldbedescribeduponhistombas"FulkeGreville,servanttoQueenElizabeth,counsellortoKingJames,andfriendtoSirPhilipSidney."EvenDr.ThomasThornton,CanonofChristChurch,Oxford,underwhomSidneywasplacedwhenhewasenteredtoChristChurchinhisfourteenthyear,atMidsummer,in1568,haditafterwardsrecordedonhistombthathewas"thetutorofSirPhilipSidney."

SidneywasinhiseighteenthyearinMay,1572,whenhelefttheUniversitytocontinuehistrainingfortheserviceofthestate,bytravelontheContinent.Licensedtotravelwithhorsesforhimselfandthreeservants,PhilipSidneyleftLondoninthetrainoftheEarlofLincoln,whowasgoingoutasambassadortoCharlesIX.,inParis.HewasinParisonthe24thofAugustinthatyear,whichwasthedayoftheMassacreofSt.Bartholomew.HewasshelteredfromthedangersofthatdayinthehouseoftheEnglishAmbassador,SirFrancisWalsingham,whosedaughterFannySidneymarriedtwelveyearsafterwards.

FromParisSidneytravelledonbywayofHeidelbergtoFrankfort,wherehelodgedataprinter"s,andfoundawarmfriendinHubertLanguet,whoseletterstohimhavebeenpublished.SidneywaseighteenandLanguetfifty-five,aFrenchHuguenot,learnedandzealousfortheProtestantcause,whohadbeenProfessorofCivilLawinPadua,andwhowasactingassecretministerfortheElectorofSaxonywhenhefirstknewSidney,andsawinhimafuturestatesmanwhosecharacterandgeniuswouldgivehimweightinthecounselsofEngland,andmakehimamainhopeoftheProtestantcauseinEurope.SidneytravelledonwithHubertLanguetfromFrankforttoVienna,visitedHungary,thenpassedtoItaly,makingforeightweeksVenicehishead-quarters,andthengivingsixweekstoPadua.HereturnedthroughGermanytoEngland,andwasinattendanceittheCourtofQueenElizabethinJuly,1575.NextmonthhisfatherwassenttoIrelandasLordDeputy,andSidneylivedinLondonwithhismother.

AtthistimetheoppositionoftheMayorandCorporationoftheCityofLondontotheactingofplaysbyservantsofSidney"suncle,theEarlofLeicester,whohadobtainedapatentforthem,obligedtheactorstoceasefromhiringroomsorinnyardsintheCity,andbuildthemselvesahouseoftheirownalittlewayoutsideoneoftheCitygates,andwhollyoutsidetheLordMayor"sjurisdiction.

ThusthefirsttheatrecametobebuiltinEnglandintheyear1576.

Shakespearewasthenbuttwelveyearsold,anditwastenyearslaterthathecametoLondon.

InFebruary,1577,PhilipSidney,notyettwenty-threeyearsold,wassentonaformalembassyofcongratulationtoRudolphII.uponhisbecomingEmperorofGermany,butunderthedutiesoftheformalembassywasthechargeofwatchingforopportunitiesofhelpingforwardaProtestantLeagueamongtheprincesofGermany.OnhiswayhomethroughtheNetherlandshewastoconveyQueenElizabeth"scongratulationstoWilliamofOrangeonthebirthofhisfirstchild,andwhatimpressionhemadeuponthatleaderofmenisshownbyamessageWilliamsentafterwardsthroughFulkeGrevilletoQueenElizabeth.Hesaid"thatifhecouldjudge,herMajestyhadoneoftheripestandgreatestcounsellorsofStateinPhilipSidneythatthenlivedinEurope;tothetrialofwhichhewaspleasedtoleavehisowncreditengageduntilherMajestywaspleasedtoemploythisgentleman,eitheramongstherfriendsorenemies."

SidneyreturnedfromhisembassyinJune,1577.Atthetimeofhisdeparture,intheprecedingFebruary,hissisterMary,thentwentyyearsold,hadbecomethethirdwifeofHenryHerbert,EarlofPembroke,andhernewhomeasCountessofPembrokewasinthegreathouseatWilton,aboutthreemilesfromSalisbury.Shehadameasureofherbrother"sgenius,andwasoflikenoblestrain.

Spenserdescribedheras"Thegentlestshepherdessthatlivesthisday,Andmostresembling,bothinshapeandspright,Herbrotherdear."

BenJonson,longafterherbrotherhadpassedfromearth,wroteuponherdeaththewell-knownepitaph:-

"UnderneaththissableherseLiesthesubjectofallverse,Sidney"ssister,Pembroke"smother.

Death,erethouhastslainanother,Learn"d,andfair,andgoodasshe,Timeshallthrowadartatthee."

Sidney"ssisterbecamePembroke"smotherin1580,whileherbrotherPhilipwasstayingwithheratWilton.HehadearlyintheyearwrittenalongargumenttotheQueenagainsttheprojectofhermarriagewiththeDukeofAnjou,whichshethenfounditpolitictoseemtofavour.ShelikedSidneywell,butresented,orappearedtoresent,hisintrusionofadvice;healsowasdiscontentedwithwhatseemedtobeherpolicy,andhewithdrewfromCourtforatime.

