I ragguagli di Parnasso, or, Advertisements from Parnassus in two centuries : with the politick touch-stone / written originally in Italian by that famous Roman Trajano Bocalini ; and now put into English by the Right Honourable Henry, Earl of Monmouth.

The XXVIII. ADVERTISEMENT.

Torquato Tasso presents Apollo with his Poem of Giurusa∣lemme Liberata, or Godfrey of Bullen, For which Lo∣dovico Castelvetro, and Aristotle, are severely repre∣hended by his Majestie.

TOrquato Tasso, two daies after his admittance into Parnassus, present∣ed his learned and elegant Poem of Giurusalemme Liberata before A∣pollos feet, and desired that if it should be thought worthy, it might by his Majestie, be consecrated to immortality. Apollo gratiously received the Poem, and according to the ancient custom of this Court, gave it to the Reformer of the Library (who at this present is Lodovico Castelvetro) that it might be renewed. After two months space, Tasso applyed him∣self to Castelvetro, who told him, that having diligently perused his Poem, he found not that he had therein observed the Rules of Poetry, published by Aristotle: That therefore he did not think it fit to be placed amongst the publick Writers of the Delfick Library, wherefore he might do well to amend those errors, and then return to him, and he would again renew it.

Tasso was much astonished at this unexpected answer; wherefore be∣ing incenst, he forthwith went to Apollo, and told him, that with much labour, and infinite pains-taking, he had composed the aforesaid Poem, in the weaving whereof, he had only observed the Talent which Nature had given him, and which his Caliope had inspired into him: Wherein he thought he had fulfilled all the duties of Poetry, and that his Majestie having prescribed no Laws thereunto, he knew not with what authority Aristotle had published any rules to be observed in it: And that he ne∣ver

having heard that there was any other Lord in Parnassus, but his Ma∣jestie his fault in not having observed Aristotles Rules, was an error of ig∣norance, and not of any malice. By these words of Tasso, Apollo was as highly offended against Aristotle, as Princes use to be when their Au∣thority is intrench upon; in so much as he forthwith commanded the Guard of German Poets to bring that bold Philosopher bound un∣to him; which they did. Apollo with an incenst countenance, and irri∣tated voice, asked Aristotle, whether he had been so shamefully impudent, as to dare to prescribe Laws, and publish Rules to be observed, to the high conceptions of the Vertuosi, in whom he had alwaies been pleased that there should be an absolute liberty of writing and inventing. For the lively wits of his Literati being loose from any tie of rule, and free from the chains of precepts, did greatly to his contentment, every day, enrich the Schools and Libraries with gallant Composures, woven with new and curious inventions; and that to make the wits of conceited Poets, subject to the bondage of Law and Rules, was to infringe the Grandezza, and to take from the alluring delights of their products, and greatly to inslave the wits of learned men, who when they handled their pen with wonted and unbridled liberty, they divulged such writings, as by reason of their novelty and elegancy, did not only afford delight to him and his beloved Muses, but even admiration; as was evidently seen in the Advertisements of a Modern, Menante, wherein under Metaphors and jesting Tales (a new invention) important politick affairs, and choice mo∣ral precepts, were couched. And that the Poem of his beloved Tasso, being received by the general good applause of all the world, it did evi∣dently appear, that he had punctually observed all the rules of exquisite Poetry that could be prescribed. Poor Aristotle trembled at the hear∣ing of these words, and humbly beseeched his Majestie that he would com∣miserate his old age, and that such a Philosopher as he, might not suffer for anothers ignorance, saying, that he had writ the rules of Poetry, not in that sence in which it was afterwards understood by the ignorant, as if without observing his rules and precepts, no Poem could possibly arive at perfection; but that only to facilitate the Art of Poetry, he had shewed the way wherein the best Poets had walked: That the only fault which he had committed, and for which he humbly craved his Majesties pardon, was, that having found long before, that the ignorant took those his ob∣servations for Laws, and peremptory precepts, blinded with that ambi∣tion which robs all men of their eye sight; for that that error had en∣creased his honour and reputation, he had given his Majestie thereby so high a displeasure: And that he confest that the brains of high strained Poets might write Poems so absolutely perfect, as they might serve o∣thers for Rules and Laws to be observed, without keeping his Laws and precepts: And that the truth of this that he had said was clearly proved by the Politicks which he had published, which in comparison to the mad∣ly wrested Reason of State which was now practised by many, was meer foppery.