Horace his arte of poetrie, pistles, and satyrs Englished and to the Earle of Ormounte by Tho. Drant addressed.

Of the Arte of Poetrye.

A Paynter if he shoulde adioyne vnto a womans heade A longe maires necke, and ouerspred the crops in euerye steade With sondry feathers of straunge huie, the whole proportioned so Without all good congruitye: the nether partes do goe Into a fishe, on hye a freshe Welfauord womans face: My frinds let in to sée this sighte could you but laugh a pace? Pisoes truste me, that booke shalbe muche lyke vnto this same, Whole fancies lyke a sickemans dreames so rudelye hange in frame, That heade and féete do square from th whole. Poets, and painters aye Haue had lyke charter to attempte all kynde of worke (you saye). I know, I craue this libertie, and geue the lyke also. But not that matters wilde, and mylds without reason should goo Blended as one, seynge Poets may, this leaue they do not fynde Serpents with byrds, Tyger with lambes to ioyne againste their kinde. To bigge beginnings, and vauntynge otte tymes a purple clowte Of words impertinente is brought, to helpe the matter oute:

When wooddes, Temples or riuers course which hastely doth gly de, When rushing Rhemus is descriude, or rayne bowes painted pride. Such babble (God wote) néeded not, but sum of that sorte be, There common place, and theame is still vpon the * 1.1 Cypresse trée. If that sum man would haue strange things, and geson geare depainted, Howcan he earne ought in such case that is with nowghte acquainted? "Let things be formall of one kinde and do not chop it vp "To make tone part a gallon potte, and tone a prittie cup. "The more deale of vs Poets, both the olde, and younge most parte, "Are ofte begylde by shewe of good, affectinge to muche arte. "I laboure to be verye breife, it makes me verye harde. "I followe flowinge easynes, my style is clearely marde "For lacke of pith and sauerye sence, Write loftie, thou shalte swell: "He créepes by the grounde to lowe, afrayde with stormie vayne to mell. "He that in varyinge one pointe muche would bringe forth monstruouse store, "Would make the dolphin dwell in wooddes and in the flud the bore. "The shunning of a faulte is such that now and then it will "Procure a greater faulte, if it be not eschewde by skill.

Our blacke smith Imus oftentimes in brasse will vndertake The nales and hayres of sundrie men righte conninglye to make. A much vnhappie workmanship which neuer cums to ende. If euer I should take in hande eyther to make or mende, Er I would do such parcell acts and nowght to full ende bringe, Erste would I weare a croked nose or in the same a ringe. Picke out such matter ye that wryte thats méetest for your strengthe. Trye well your backs, what theie wil beare, or what not beare at lengthe. He that hath chewsde his matter suche as he can well assayle, Nor ticklinge eloquence, nor him shall lightsum order fayle. This is of order, as I iudge the vertewe, and the grace, Sumtimes to speake, sumtyme to leaue, and passe bye for a space, That one might speake, and caste it of vntill a further tyme. Let him with choyse chewse, and refuse that would set forth a ryme. Thou must be suttle, and warye in placing of thy geare. By wittie composition its excellente to heare. A knowne worde straunged hansumlye. If we haue neade to shewe Newe wordes for things, which things them selues are now inuented new, Wordes neuer vsde of other men is beste for to deuise.

Licence is graunted if it be vsed in shamfaste wyse, And nouell words inuented late. shall better credit bringe, If sparinglye, not violentlie They sourde from gréekishe springe. The Romans to Cecilius, and Plautus leaue to faigne Why should they geue, and from Uirgil and Uarye it detaine T'inuente a fewe wordes if I can why should they so me hate? Since Ennius, and Catos toungue our mother toungue of late Inritchde, and brought vp nouell termes. it is, and euer shall Be lefull to geue kame to that, that hath no name at all. "As wooddes are made debayre of leaues by turnyng of the yeare, "The oldest fall: So antique age of words away do weare. As lusty youths of cresciue age doe florishe freshe and grow And crepe in creditt and conceit, whiche whilom were full lowe "And we, and ours are due to death. hauens, and creakes, the grounde "Nowe tamde with plough, which heretofore vnfruitfull hath bene founde, "Attempts of kings, which were deuisde for wealth of nations then "Shall perish all, and perish shall the facts of mortall men. "Much lesse of speaches longe can lyue the honour and the grace.

