Defence of Poesie (56-60)

Of the other side, who would shew the honours haue bene by the best sort of iudgements graunted them, a whole sea of examples woulde present themselues; Alexanders, Cæsars, Scipioes, all fauourers of Poets: Lælius, called the Romane Socrates himselfe a Poet ; so as part of Heautontimoroumenon in Terrace, was supposed to bee made by him. And euen the Greeke Socrates, whome Appollo confirmed to bee the onely wise man, is said to haue spent part of his olde time in putting Esopes Fables into verses. And therefore full euill should it become his scholler Plato, to put such words in his maisters mouth against Poets. But what needs more? Aristotle writes the Arte of Poesie, and why, if it should not bee written ? Plutarche teacheth the vse to bee gathered of them, and how, if they should not bee reade ? And who reades Plutarches either Historie or Philosophie, shall finde hee trimmeth both their garments with gardes of Poesie. But I list not to defend Poesie with the helpe of his vnderling Historiographie. Let it suffice to haue shewed, it is a fit soyle for praise to dwell vppon: and what dispraise may set vppon it, is either easily ouercome, or transformed into iust commendation. So that since the excellencies of it, may bee so easily and so iustly confirmed, and the lowe creeping obiections so soone trodden downe, it not beeing an Art of lyes, but of true doctrine; not of effeminatenesse, but of notable stirring of courage; not of abusing mans wit, but of strengthening mans wit;not banished, but honored by Plato; Let vs rather plant more Lawrels for to ingarland the Poets heads (which honor of being Lawreate, as besides them onely triumphant Captaines were, is a sufficient authoritie to shewe the price they ought to bee held in ) then suffer the ill sauoured breath of such wrong speakers once to blow vppon the cleare springs of Poesie.

But since I haue runne so long a Carrier in this matter, methinkes before I giue my penne a full stoppe, it shall be but a litle more lost time, to enquire why England the Mother of excellent mindes should be growne so hard a stepmother to Poets, who certainely in wit ought to passe all others, since all onely proceedes from their wit, beeing indeed makers of themselues, not takers of others. How can I but exclaime. Musa mihi causas memoria quo numine laeso, Sweete Poesie that hath aunciently had Kings, Emperours, Senatours, great Captaines, such as besides a thousandes others, Dauid, Adrian, Sophocles, Germanicus, not onelie to fauour Poets, but to bee Poets: and of our nearer times, can present for her Patrons, a Robert King of Scicill, the great King Fraunces of Fraunce, King Iames of Scotland; such Cardinalls as Bembus, and Bibiena ; suche famous Preachers and Teachers, as Beza and Melanchthon; so learned Philosophers, as Fracastorius, and Scaliger ; so great Orators, as Pontanus, and Muretus ; so pearcing wits, as George Buchanan; so graue Cousailours, as besides manie, but before all, the Hospitall of Fraunce ; then whome I thinke that Realme neuer brought forth a more accomplished iudgement, more firmly builded vpon vertue: I say these with numbers of others, not onely to read others Poesies, but to poetise for others reading ; that Poesie thus embraced in all other places, should onely finde in our time a hard welcome in England. I thinke the verie earth laments it, and therefore deckes our soyle with fewer Lawrels then it was accustomed. For heretofore, Poets haue in England also flourished: and which is to be noted, euen in those times when the Trumpet of Mars did sound lowdest.

And now that an ouer faint quietnesse should seeme to strowe the house for Poets. They are almost in as good reputation, as the Mountebanckes at Venice. Truly euen that, as of the one side it giueth great praise to Poesie, which like Venus(but to better purpose) had rather be troubled in the net with Mars, then enioy the homely quiet of Vulcan. So serueth it for a peece of a reason, why they are lesse gratefull to idle England, which now can scarce endure the paine of a penne. Vpon this necessarily followeth, that base men with seruill wits vndertake it, who thinke it inough if they can be rewarded of the Printer: and so as Epaminandas is said with the honor of his vertue to haue made an Office, by his exercising it, which before was contemtible, to become highly respected: so these men no more but setting their names to it, by their own disgracefulnesse, disgrace the most gracefull Poesie. For now as if all the Muses were got with childe, to bring forth bastard Poets: without any commission, they do passe ouer the Bankes of Helicon, till they make the Readers more wearie then Post-horses: while in the meane time, they Queis meliore luto finxit praecordia Titan, are better content to suppresse the out-flowings of their wit, then by publishing them, to be accounted Knights of the same order.

But I that before euer I durst aspire vnto the dignitie, am admitted into the companie of the Paper-blurrers, do finde the verie true cause of our wanting estimation, is want of desert, taking vppon vs to be Poets, in despite of Pallas. Now wherein we want desert, were a thankwoorthie labour to expresse. But if I knew I should haue mended my selfe, but as I neuer desired the title, so haue I neglected the meanes to come by it, onely ouer-mastered by some thoughts, I yeelded an inckie tribute vnto them. Marrie they that delight in Poesie it selfe, should seek to know what they do, and how they do: and especially looke themselues in an vnflattering glasse of reason, if they be enclinable vnto it. For Poesie must not be drawne by the eares, it must be gently led, or rather it must lead, which was partly the cause that made the auncient learned affirme, it was a diuine gift & no humane skil; since all other knowledges lie readie for anie that haue strength of wit: A Poet no industrie can make, if his owne Genius be not carried into it. And therefore is an old Prouerbe, Orator fit, Poeta nascitur.

Yet confesse I alwaies, that as the fertilest ground must be manured, so must the highest flying wit haue a Dedalus to guide him. That Dedalus they say both in this and in other, hath three wings to beare it selfe vp into the aire of due commendation: that is Art, Imitation, and Exercise. But these neither Artificall Rules, nor imitatiue paternes, we much comber our selues withall. Exercise indeed we do, but that verie fore-backwardly ; for where we should exercise to know, we exercise as hauing knowne: and so is our braine deliuered of much matter, which neuer was begotten by knowledge. For there being two principall parts, Matter to be expressed by words, and words to expresse the matter: In neither, wee vse Art or imitation rightly. Our matre is, Quodlibet, indeed though wrongly performing, Ouids Verse. Quicquid conabor dicere, Versus erit: neuer marshalling it into anie assured ranck, that almost the Readers cannot tell where to finde themselues.