Thattimeofseclusion,aftertheendofMarch,1580,hespentwithhissisteratWilton.Theyversifiedpsalmstogether;andhebegantowriteforheramusementwhenshehadherbabyfirstuponherhands,hisromanceof"Arcadia."Itwasneverfinished.MuchwaswrittenatWiltoninthesummerof1580,therestin1581,written,ashesaidinalettertoher,"onlyforyou,onlytoyouforseverereyesitisnot,beingbutatrifle,triflinglyhandled.

Yourdearselfcanbestwitnessthemanner,beingdoneinloosesheetsofpaper,mostofitinyourpresence,therestbysheetssentuntoyouasfastastheyweredone."Henevermeantthatitshouldbepublished;indeed,whendyingheaskedthatitshouldbedestroyed;butitbelongedtoasisterwhoprizedthelightestwordofhis,andafterhisdeathitwaspublishedin1590as"TheCountessofPembroke"sArcadia."

Thebookreprintedinthisvolumewaswrittenin1581,whilesheetsofthe"Arcadia"werestillbeingsenttoWilton.Butitdifferswhollyinstylefromthe"Arcadia."Sidney"s"Arcadia"hasliteraryinterestasthefirstimportantexampleoftheunionofpastoralwithheroicromance,outofwhichcamepresently,inFrance,adistinctschooloffiction.Butthegeniusofitsauthorwasatplay,itfolloweddesignedlythefashionsofthehourinverseandprose,whichtendedtoextravaganceofingenuity.The"DefenceofPoesy"hashigherinterestasthefirstimportantpieceofliterarycriticisminourliterature.HereSidneywasinearnest.Hisstyleiswhollyfreefromtheeuphuisticextravaganceinwhichreadersofhistimedelighted:itisclear,direct,andmanly;nottheless,butthemore,thoughtfulandrefinedforitsunaffectedsimplicity.

Ascriticismitisofthetruesort;notcaptiousorformal,stilllessengaged,asnearlyallbadcriticismis,moreorless,withindirectsuggestionofthecritichimselfastheoneowlinaworldofmice.PhilipSidney"scareistowardstheendofgoodliterature.Helooksforhighestaims,andfindsthemintruework,andhearsGod"sangelinthepoet"ssong.

Thewritingofthispiecewasprobablysuggestedtohimbythefactthatanearnestyoungstudent,StephenGosson,whocamefromhisuniversityaboutthetimewhenthefirsttheatreswerebuilt,andwroteplays,wasturnedbythebiasofhismindintoagreementwiththePuritanattacksmadebythepulpitonthestage(arisingchieflyfromthefactthatplayswerethenactedonSundays),andin1579

transferredhispenfromserviceoftheplayerstoattackonthem,inapiecewhichhecalled"TheSchoolofAbuse,containingaPleasantInvectiveagainstPoets,Pipers,Players,Jesters,andsuchlikeCaterpillarsofaCommonwealth;settinguptheFlagofDefiancetotheirmischievousexercise,andoverthrowingtheirBulwarks,byProfaneWriters,NaturalReason,andCommonExperience:aDiscourseaspleasantforGentlementhatfavourLearningasprofitableforallthatwillfollowVirtue."ThisDiscourseGossondedicated"TotherightnobleGentleman,MasterPhilipSidney,Esquire."Sidneyhimselfwroteverse,hewascompanionwiththepoets,andcountedEdmundSpenseramonghisfriends.Gosson"spamphletwasonlyoneexpressionofthenarrowformofPuritanopinionthathadbeenmisledintoattacksonpoetryandmusicasfeedersofidleappetitethatwithdrewmenfromthelifeofduty.Toshowthefallacyinsuchopinion,PhilipSidneywrotein1581thispiece,whichwasfirstprintedin1595,nineyearsafterhisdeath,asaseparatepublication,entitled"AnApologieforPoetrie."Threeyearsafterwardsitwasadded,withotherpieces,tothethirdeditionofhis"Arcadia,"andthenentitled"TheDefenceofPoesie."Insixteensubsequenteditionsitcontinuedtoappearas"TheDefenceofPoesie."Thesametitlewasusedintheseparateeditionsof1752and1810.ProfessorEdwardArberre-issuedin1869thetextofthefirsteditionof1595,andrestoredtheoriginaltitle,whichprobablywasthatgiventothepiecebyitsauthor.Onenameisasgoodastheother,butastheword"apology"hassomewhatchangeditssenseincurrentEnglish,itmaybewelltogooncallingthework"TheDefenceofPoesie."