Ful manie a worde that now is dashd shall ryse gain in space. As these in space muste féele theire fal, if vse do lyke them ill, Who hath to iudge, autorish, reule, all maner speache at will. The facts, the seats of kings, and dukes and baylful battailes sad, What kynde of verse is beste for them In Homer maye be had. In rymes vneauen, at first complaints and after in that kynde Were written fansies dumpes, and all affections of the mynde. But who the prittie Elegies fyrst on their féete did set, Grammarians stryue, and that case is in controuersie yet. Rage armed fyrst Archilacus with his Iambus verse. Our commodies, and tragedies, in whiche we do reherse, For interchaung of talke right méete, which doth in sounding passe The noyse of crowde, to set forth things. that vearse inuented was. The Musies taughte in lyrike verse the Goddes, and theire of springe The warlike victor, and that horse, which pryce away did bringe, Amors of youth, and and banquets francke on instruments to sing, If I nor can, nor know to kepe an order due at all Ne coloure braue my writings, why, sholde they me Poet call?

Lewde that I am why do I shame to learne which I ne know? One maye not thinke things comicall in Tragike blasts to blowe. Phyestes feaste is ill set out with simple words and tame. Let all things haue theire comlye roume well fitted in the same, Sumtymes the commodye lookes vp and liftes her voyce with all. And crabbed Chremes for his thrifte with open mouth will brall. The tragicall doth sumtymes talke as meanelye as one can: Syr Teliphus, and Pelius, both pore, and exiles then Put out no puffes, nor thwackyng words words of to large assyce If by their words they meane to moue affects in any wyse. Not lore enough in Poesis, let them be swéetlye fynde, And let them leade to where them liste the hearers plyante mynde. "The cheares of men as these will smerke on those that vse to smyle: "So are theye wrinchd, when theye do wéepe and chaungd within a whyle. "If thou wouldste haue me wéepe for the firste muste thou pensyfe be. "Thy harmes shall hitte me, when I spy•…•… that they haue harmed the. If Teliphus or Pelius your words be out of place, Wyse men will sléepe, whiles theye are spoke and laughe at them apace

Sad wordes be set a sorye face thretynge the vysage grim For iokand, wanton, for the sage ryghte seriouse wordes be trim. Nature before the outward acte doth frame vs to eche hap By secret workinges of hir owne: In pleasures she doth lap, Or shoueth on the harte with ire, or presseth to the grounde. The vanquishd brest with dolors dinte, then shunninge to be bounde To inward passions of the minde, she powreth oute at longe The drirye drawghte of al her thoughtes with benefyt of tounge. If vnfyt for the personage the talke do ronne awrye, The nobles, and the prease therewith will strike vnto the skye. The page, or peare, whether doth speake It skilleth nothing more A freshe hote younker cocke braine, wylde, or old man, sage, and whore. A matrone ritche, or paynefull nurse, the marchaunte venturer, Or he that fewe good fassions knowes th'unciuill grounde tiller. The Colcus, or assyrian, at Thebes, or Arge vp broughte, If circumstaunces ye not markt the matter wilbe nought. Writer, of who so thou shall wryte speake, as the moste men say, Or if thou feyne, feyne then the things as truthlyke as you maye.

