Of Eloquence, art, and speculation.
MAny do seem to admire those writings, whose stiles are eloquent and through ignorance takes it for eloquence, commending the method, instead of the matter, the words in∣stead of the sense, the paint instead of the face; the garb instead of the person, but hard and unusual phrases, are like a constraint be∣haviour, it hath a set countenance, treads nicely, taking short steps, and carries the body so stiffe, and upright, as it seemes difficult, and uneasy: like those that think it a part of good breeding to eat their meat by rule, and measure; opening the mouth at a just, and certain widenesse; grinding the meat betwixt their teeth, like a Clock with so many strokes as make an hour, so many bits makes a swallow; so likewise if the little finger be not bowed short, and by degrees all their fingers to be joynted un∣till the fore-finger, and the thumb, meets in a round circle, they think al other vulgarly bred. But nature is easy: and art hard, and what resembles nature nearest, is most to the life: and what is most to the life, is best; but art belongs more to the Mecha∣nicks, and Pesants, then to the noble and free, and all arts be∣long more to actions then speculations; and though speculations be nothing until it be put into practise, yet the best actions come from the clearest speculations, for speculations are like the king, to command and rule, practise the slave, to obey, and work, but there are more arts, and inventions gotten by chance, and practise, then meerly by ingenuity of brain.