In1583Sidneywasknighted,andsoonafterwardsinthesameyearhemarriedFrances,daughterofSirFrancisWalsingham.Sonnetswrittenbyhimaccordingtooldfashion,andaddressedtoaladyinaccordancewithaformofcourtesythatinthesameoldfashionhadalwaysbeenheldtoexcludepersonalsuit——personalsuitwasprivate,andnotpublic——haveledtogravemisapprehensionamongsomecritics.TheysupposedthathedesiredmarriagewithPenelopeDevereux,whowasforcedbyherfamilyin1580——theneighteenyearsold——intoahatefulmarriagewithLordRich.ItmaybeenoughtosaythatifPhilipSidneyhaddesiredherforhiswife,hehadonlytoaskforherandhaveher.Herfather,whendying,haddesired——

asanyfathermight——thathisdaughtermightbecomethewifeofPhilipSidney.ButthisisnottheplaceforadiscussionofAstrophelandStellasonnets.

In1585SidneywasplanningtojoinDrakeitseainattackonSpainintheWestIndies.HewasstayedbytheQueen.ButwhenElizabethdeclaredwaronbehalfoftheReformedFaith,andsentLeicesterwithanexpeditiontotheNetherlands,SirPhilipSidneywentout,inNovember,1585,asGovernorofFlushing.Hiswifejoinedhimthere.Hefrettedatinaction,andmadethevalueofhiscounselssodistinctthathisuncleLeicestersaidafterhisdeaththathebeganby"despisinghisyouthforacounsellor,notwithoutbearingahandoverhimasaforwardyoungman.Notwithstanding,inashorttimehesawthesunsorisenabovehishorizonthatbothheandallhisstarsweregladtofetchlightfromhim."InMay,1586,SirPhilipSidneyreceivednewsofthedeathofhisfather.InAugusthismotherdied.InSeptemberhejoinedintheinvestmentofZutphen.Onthe22ndofSeptemberhisthigh-bonewasshatteredbyamusketballfromthetrenches.Hishorsetookfrightandgallopedback,butthewoundedmanheldtohisseat.Hewasthencarriedtohisuncle,askedforwater,andwhenitwasgiven,sawadyingsoldiercarriedpast,whoeyeditgreedily.Atoncehegavethewatertothesoldier,saying,"Thynecessityisyetgreaterthanmine."Sidneylivedon,patientinsuffering,untilthe17thofOctober.Whenhewasspeechlessbeforedeath,onewhostoodbyaskedPhilipSidneyforasignofhiscontinuedtrustinGod.Hefoldedhishandsasinprayeroverhisbreast,andsotheywerebecomefixedandchill,whenthewatchersplacedthembyhisside;

andinafewminutesthestainlessrepresentativeoftheyoungmanhoodofElizabethanEnglandpassedaway.

ANAPOLOGIEFORPOETRIE

WhentherightvirtuousEdwardWotton{1}andIwereattheEmperor"scourttogether,wegaveourselvestolearnhorsemanshipofGio.PietroPugliano;onethat,withgreatcommendation,hadtheplaceofanesquireinhisstable;andhe,accordingtothefertilenessoftheItalianwit,didnotonlyaffordusthedemonstrationofhispractice,butsoughttoenrichourmindswiththecontemplationtherein,whichhethoughtmostprecious.Butwithnone,Iremember,mineearswereatanytimemoreladen,thanwhen(eitherangeredwithslowpayment,ormovedwithourlearner-likeadmiration)heexercisedhisspeechinthepraiseofhisfaculty.

Hesaid,soldierswerethenoblestestateofmankind,andhorsementhenoblestofsoldiers.Hesaid,theywerethemastersofwarandornamentsofpeace,speedygoers,andstrongabiders,triumphersbothincampsandcourts;nay,tosounbelievedapointheproceeded,asthatnoearthlythingbredsuchwondertoaprince,astobeagoodhorseman;skillofgovernmentwasbuta"pedanteria"incomparison.Thenwouldheaddcertainpraisesbytellingwhatapeerlessbeastthehorsewas,theonlyserviceablecourtier,withoutflattery,thebeastofmostbeauty,faithfulness,courage,andsuchmore,thatifIhadnotbeenapieceofalogicianbeforeIcametohim,Ithinkhewouldhavepersuadedmetohavewishedmyselfahorse.Butthusmuch,atleast,withhisnofewwords,hedroveintome,thatselfloveisbetterthananygilding,tomakethatseemgorgeouswhereinourselvesbeparties.

Wherein,ifPugliano"sstrongaffectionandweakargumentswillnotsatisfyyou,Iwillgiveyouanearerexampleofmyself,who,Iknownotbywhatmischance,inthesemynotoldyearsandidlesttimes,havingslippedintothetitleofapoet,amprovokedtosaysomethinguntoyouinthedefenceofthatmyunelectedvocation;

whichifIhandlewithmoregoodwillthangoodreasons,bearwithme,sincethescholaristobepardonedthatfolloweththestepsofhismaster.

AndyetImustsay,thatasIhavemorejustcausetomakeapitifuldefenceofpoorpoetry,which,fromalmostthehighestestimationoflearning,isfallentobethelaughing-stockofchildren;sohaveI

needtobringsomemoreavailableproofs,sincetheformerisbynomanbarredofhisdeservedcredit,whereasthesillylatterhathhadeventhenamesofphilosophersusedtothedefacingofit,withgreatdangerofcivilwaramongtheMuses.{2}

Atfirst,truly,toallthemthat,professinglearning,inveighagainstpoetry,mayjustlybeobjected,thattheygoveryneartoungratefulnesstoseektodefacethatwhich,inthenoblestnationsandlanguagesthatareknown,hathbeenthefirstlight-givertoignorance,andfirstnurse,whosemilkbylittleandlittleenabledthemtofeedafterwardsoftougherknowledges.Andwillyouplaythehedgehog,thatbeingreceivedintotheden,droveouthishost?