If thou wouldest set Achilles oute As other men haue done, Let him be swift, chasing, vnprayed, inflamde to vengaunce sone. Let him denie that lawes were made for him or any suche. Let him by weapon beare him stowte, and thereby chalange muche. Let Medea be ferse, on mowde, let Ino still be sad, Ixie trothlesse Io wandring, Orestes neuer glade. A straunge attemptate to the stage if that thou darst commit, And darste a personage vnséene, in nou ell mannor fitte: Marke well, wherwith thou didst begin, and vse the matter so That top, and tayle in lyke semblaunte, and tennor true may go. Much hard it is in proper talke to write a thing vnknowne. Better it is the Ilyads to stage ageine were drawne, Then that thou shouldest in practise put things knowne, nor hard before. A publique matter may be thought to cume from pryuate store, If that one do not treade out right, the trodden, vsed waye. Thou shalt haue no regarde at all word for word to oute lay. If thou wouldest turne things faythfullye and do not imitate So iumpingly, so precyselfe and step, for step so strayte,

That what for shame to wade on still or ells to ende the thinge As it began, thou canst not moue ne yet thy foote out bringe. Begin not as that Poet once that fowle mouthe Cyclike lowte Pryams fortune, and famous fightes, at full I will layt oute, What will our promiser tell vs for suche a gaping fitte, The Mountaines trauayle, we shall haue a mouse to laughe at it. How much more cicumspectlie he which nothing did a misse, How were his wits aduysed well when he inuented this. Set out my Muse to me the man Since Troye taken ({quod} he) VVhich did the manners of much men, and sundry Cytties see. Not smoke of flame, but flame of smoke he woulde haue to procede, And learne of him, if thou woldst make a poesie in déede. Not Antiphas, Scylla, Cycloppcs, Charibdis to displaye, Nor Dyamede from brothers death how that he came awaye. For writing of the Trioane warr and Gréekes fayre buskinde leggs, He doth not fetche his matter downe from Ladye Ledaes eggs, He hasteth on vnto the happes, the hearer hée doth drawe Into the thickst, & lets •…•…im tast, as he the whole did know.

The things that hée doth quyte dispayre, t'intreate to good effecte, To spare his laboure, and his words he doth it all reiect. So feyneth he, things true and false so alwayes mingleth he, That first with midst, and middst with laste, maye cotten, and agrée. What I and all require of the this for thy learning harke. If thou wouldest haue vs stand stocke still, and to the ende to marke, That when the Epilogue is done we may with franke intent, After the plaudite stryke vp our plausible assente: Of sortes, and ages thou must note the mannor and the guyse. A decensie for stirring youth, for elder folke likewise. The childe as he can speake and go * 1.2 furthewith is glad of play, Amongst his mates, and gathers hart to cuffe, and learnes to fraye: And this he hath peculiar he changeth without reason. No one thinge is, that can like him but for a very season. Unbearded youth, at last rid from * 1.3 the Tutors b•…•…g charge, Horse, hauke, or hownde, fla unt, & caroust•…•… into the fielde at large. Plyaunt as wax to any sinne most spytefull, and most fell, To those that séeke his proofit most by warning of him well.

A slacke prouyder for him selfe a squanderer of goold, Hawrie, hastye sone hote in loue, and sodanly as could. Mans state, and mynde doth turne that trade he ginnes to caste his eye * 1.4 To rytches, and acquayntaunce strayghte and hauks to be on hye. He takes good héede, not to commit through giddines of brayne The facte, which he for very shame must nedes vndo againe: Old men haue much encombrances * 1.5 the myser spendes his witte, In gettinge, and the gotten spares nor dares he spende of it. Couldlie, and toto tymerous his sentence he doth geue Prolonginge, hoping, past his woorke, desyerouse aye to lyne, Churlishe, wranglinge, a prayser of the tyme he lyued in. A solempe Censor, and chastner of euery younge mans sinne. As yeares do helpe vs mightely whilst we cum at a staye: So after they disuauntage vs, and breake vs to decaye. Leaste youth of age, and age of youth do saye, and play the parte To shape oute things accordyngly besetes a Poets arte. Matters be ei ther done on stage, or to ulde how they were done▪ The things reported to the eares moue not the myne so sone▪

