Defence of Poesie (35-37)

And so a conclusion not vnfitly ensue, that as vertue is the most excell't resting place for al worldly learning to make his end of, so Poetry being the most familiar to teach it, and most Princely to moue towards it, in the most excellent worke, is the most excellent workeman. But I am content not onely to decipher him by his workes (although workes in commendation and dispraise, must euer hold a high authoritie) but more narrowly will examine his parts, so that ( as in a man ) though altogither may carrie a presence full of maiestie and bewtie, perchance in some one defectuous peece we may finde blemish.

Now in his parts, kindes, or species, as you list to tearme them, it is to be noted, that some Poesies haue coupled togither two or three kindes, as the Tragicall and Comicall, whereupon is risen the Tragicomicall, some in the maner haue mingled prose and verse, as Sanazara and Boetius; some haue mingled matters Heroicall and Pastorall, but that commeth all to one in this question, for if seuered they be good, the coniunction cannot be hurtfull: therefore perchance forgetting some, and leauing some as needlesse to be remembred. It shall not bee amisse, in a word to cite the speciall kindes, to see what faults may be found in the right vse of them. Is it then the Pastorall Poeme which is misliked ? (For perchance where the hedge is lowest they will soonest leape ouer) is the poore pipe disdained, which somtimes out of Mælibeus mouth, can shewe the miserie of people, vnder hard Lords and rauening souldiers? And again by Titerus, what blessednesse is deriued, to them that lie lowest, from the goodnesse of them that sit highest ? Sometimes vnder the prettie tales of Woolues and sheepe, can enclude the whole considerations of wrong doing and patience; sometimes shew that contentions for trifles, can get but a trifling victory, wher perchance a man may see, that euen Alexander & Darius, when they straue who should be Cocke of this worldes dunghill, the benefit they got, was, that the afterliuers may say,

Haec memini et victum frustra contendere Thirsim.

Ex illo Coridon, Coridon est tempore nobis.

Or is it the lamenting Elegiack, which in a kinde heart would mooue rather pittie then blame, who bewaileth with the great Philosopher Heraclitus, the weakenesse of mankinde, and the wretchednesse of the world: who surely is to bee praised either for compassionate accompanying iust causes of lamentations, or for nightlie painting out how weake be the passions of wofulnesse ? Is it the bitter but wholesome Iambick, who rubbes the galled minde, in making shame the Trumpet of villanie, with bolde and open crying out against naughtinesse ? Or the Satirick, who Omne vafer vitium ridenti tandit amico, who sportingly, neuer leaueth, till he make a man laugh at follie; and at length ashamed, to laugh at himself; which he cannot auoyde, without auoyding the follie ? who while Circum præcordia ludit, giueth vs to feele how many headaches a passionate life bringeth vs to? How when all is done, Est Vlubris animus si nos non deficit aquus.