{3}orratherthevipers,thatwiththeirbirthkilltheirparents?

{4}

LetlearnedGreece,inanyofhermanifoldsciences,beabletoshowmeonebookbeforeMusaeus,Homer,andHesiod,allthreenothingelsebutpoets.Nay,letanyhistoryhebroughtthatcansayanywritersweretherebeforethem,iftheywerenotmenofthesameskill,asOrpheus,Linus,andsomeothersarenamed,whohavingbeenthefirstofthatcountrythatmadepensdeliverersoftheirknowledgetoposterity,mayjustlychallengetobecalledtheirfathersinlearning.Fornotonlyintimetheyhadthispriority(althoughinitselfantiquitybevenerable)butwentbeforethemascausestodrawwiththeircharmingsweetnessthewilduntamedwitstoanadmirationofknowledge.SoasAmphionwassaidtomovestoneswithhispoetrytobuildThebes,andOrpheustobelistenedtobybeasts,indeed,stonyandbeastlypeople,soamongtheRomanswereLiviusAndronicus,andEnnius;sointheItalianlanguage,thefirstthatmadeittoaspiretobeatreasure-houseofscience,werethepoetsDante,Boccace,andPetrarch;soinourEnglishwereGowerandChaucer;afterwhom,encouragedanddelightedwiththeirexcellentforegoing,othershavefollowedtobeautifyourmothertongue,aswellinthesamekindasotherarts.

This{5}didsonotablyshowitselfthatthephilosophersofGreecedurstnotalongtimeappeartotheworldbutunderthemaskofpoets;soThales,Empedocles,andParmenidessangtheirnaturalphilosophyinverses;sodidPythagorasandPhocylidestheirmoralcounsels;sodidTyrtaeusinwarmatters;andSoloninmattersofpolicy;orratherthey,beingpoets,didexercisetheirdelightfulveininthosepointsofhighestknowledge,whichbeforethemlayhiddentotheworld;forthatwiseSolonwasdirectlyapoetitismanifest,havingwritteninversethenotablefableoftheAtlanticIsland,whichwascontinuedbyPlato.{6}And,truly,evenPlato,whosoeverwellconsiderethshallfindthatinthebodyofhiswork,thoughtheinsideandstrengthwerephilosophy,theskin,asitwere,andbeautydependedmostofpoetry.Forallstandsupondialogues;whereinhefeignsmanyhonestburgessesofAthensspeakingofsuchmattersthatiftheyhadbeensetontheracktheywouldneverhaveconfessedthem;besides,hispoeticaldescribingthecircumstancesoftheirmeetings,asthewell-orderingofabanquet,thedelicacyofawalk,withinterlacingmeretiles,asGyges"sRing,{7}andothers;which,whoknowsnottobeflowersofpoetry,didneverwalkintoApollo"sgarden.

And{8}evenhistoriographers,althoughtheirlipssoundofthingsdone,andveritybewrittenintheirforeheads,havebeengladtoborrowbothfashionand,perchance,weightofthepoets;soHerodotusentitledthebooksofhishistorybythenamesoftheNineMuses;andbothhe,andalltherestthatfollowedhim,eitherstoleorusurped,ofpoetry,theirpassionatedescribingofpassions,themanyparticularitiesofbattleswhichnomancouldaffirm;or,ifthatbedeniedme,longorations,putinthemonthsofgreatkingsandcaptains,whichitiscertaintheyneverpronounced.

Sothat,truly,neitherphilosophernorhistoriographercould,atthefirst,haveenteredintothegatesofpopularjudgments,iftheyhadnottakenagreatdisportofpoetry;whichinallnations,atthisday,wherelearningflourishethnot,isplaintobeseen;inallwhichtheyhavesomefeelingofpoetry.InTurkey,besidestheirlawgivingdivinestheyhavenootherwritersbutpoets.Inourneighbour-countryIreland,where,too,learninggoesverybare,yetaretheirpoetsheldinadevoutreverence.EvenamongthemostbarbarousandsimpleIndians,wherenowritingis,yethavetheytheirpoetswhomakeandsingsongs,whichtheycall"Arentos,"bothoftheirancestor"sdeedsandpraisesoftheirgods.Asufficientprobability,thatifeverlearningcomesamongthem,itmustbebyhavingtheirharddullwitssoftenedandsharpenedwiththesweetdelightofpoetry;foruntiltheyfindapleasureintheexerciseofthemind,greatpromisesofmuchknowledgewilllittlepersuadethemthatknownotthefruitsofknowledge.InWales,thetrueremnantoftheancientBritons,astherearegoodauthoritiestoshowthelongtimetheyhadpoets,whichtheycalledbards,sothroughalltheconquestsofRomans,Saxons,Danes,andNormans,someofwhomdidseektoruinallmemoryoflearningfromamongthem,yetdotheirpoets,eventothisday,last;soasitisnotmorenotableinthesoonbeginningthaninlong-continuing.