As lyuely set before thyne eyes, in acte for to behold: Such actes as may be done within no reason is they shold Be shewed abroade: And many thinges thou maiste remoue from sighte, Which good, and ready eloquence may staight way bring to light. Medea may not openly her tender children slay, Nor wicked Atreus mens gutts in sethinge vessels play. Nor Progne turne into a bird, Nor Cadmus to a snake. I trust nothing thou shewes me so but in woorst parte it take. The play that would be sought after and often cum in place, Must haue fyue acts, nor more, nor lesse for therein is a grace▪ God must be none brought on the stage, but in such case and tyme, When mortall man, cannot reforme nor dignely plage the cryme. Enoughe for fower to speake in sight, And if the nede be suche That moe must talke, cut of the last and let them not speake much. Th•…•…autor the Chorus must defende or els some other one Whose innocensie, or manhode deserueh prayse alone. Let them not singe twixt act, and acte that squayreth from the rest. Such let their songs be, as will tune vnto the purpose best.

Let them leane euer to the good, and ioyne in verdict cleare, Rewle the vnrulie, and loue them which to offende they feare. Let them prayse homelie, simple cheare, and wholsume iustice prayse, Lawes, and safe rest with open gayts, and peace in all the wayes. Let them conceale things credited, to God oft let theim praye, That lucke may growe vnto the méeke, and to the prowde decay. The shawme was not as it is nowe with copper wrythed in In trumpet wyse but small it was, few breathinge holes, and thin. Fit for a Chorus and as yet the boystus sounde, and shryll, Of trumpetes clange, the stalles was not accostomed to fill. Came thether folke sone numbred, for why, the crowde was small A thriftie flocke, a shamefast flocke, and therto chast withall. But when by conquest they began theire borders to extende, And brode their walls abowte the towne for pompe were made to bende, And when that men had felte a swete in daylye bellie cheare, So banquetinge eche hollyday without remorce or feare, Theire musicke, and their melodye increased more and more. The hobbes as wise as grauist men, rid from their trauaile sore,

The moste vntowarde and vntaught, most contemptible clowne, As perte as pye dothe presse amongst the wysest of the Towne. So, motions and wantonnes, vnto his former art The minstrell addes, as hoyting he as any of his part. Then with the twanginge instrumente the singers voyce did matche, And that did nouell Eloquence, and loftie speaches hatche. A solemne speake mete for great things, which knoweth after clappes: A speach wherin the Delphique Phaebe might tell men of their happs. He that stroue first in Tragicke verse, but for a sillie gote, Set out Satyrs incontinente, things rustical (god wote.) With wholsom bitter grauitye he proued to make sport, With allurements, and newe conceyts, to please a doltishe sort, A sort past grace, and dronken to, vnrewlie, rude and rashe. We may not so prayse Satyrists, which sumtymes for a crashe, Make many mery with their taunts, and geue theim leaue to play, So that both godds, and noblemen in splendent vestures gay, Sham not their garmēts, & them selues with common ale house talke. The Tragedie muste shun the grounde, yet not in welking walke,

And retche to hye, thoughe to prattell of peltinge bables small, Is not of nature Tragical, nor fit for it at all. The matrone blusheth, that is bod to daunce in open day, So sober Satyrists must be amiddste their frollicke play. To those that only loue the rewde, and signifyinge worde In Satyrs, I a Satyriste Pisoes do not accorde, Nor will not so confounde my termes, that difference none be, Twixt Dauus, and bould Pythyas▪ The shrew, the damsell, she Who could cosen olde Simo fyre and at hishands coulde gayne, A tallant by collusion, and sleight ligerdemayne. The rurall Gods must haue their speache if they do speake in prese. I would indyte familiarlie and vtter with myne ease, That eche man may assure him selfe, to do the like agayne, But when he shall attemptate geue▪ he shall but sweat in vayne. Order, and composition, so in them selues excell. And meane matter cleanly set out deserueth prayse so well. The rurall goddes (if I can iudge) must looke in any case That they speake not lyke ciuill folkes, brought vp in peopled place.

