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 LXXXIV. ADVERTISEMENT.

Apollo having by a new Edict inhibited Poets to make use of any fabulous Creature in their verses, at the fer∣vent intreaties of the Poets, his Majesty revokes the said Edict.

FOur days since, the Urban Pretor of Pernassus, publisht an Edict in the usual places by sound of Trumpet, and by order from Apollo, that his Majesty being resolved by no means to tolerate that men who should speak nothing but Truths, should invent falshoods, and having heard that Poets in their writings had mentioned Tritons, Basilisks, U∣nicorns, Sirens, Hypogriffiks, Phenixes, Sphinxces, Centaurs, and o∣ther Animals, as realities, being creatures which mother Nature did never create, and that many mischiefs arose from the publishing of such things; understanding particularly that many notorious cheaters sold the Unicorns horn at great rates to simple people, and the other afore∣said things, did by that his Decree declare the aforesaid creatures and other things to be express lyes, meer fables, and Poetical fictions. That therefore his pleasure was that Poets should for the future forbear com∣mitting any such disorders, and that they should make use of nothing in their verses, save what was really produced by nature, upon pain of being banisht Pernassus. The capricious Poets were scandalized at this news, wherefore they assembled themselves suddainly together in their Academy, where by common consent they chose San∣nezzarro for their spokesman to request the revocation of that Edict which was so prejudicial to their Poetry. Sanezzarro presented himself forthwith before the Pretor, complaining bitterly, that in an Age which did so abound in lyes the vertuous inventions of Poets should onely be forbidden, a thing the more worthy consideration, for that by exempting the invention of all fabulous things from their Poems, the very soul thereof was taken away. And that the Poets, who had always been obedient to all his Majesties commands, would wil∣lingly submit to the rigor of this Edict, if it were made universal. That it was very well known that infinite things, yea which much commen∣deed Encomiums, were named for truths by both the meanest, and best Literati of Pernassus, which were no where to be found; and that it would be as acceptable as useful to declare them to be false. The Pre∣tor wisht Sanezzarro freely to name those things, which were with ad∣miration named for truths in Pernassus, and yet were false; for Apollo who was no respecter of persons, would assuredly make them be put in∣to the same Edict. Then said Sanezzarro, uninteressed men, people who love the publike good better then their own private affairs, Offi∣cers who are not slaves to their passions, Princes who are not ambitious of coveting what belongs to other men, are publikely said to live by thousands and thousands in the world, and yet it is better known to A∣pollo

then to any other, whether any such Phenixes be to be found in Egypt, Arabia, or in any other part of the Earth; that therefore if his Majesty would insert these Chimera's into his Edict, and make the Law general, Poets would have no just cause of complaint. This being said, the Pretor went presently to Apollo, and acquainted him with Sanezzarro's desire; who did so much wonder at the request made by Sanezzarro, as he said these very words to the Pretor. Now I per∣ceive the Poets have reason for their complaint, and that my Edict is not universal, therefore revoke it without more ado: for I will rather take the shame upon my self, to let my Literati know, that I was inconsi∣derate in the publication of this Edict, then shame all mankind by ma∣king it know that men absolutely uninteressed are meerly fa∣bulous.