ButsincetheauthorsofmostofoursciencesweretheRomans,andbeforethemtheGreeks,letus,alittle,standupontheirauthorities;butevensofar,astoseewhatnamestheyhavegivenuntothisnowscornedskill.{9}AmongtheRomansapoetwascalled"vates,"whichisasmuchasadiviner,foreseer,orprophet,asbyhisconjoinedwords"vaticinium,"and"vaticinari,"ismanifest;soheavenlyatitledidthatexcellentpeoplebestowuponthisheart-

ravishingknowledge!Andsofarweretheycarriedintotheadmirationthereof,thattheythoughtinthechangeablehittinguponanysuchverses,greatforetokensoftheirfollowingfortuneswereplaced.WhereupongrewthewordofsortesVirgilianae;when,bysuddenopeningVirgil"sbook,theylighteduponsomeverse,asitisreportedbymany,whereofthehistoriesoftheEmperors"livesarefull.AsofAlbinus,thegovernorofourisland,who,inhischildhood,metwiththisverse-

Armaamenscapio,necsatrationisinarmisandinhisageperformedit.Althoughitwereaveryvainandgodlesssuperstition;asalsoitwas,tothinkspiritswerecommandedbysuchverses;whereuponthiswordcharms,derivedof"carmina,"cometh,soyetservethittoshowthegreatreverencethosewitswereheldin;andaltogethernotwithoutground,sinceboththeoraclesofDelphiandtheSibyl"sprophecieswerewhollydeliveredinverses;forthatsameexquisiteobservingofnumberandmeasureinthewords,andthathigh-flyinglibertyofconceitpropertothepoet,didseemtohavesomedivineforceinit.

And{10}maynotIpresumealittlefarthertoshowthereasonablenessofthisword"vates,"andsay,thattheholyDavid"sPsalmsareadivinepoem?IfIdo,Ishallnotdoitwithoutthetestimonyofgreatlearnedmen,bothancientandmodern.ButeventhenameofPsalmswillspeakforme,which,beinginterpreted,isnothingbutSongs;then,thatisfullywritteninmetre,asalllearnedHebriciansagree,althoughtherulesbenotyetfullyfound.

Lastly,andprincipally,hishandlinghisprophecy,whichismerelypoetical.Forwhatelseistheawakinghismusicalinstruments;theoftenandfreechangingofpersons;hisnotableprosopopoeias,whenhemakethyou,asitwere,seeGodcominginHismajesty;histellingofthebeasts"joyfulness,andhillsleaping;butaheavenlypoesy,wherein,almost,heshewethhimselfapassionateloverofthatunspeakableandeverlastingbeauty,tobeseenbytheeyesofthemind,onlyclearedbyfaith?Buttruly,now,havingnamedhim,IfearIseemtoprofanethatholyname,applyingittopoetry,whichis,amongus,throwndowntosoridiculousanestimation.Buttheythat,withquietjudgments,willlookalittledeeperintoit,shallfindtheendandworkingofitsuch,as,beingrightlyapplied,deservethnottobescourgedoutofthechurchofGod.

But{11}nowletusseehowtheGreekshavenamedit,andhowtheydeemedofit.TheGreeksnamedhim[Greektext],whichnamehath,asthemostexcellent,gonethroughotherlanguages;itcomethofthisword[Greektext],whichisTOMAKE;wherein,Iknownotwhetherbyluckorwisdom,weEnglishmenhavemetwiththeGreeksincallinghim"amaker,"whichname,howhighandincomparableatitleitis,Ihadratherwereknownbymarkingthescopeofothersciences,thanbyanypartialallegation.Thereisnoartdelivereduntomankindthathathnottheworksofnatureforhisprincipalobject,withoutwhichtheycouldnotconsist,andonwhichtheysodependastheybecomeactorsandplayers,asitwere,ofwhatnaturewillhavesetforth.{12}Sodoththeastronomerlookuponthestars,andbythatheseethsetdownwhatordernaturehathtakentherein.Sodoththegeometricianandarithmetician,intheirdiversesortsofquantities.Sodoththemusician,intimes,tellyouwhichbynatureagree,whichnot.Thenaturalphilosopherthereonhathhisname;andthemoralphilosopherstandethuponthenaturalvirtues,vices,orpassionsofman;andfollownature,saithhe,therein,andthoushaltnoterr.Thelawyersaithwhatmenhavedetermined.Thehistorian,whatmenhavedone.Thegrammarianspeakethonlyoftherulesofspeech;andtherhetoricianandlogician,consideringwhatinnaturewillsoonestproveandpersuade,thereongiveartificialrules,whichstillarecompassedwithinthecircleofaquestion,accordingtotheproposedmatter.