Theire rymes maye not to gamesum be, of rybawdrye to ry fe, Or slaunderouse: for vnto sum it brings offence and stryfe. The noble, honorable, rytche, and also most of those Which ought can do, will snuffe, and take it peper in their nose. What Tom, and Tib do rectefie, what lykes the carter clowne, The wyse men take not in good parte, nor couer it wyth crowne. The foote of Syllabs shorte, and long * 1.6 Iambus hath to name. A muche swift foote, and trymeter (the verse which of the same, Consists) is cawld, with six wight féete it spéedelie doth strike. The first and last as all the rest in pure verse are a lyke. That more slowlie, and more grauelye, it might cume to our eares, It now the stade Spondeus foote within it quyet beares. In the fourth Roume and seconde roume Iambus still hath bene. In Ennius or Accius, Spondie is seldom séene. Bugge verses which cum to the stage with waight of wordes alone Louslie layd out, to sone suruayd, hauinge of science none. A learned iudge wil passe on them as giltye of great cryme. What thoughe sum iudges can not marke the iarringe of a ryme.

And what thoughe Romains Poets to an ample charter haue? should I goe wryte at Randonne tho, and vage abroade, and raue? Or should I thincke my faltes would be subiecte to all mens sight? Within the hope of pardon, I employed haue my mighte To scape from scapes, and them to shun by all possible wayes: Wyth all my hart I do confesse I neuer erned prayse. The presidentes of greake wryters to know, and vnderstand, Reede them, and turne them day and nighte with neuer ceasing hand. Our forefathers, which Plautus rymes, and tothesume swéetned vayne, With lodes of commendations did prayse, and prayse againe: It was in them greate patience, follye I will not say, So to admire his verse, or vayne, nether is veray gaye. If I▪ or you the taunting grace can iudge from scurrill gere, Or can measure the lawe of sounde by fingering, or by eare. Thespis to fynde out Tragidies bestowed firste the paynes, And led about his players, and his playing stuffe in waynes. Sonnets to singe, and things to speake in that vnparfit case, The personages were disgysde by smering of theire face.

Next him of vise•…•…des, and attyre was founder Eschilus. How that the stage adornde should be he firste instructed vs. To excercyse lowde speakinge, and to couche alofte our voyce, To teache all kynde of iesturyngs with cumlines, and choyse. Nexte came the antique commodie and she wun all the prayse. Hyr licence hath made dissolute and lawlesse now a dayes. But stayed was, and whiste she was whishde to her vtter shame, Because gone was hyr priueledge so bitterly to blame. Our Poets lefte nought vn assayde, and they not worship leaste Deserued haue, who of them selues aduenterously haue c•…•…asde Further to trade in gréekishe steppes: and bouldlye starte vp then The iollie iestes of natyue land in natyue toungue to pen. As Italie in Chiualris, and manhood doth excell: So ere this time in perfitte speach it mighte haue borne the bell, But that our lither Poets all of one disease are sicke: Theye cannot stay to scum theire stuffe, nor lumpishe trauaile licke. You Pisoes (blood of Pompelie) those verses reprehende, Whiche longe deliberation and rasinge did not mende

And hath not ten tymes bettered, and on the fingers scande, Correcting, and perfyting them with ouernotynge hande. Because Democrites iudgd art to be more basse then witte, Therefore those drummidories séek•…•… so sleightlie after it. And for because from Helicon the same man did exclude All those, whiche were not straught of sence: those lurdons are so lude To let theire berde, and nayles growe out to shun the open bayne, Of hills, and dales, and secret steades he feanes him to be fayne Thoughe all the pothigaries stuffe can scarcely purge his nowle He thinckes hym wyse, his solempne bushe because no man doth powle. O dottrell I, I might or this haue written noble geare But that from collor, I am purgd at springe tyme euery yeare. "It matters not, I am therefore a whetstone in my wit, "Which can cause Irne and style to cut ne cut it selfe a whit. "I will teach others how to do, the paynes I will not take. I will tell them how to be ritche, what dyet, what will make A Poet good, what doth becom, and what vnsetting is. To what virtew will vs conducte, and erroure leade amis.

