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.