Thephysicianweigheththenatureofman"sbody,andthenatureofthingshelpfulandhurtfuluntoit.Andthemetaphysic,thoughitbeinthesecondandabstractnotions,andthereforebecountedsupernatural,yetdothhe,indeed,builduponthedepthofnature.

Onlythepoet,disdainingtobetiedtoanysuchsubjection,liftedupwiththevigourofhisowninvention,dothgrow,ineffect,intoanothernature;inmakingthingseitherbetterthannaturebringethforth,orquiteanew;formssuchasneverwereinnature,astheheroes,demi-gods,Cyclops,chimeras,furies,andsuchlike;soashegoethhandinhandwithNature,notenclosedwithinthenarrowwarrantofhergifts,butfreelyrangingwithinthezodiacofhisownwit.{13}Natureneversetforththeearthinsorichtapestryasdiverspoetshavedone;neitherwithsopleasantrivers,fruitfultrees,sweet-smellingflowers,norwhatsoeverelsemaymakethetoo-

much-lovedearthmorelovely;herworldisbrazen,thepoetsonlydeliveragolden.

Butletthosethingsalone,andgotoman;{14}forwhomastheotherthingsare,soitseemethinhimheruttermostcunningisemployed;andknow,whethershehavebroughtforthsotruealoverasTheagenes;soconstantafriendasPylades;sovaliantamanasOrlando;sorightaprinceasXenophon"sCyrus;andsoexcellentamaneverywayasVirgil"sAEneas?Neitherletthisbejestinglyconceived,becausetheworksoftheonebeessential,theotherinimitationorfiction;foreveryunderstandingknoweththeskillofeachartificerstandethinthatidea,orfore-conceitofthework,andnotintheworkitself.Andthatthepoethaththatideaismanifestbydeliveringthemforthinsuchexcellencyashehadimaginedthem;whichdeliveringforth,also,isnotwhollyimaginative,aswearewonttosaybythemthatbuildcastlesintheair;butsofarsubstantiallyitworkethnotonlytomakeaCyrus,whichhadbeenbutaparticularexcellency,asnaturemighthavedone;buttobestowaCyrusupontheworldtomakemanyCyruses;iftheywilllearnaright,why,andhow,thatmakermadehim.Neitherletitbedeemedtoosaucyacomparisontobalancethehighestpointofman"switwiththeefficacyofnature;butrathergiverighthonourtotheheavenlyMakerofthatmaker,whohavingmademantoHisownlikeness,sethimbeyondandoveralltheworksofthatsecondnature;whichinnothingheshowethsomuchasinpoetry;

when,withtheforceofadivinebreath,hebringeththingsforthsurpassingherdoings,withnosmallargumentstotheincredulousofthatfirstaccursedfallofAdam;sinceourerectedwitmakethusknowwhatperfectionis,andyetourinfectedwillkeepethusfromreachinguntoit.Buttheseargumentswillbyfewbeunderstood,andbyfewergranted;thusmuchIhopewillbegivenme,thattheGreeks,withsomeprobabilityofreason,gavehimthenameaboveallnamesoflearning.

Now{15}letusgotoamoreordinaryopeningofhim,thatthetruthmaybethemorepalpable;andso,Ihope,thoughwegetnotsounmatchedapraiseastheetymologyofhisnameswillgrant,yethisverydescription,whichnomanwilldeny,shallnotjustlybebarredfromaprincipalcommendation.

Poesy,{16}therefore,isanartofimitation;forsoAristotletermethitintheword[Greektext];thatistosay,arepresenting,counterfeiting,orfiguringforth:tospeakmetaphorically,aspeakingpicture,withthisend,toteachanddelight.

Of{17}thishavebeenthreegeneralkinds:theCHIEF,bothinantiquityandexcellency,whichtheythatdidimitatetheinconceivableexcellenciesofGod;suchwereDavidinthePsalms;

SolomonintheSongofSongs,inhisEcclesiastes,andProverbs;

MosesandDeborahintheirhymns;andthewriterofJob;which,besideothers,thelearnedEmanuelTremelliusandFr.Juniusdoentitlethepoeticalpartofthescripture;againstthesenonewillspeakthathaththeHolyGhostindueholyreverence.Inthiskind,thoughinawrongdivinity,wereOrpheus,Amphion,Homerinhishymns,andmanyothers,bothGreeksandRomans.AndthispoesymustbeusedbywhosoeverwillfollowSt.Paul"scounsel,insingingpsalmswhentheyaremerry;andIknowisusedwiththefruitofcomfortbysome,when,insorrowfulpangsoftheirdeath-bringingsins,theyfindtheconsolationofthenever-leavinggoodness.

The{18}SECONDkindisofthemthatdealwithmatterphilosophical;

eithermoral,asTyrtaeus,Phocylides,Cato,or,natural,asLucretius,Virgil"sGeorgics;orastronomical,asManilius{19}andPontanus;orhistorical,asLucan;whichwhomislike,thefaultisintheirjudgment,quiteoutoftaste,andnotinthesweetfoodofsweetlyutteredknowledge.