Of righte writinge dame wysedome is the fountayne, and the well, As do the bookes Socraticall purposedlye the tell And wordes will cum vpon the faste at elbowe waytyng due If that the matter in the mynde thou wilte before suruew. He that hath learnde, what he doth owe vnto his countrie deare, Unto his parentes, brothers, frinds, what duetie he doth beare: What doth concerne the Senatour what doth the iudge behoue: What doth become the chifetan beste to set vpon and moue: Him dare I warraunte of my worde that he can tell, or none, What properlye is incidente to persons euerychone. The learned imitatour, I do wishe that he should caste An eye into the lyfe of men and practyses now paste, That he maye to the verye quicke his lyuelie phraises lay Sumtimes an honest merye tayle (lasciuiousnes away) Delytes, and stayes the people more, then do a thousande rymes Deuoide of matter, shrill trifles and waterde well with crimes. The muse gaue wit to Gréekes, to Gréekes a trowlinge tounge she gaue: Who onely glorie, and renowne were couetouse to haue.

The Romans now do teach theyr sonnes no other kynde of artes, But all day longe do set and part, a sum into his partes. Learne them to multiplye an ounce by ounce and manie ounces, So that this thing to multiplie still in theire mynde reiounses. And nu•…•…led once in casting counts and care to multiplye When to cancard coyne castynge once, theire wittes theye do applye, How can we thincke that they can make or that theire verse should be Worthie in Ceder to be writ or kepte in Cypres trée. "The Poets séeke to proffit the, or please thy fansie well, "Or at one time things of proffit and pleasaunce both to tell. "In all thy preceptes be thou briefe that learners quicklye maie Conceiue thy words, and that the same in faithfull mynde to staye. What s'euer is superfluose, to muche, and oftens tould, Doth fill the hearer paste the brim that long he cannot hould. "The things thats fainde for pleasure sake be nexte to true in place. No commodie can hope to haue all credit in eche case. To bringe in as a trim deuise an ould wyfes chat, or tale Of wiches buggs, and hobgoblings, such trashe is noughte to sayle.

Unprofitable Poesies, the sage sorte will not heare And austere woorkes, the youthfull sorte will ouerlooke them cleare. "He beares the bell in all respects who good with swéete doth minge: "Who can in delectable style good counsaile with him bring. His bookes the stationers will bye, beyonte Sea it will goe, And will conserue the authors name a thowsand yeare, and mo. Yet certayne Peccadilians which scape yea in the beste, Are to be borne the better with by reason of the reste. For not the lute string alwayes strikes, as hande, and minde would haue. It will sounde base, and lowe when we an highe lowde stroke woulde haue. Nor yet the bowe dothe euer hitte the thinge which it doth threate. If that the more deale of the worke be bewtifull and neate, A fewe scapes shall not greue me muche, with negligence let lye, Or which because that we are men muste now and then passe bye: What then? he that compyles a worke, and warned doth offende In one thinge ofte, is perdonles if that he dothe not mende. As maye that minstrell well be mockd, and woorthelie I wisse, Which euer of the selfe same stringe dothe vse to stryke amisse.

So he which ofte is ouerséene is Cherilus to me, Whome writynge two or three good rimes I maruaile at with glée. Yet am righte wrothe that any good should cum from such a sotte. Good Homer now and then him •…•…elfe will slumber well I wotte. If that our woorke be longe and hug•…•… so harde it is to kepe Our selues wakinge, it is dispens•…•… if sumtymes we do sléepe. "A Poesie is picture lyke, the which if thou stande nere, "Delytes the muche: sum picture mor•…•… if further of thou were. This hathe a better grace in darke, and this in open day, The scanning skill of viewinge iudge can it no whit afraye. This Poesie hath had his tyme it was well liked once, An other hath bene lykd ten tymes, An, A per se for nonce. (O eldeste of thy bretherne all) althoughe with fathers voyce Thou arte well taughte, and of thy selfe thou haste a sauerie choyse. Yet take this sainge of my mouthe and take it with the cleane. Sum thing there is, which will admit a tollerable meane, Th' attorney and the counsaloure thoughe theye be meane in plea Unlyke to them which at the barre and benche do beare the swea.

Natheles in estimation theye both haue bene, and are. And many a man for theire aduyce will séeke to them from farre. But that meane Poets were the beste that neuer graunted yet Or God, or man or monuments or euidence of writte. Ill sawses, or ill melodie when we do suppe, or dyne Is little worthe, for those aparte, the feaste mighte haue bene fyne: So Poemes first deuisde, to sporte, and recreate the mynde Are beste, or worste by standinge in or qualynge from theire kynde. He dare not turney, nor yet tilte which neuer knew the play: The stoole ball, top, or camping ball if suche one should assaye As hath no mannour skill therin, Amongste a mightye croude, Theye all would scréeke vnto the skye and laughe at hym aloude. Yet he that knows no foote in verse will bouldly versefy. What els? he is a gentleman, ten thowsande francklins lye By him to spende, and besydes that so woorshipfull a man: Such qualityes, and of greate cryme no man conuicte hym can. Yea, gentle men are goodlye men, what so theye will, they maye: But Piso, againste nature thou shalte nothing doe, or say.

For so thy selfe art mynded to: But if in after time Thou shalt haue great affection to publishe any ryme, Let it be first examined, by Metius his eare, And by thy fathers, and by myne: kept cloase a nyne longe yere. The scrowles which be at home with the at leasure thow mayst mende. The faltes thats passed once in print, are passed without ende. The holly one greate Orpbeus the goddes enterpreter, The saluage folke from beastlyke life, and murder dyd deter: So sayd the Tygers to aswage and Lyons rampinge power. So was it sayd of Amphion founder of Theban tower, With twang of harp to stir the stones, with orisons deuyne To leade th'unwylde creatures to where he would assyne. This was the wisedome in those dayes, this counted they their gaine, To part thinges publique from priuate and sacred from prophaine. For to inhibit wandring lustes and wedlocke knot to tye, Lawes to ingrale in during brasse, and reare vp townes on hye. So got the godlike poets first their honoure, and their name, And for their verses al the world did celibrate their fame.

Then started noble Homer vp, and Tyrtheus with verse Did make the lustie youthfull bruits to battel fresh, and fearse. By verses were mens fortunes tolde and rewles to lyue aright, And princes fauoures were procurde by verse, and ryming sleighte, "Uerse is a solace, after worke, a chase for noble game, "And perdie man to versifie it nede be thoughte no shame. "For madam muse could tune the harpe, Appollo knew the same. If verse prayse worthie written were by nature or by arte, Demaunde hath bene, but I am thus resolued for my parte, "That neyther studie can do good without a welthie witt, "Nor yet the witt not well applied can proffit one a white, "So witte, and, studie lincked are, so doth the one requyre "The others helpe, so louengly in one they do conspyre. He that doth studie to cum to the marke, which all men would, Hath sufferde, and done muche in youthe oft sweating, and oft coulde, Refrainde from wyne and Uenery. The minstrel that doth singe. Was taught, and fearde his master firste er he profest the thinge. Now its enoughe to say, that I can passing poemes make,

Since eche man bragges, the lagge of vs A shendefull shame him take. I thincke it shame to cum behynde, to graunt I do not shame, In that which I was neuer tawghte me skillesse in the same. The Cryer, as he cawles in on the companye to bye In portesaile of his marchaundise as they do thether hye: So doth the poet, ritche in lande, and ritche in banqued goulde, Assemble al his parasyts to heare his prayses toulde. If that a poet vsuallie mantayneth lusty cheare, And wilbe suretie for pore knaues in suites them to vy beare, I maruaile if that his fortune and goodlucke should be such To know false flatterers, from true frends, theire faces wilbe such. If thou hast geuen any ought, or further dost intende Beware to any merrie gréeke thy verses to commende. He wil crye wel, notablye well, passing, exceding well, He will waxe pale from frendly eyes his teares he will expell. Daunce, and bedunche the grounde with fote as those which hyred be To waile, and morne at funeralls (as far furth as wée sée) Both do, and speake more heuily and rufull in their kinde, Then those which inwardly with griefe, are gryped in their minde.