Butbecausethissecondsortiswrappedwithinthefoldoftheproposedsubject,andtakesnotthefreecourseofhisowninvention;whethertheyproperlybepoetsorno,letgrammariansdispute,andgototheTHIRD,{20}indeedrightpoets,ofwhomchieflythisquestionariseth;betwixtwhomandthesesecondissuchakindofdifference,asbetwixtthemeanersortofpainters,whocounterfeitonlysuchfacesasaresetbeforethem;andthemoreexcellent,whohavingnolawbutwit,bestowthatincoloursuponyouwhichisfittestfortheeyetosee;astheconstant,thoughlamentinglookofLucretia,whenshepunishedinherselfanother"sfault;whereinhepaintethnotLucretia,whomheneversaw,butpainteththeoutwardbeautyofsuchavirtue.Forthesethreebetheywhichmostproperlydoimitatetoteachanddelight;andtoimitate,borrownothingofwhatis,hathbeen,orshallbe;butrangeonly,reinedwithlearneddiscretion,intothedivineconsiderationofwhatmaybe,andshouldbe.Thesebethey,that,asthefirstandmostnoblesort,mayjustlybetermed"vates;"sothesearewaitedonintheexcellentestlanguagesandbestunderstandings,withthefore-describednameofpoets.Forthese,indeed,domerelymaketoimitate,andimitatebothtodelightandteach,anddelighttomovementotakethatgoodnessinhand,which,withoutdelighttheywouldflyasfromastranger;andteachtomakethemknowthatgoodnesswhereuntotheyaremoved;whichbeingthenoblestscopetowhicheveranylearningwasdirected,yetwanttherenotidletonguestobarkatthem.

These{21}besubdividedintosundrymorespecialdenominations;themostnotablebetheheroic,lyric,tragic,comic,satyric,iambic,elegiac,pastoral,andcertainothers;someofthesebeingtermedaccordingtothemattertheydealwith;somebythesortofversetheylikebesttowritein;for,indeed,thegreatestpartofpoetshaveapparelledtheirpoeticalinventionsinthatnumerouskindofwritingwhichiscalledverse.Indeed,butappareliedverse,beingbutanornament,andnocausetopoetry,sincetherehavebeenmanymostexcellentpoetsthatneverversified,andnowswarmmanyversifiersthatneedneveranswertothenameofpoets.{22}ForXenophon,whodidimitatesoexcellentlyastogiveuseffigiemjustiimperii,theportraitureofajustofCyrus,asCicerosaithofhim,madethereinanabsoluteheroicalpoem.SodidHeliodorus,{23}inhissugaredinventionofTheagenesandChariclea;andyetboththesewroteinprose;whichIspeaktoshow,thatitisnotrhymingandversingthatmakethapoet(nomorethanalonggownmakethanadvocate,who,thoughhepleadedinarmourshouldbeanadvocateandnosoldier);butitisthatfeigningnotableimagesofvirtues,vices,orwhatelse,withthatdelightfulteaching,whichmustbetherightdescribingnotetoknowapoetby.Although,indeed,thesenateofpoetshavechosenverseastheirfittestraiment;meaning,asinmattertheypassedallinall,soinmannertogobeyondthem;notspeakingtable-talkfashion,orlikemeninadream,wordsastheychangeablyfallfromthemouth,butpiecingeachsyllableofeachwordbyjustproportion,accordingtothedignityofthesubject.

Now,{24}therefore,itshallnotbeamiss,first,toweightthislattersortofpoetrybyhisWORKS,andthenbyhisPARTS;andifinneitheroftheseanatomieshebecommendable,Ihopeweshallreceiveamorefavourablesentence.Thispurifyingofwit,thisenrichingofmemory,enablingofjudgment,andenlargingofconceit,whichcommonlywecalllearningunderwhatnamesoeveritcomeforth,ortowhatimmediateendsoeveritbedirected;thefinalendis,toleadanddrawustoashighaperfectionasourdegeneratesouls,madeworseby,theirclaylodgings,{25}canbecapableof.

This,accordingtotheinclinationofman,bredmanyformedimpressions;forsomethatthoughtthisfelicityprincipallytobegottenbyknowledge,andnoknowledgetobesohighorheavenlyastobeacquaintedwiththestars,gavethemselvestoastronomy;

others,persuadingthemselvestobedemi-gods,iftheyknewthecausesofthings,becamenaturalandsupernaturalphilosophers.

Someanadmirabledelightdrewtomusic,andsomethecertaintyofdemonstrationstothemathematics;butall,oneandother,havingthisscopetoknow,andbyknowledgetoliftupthemindfromthedungeonofthebodytotheenjoyinghisowndivineessence.Butwhen,bythebalanceofexperience,itwasfoundthattheastronomer,lookingtothestars,mightfallinaditch;thattheenquiringphilosophermightbeblindinhimself;andthemathematicianmightdrawforthastraightlinewithacrookedheart;

thenlo!didproof,theover-rulerofopinions,makemanifestthatallthesearebutservingsciences,which,astheyhaveaprivateendinthemselves,soyetaretheyalldirectedtothehighestendofthemistressknowledge,bytheGreekscalled[Greektext],whichstands,asIthink,intheknowledgeofaman"sself;intheethicandpoliticconsideration,withtheendofwelldoing,andnotofwellknowingonly;evenasthesaddler"snextendistomakeagoodsaddle,buthisfartherendtoserveanoblerfaculty,whichishorsemanship;sothehorseman"stosoldiery;andthesoldiernotonlytohavetheskill,buttoperformthepracticeofasoldier.