So be the iesters gesterings and glosinge wordes, aboue The prayses of the well meaninge, who doubtles do the loue. "Great princes vse to make muche of, to feast, and feast agayne, "With strong, and heady drinkes t'assay what was the wit and brayne, "Of those to whom theire amitye they ment for to admit. "To proue how they for grande affayres and trusty things are fit. If thou professe a poetrie be not deceyued, bewayre, And shun the flyring feasting face which outwarde lookes so fayre. If one vnto Quintilius, did any thing reherse, Frend (would he saye) you must correct both such, and such a verse. If he replye, that he ne knew better to make the same He would assaye yet twyse or thryse and bid him mende, from shame, To lay his rude ill turned stuffe againe into the frame. If thou hadst rather to defend then to amend thy misse Thou shoulde neuer haue conference, nor counsaile more of his, Thou mightst march on in thyne owne wayes without his further suit, And hugge, and, busse, and cull, and cusse thy darling apishe fruite Th'vnsauerie verse the goodman, and the wise will reprehend,

Blame those diffuse, and obscure rymes, which to no good can tende. Bald lattin he will note and marke, with scraping of their thum, And ornaments superfluouse from better chaffer scum. He must make manifeste darke drifts, and argue at thinges straunge, He must lyke Aristarchus tel what eche one ought to chaunge. And thinke not much his very frende in trifles to offende. "These tryfles wil proue earnest things, and seriouse in the ende. When al the worlde shal them deryde and greuously theym grudge And when al shal withe auckwarde doume and sinister them iudge. To those which haue the fawling euil and lothely leprosye, That be frantike and moone sicke, none dare bouldly passe hym bye: All men do feare the poet mad, the wise sort wil him shun, Younge boyes him vex, the foolish flocke wil do as he hath done. He that dothe belch out puffinge rymes, and gaddingly doth straye, Is like the fowler, who to catche his birdes, as olde men say, Gaue backe for nonce, into a trenche, and thoughe a prease past by, And thoughe with rope to haile him out were present helpe hard by: What if the fellowe, sayeth one, went in with his good wil?

Through this and such the sillie segge lay •…•…lasde in puddle still. To know how vyle, vaine glory is, how perillous a thinge, Empodocles of Sicilie to what ende it did brin ge Tell you will I: of immortall to purchase him the n ame, For vaine glory he scipped quicke to Etnaes fyerye flame. In good time poets, if they will, may make them selues awaye, And who so letteth such an one▪ as rightly might one slaye, May happes he hath assayde before how to procure his bayne, May happes if he were nowe fore stayd•…•… his staing were in vaine. Still would he be besides him selfe nor would not lay a syde The fancie towardes famouse death wherin he had a pride. And no man knowes, what cause he had to write such frantike gere How irreligiouse he hath bene deuoyde of godly feare, But mad hee is, and like a beare most ragingly he straynes, And if he could with al his force dispatche him of his chaynes. Learnd, and vnlearnd he woulde confounde, he redeth them so fearse, And doth theire workes so snapingly, and snatchingly rehearse. Whom he hath seased, on, he houldes and doth with reading kil, The horseleach will not leaue the hyde but hauing suckt her fil

Notes

• * 1.1

  This pro∣uerbe grevv vpon a badd painter, that could paint nothinge but the Cypresse •…•…ree.
• * 1.2

  Childhoode
• * 1.3

  Youthe
• * 1.4

  Manhoode
• * 1.5

  Age
• * 1.6

  Iambus a foot of ii silla bles vvhereof the first is short the se∣cond longe.