Sothattheendingendofallearthlylearningbeingvirtuousaction,thoseskillsthatmostservetobringforththathaveamostjusttitletobeprincesoveralltherest;wherein,ifwecanshowitrightly,thepoetisworthytohaveitbeforeanyothercompetitors.{26}

Among{27}whomprincipallytochallengeit,stepforththemoralphilosophers;whom,methinks,Iseecomingtowardmewithasullengravity(asthoughtheycouldnotabidevicebydaylight),rudelyclothed,fortowitnessoutwardlytheircontemptofoutwardthings,withbooksintheirhandsagainstglory,wheretotheysettheirnames;sophisticallyspeakingagainstsubtlety,andangrywithanymaninwhomtheyseethefoulfaultofanger.Thesemen,castinglargessesastheygo,ofdefinitions,divisions,anddistinctions,withascornfulinterrogativedosoberlyask:Whetheritbepossibletofindanypathsoreadytoleadamantovirtue,asthatwhichteachethwhatvirtueis;andteachethitnotonlybydeliveringforthhisverybeing,hiscausesandeffects;butalsobymakingknownhisenemy,vice,whichmustbedestroyed;andhiscumbersomeservant,passion,whichmustbemastered,byshowingthegeneralitiesthatcontainit,andthespecialitiesthatarederivedfromit;lastly,byplainsettingdownhowitextendsitselfoutofthelimitsofaman"sownlittleworld,tothegovernmentoffamilies,andmaintainingofpublicsocieties?

Thehistorian{28}scarcelygivesleisuretothemoralisttosaysomuch,butthathe(ladenwitholdmouse-eatenrecords,authorizing{29}himself,forthemostpart,uponotherhistories,whosegreatestauthoritiesarebuiltuponthenotablefoundationofhearsay,havingmuchadotoaccorddifferingwriters,andtopicktruthoutofpartiality;betteracquaintedwithathousandyearsagothanwiththepresentage,andyetbetterknowinghowthisworldgoesthanhowhisownwitruns;curiousforantiquities,andinquisitiveofnovelties,awondertoyoungfolks,andatyrantintable-talk)denieth,inagreatchafe,thatanymanforteachingofvirtueandvirtuousactions,iscomparabletohim.Iam"Testistemporum,luxveritatis,vitamemoriae,magistravitae,nunciavetustatis."{30}Thephilosopher,saithhe,teachethadisputativevirtue,butIdoanactive;hisvirtueisexcellentinthedangerlessacademyofPlato,butmineshowethforthherhonourablefaceinthebattlesofMarathon,Pharsalia,Poictiers,andAgincourt:heteachethvirtuebycertainabstractconsiderations;

butIonlybidyoufollowthefootingofthemthathavegonebeforeyou:old-agedexperiencegoethbeyondthefine-wittedphilosopher;

butIgivetheexperienceofmanyages.Lastly,ifhemakethesongbook,Iputthelearner"shandtothelute;andifhebetheguide,Iamthelight.Thenwouldheallegeyouinnumerableexamples,confirmingstorybystories,howmuchthewisestsenatorsandprinceshavebeendirectedbythecreditofhistory,asBrutus,AlphonsusofAragon(andwhonot?ifneedbe).Atlength,thelonglineoftheirdisputationmakesapointinthis,thattheonegiveththeprecept,andtheothertheexample.

Now{31}whomshallwefind,sincethequestionstandethforthehighestformintheschooloflearning,tobemoderator?Truly,asmeseemeth,thepoet;andifnotamoderator,eventhemanthatoughttocarrythetitlefromthemboth,andmuchmorefromallotherservingsciences.Thereforecomparewethepoetwiththehistorian,andwiththemoralphilosopher;andifhegobeyondthemboth,nootherhumanskillcanmatchhim;forasfortheDivine,withallreverence,heisevertobeexcepted,notonlyforhavinghisscopeasfarbeyondanyofthese,aseternityexceedethamoment,butevenforpassingeachoftheseinthemselves;andforthelawyer,though"Jus"bethedaughterofJustice,thechiefofvirtues,yetbecauseheseekstomakemengoodrather"formidinepoenae"than"virtutisamore,"or,tosayrighter,dothnotendeavourtomakemengood,butthattheirevilhurtnotothers,havingnocare,sohebeagoodcitizen,howbadamanhebe:

therefore,asourwickednessmakethhimnecessary,andnecessitymakethhimhonourable,soishenotinthedeepesttruthtostandinrankwiththese,whoallendeavourtotakenaughtinessaway,andplantgoodnesseveninthesecretestcabinetofoursouls.Andthesefourareallthatanywaydealintheconsiderationofmen"smanners,whichbeingthesupremeknowledge,theythatbestbreeditdeservethebestcommendation.