The mysteries of love & eloquence, or, The arts of wooing and complementing as they are manag'd in the Spring Garden, Hide Park, the New Exchange, and other eminent places : a work in which is drawn to the life the deportments of the most accomplisht persons, the mode of their courtly entertainments, treatments of their ladies at balls, their accustom'd sports, drolls and fancies, the witchcrafts of their perswasive language in their approaches, or other more secret dispatches ...

CAP. 19. The second example of Method by example of Poets, Orators, Historiographers.

Q. But is method only set forth in matter of the arts and do∣ctrine?

A. No, it is also declared in all things which we would teach easily and plainly. Therefore Poets, Orators, and all manner of writers, as often as they propose any thing to teach to their auditors, do follow this way; although they do not enter and insist upon it all alike.

Q. Give an example out of some Poet?

Virgil in his Georgicks distributeth, as I said before, the proposed matter into four parts; and in the first book follow∣eth common things: as Astrology, Meteorology, and of Corn and Tillage; this was the first part of his work. Then the transcition is adhibited in the beginning of the second book.

Thus far of tillage and of stars were we; Now of the Bacchus we'll sing presently.

Then he writeth generally of trees, as also specially of plants; the second transcition is adhibited to the third part, but

more imperfect and without an Epilogue. In the beginning of the third book of Oxen, Horses, Sheep, Goats, Dogs.

We'l sing of Goddess Pales, all's of him, Who by Amphryso kept his sheep most trim.

At length in the beginning of the fourth book, there is the third transcition of the fourth part; but also imperfect from the only preposition of their Bees.

Now of their eyre honey Bee I'le speak.

So therefore the Poet studieth to place the most general first, the subalternate middle, the most special in the last place.

Q. Give another poetical example?

A. Ovid. in Fast. Useth this kinde of disposition, propo∣sing in the beginning the sum of his work.

I'le sing of times that pass throughout the year, Fall of the stars, and rising I'le declare.

By and by having made imploration, he determineth the partition of the year made first by Romulus into ten months, which he reprehendeth.

When as Romes builder did the year divide, In it he made five moneths, and five beside.

And a little after he adjoyneth Numa his more full devisor.

But Numa neither Janus did omit, Nor yet the ancient shadows out did put: But to th'old moneths two more appointed be.

Here the Poet having interpreted the common differences of Holy-dayes, Working-dayes, Banquet-days, Kalends, Nones, Ides; at the last he followeth every moneth in his place, and with a preface after this order he passeth from generals to the study of specials.

I th' what I have you shewed what things be, It now remains, we part them presently.

At length after the exposition of every part, the transci∣tion is joyned as in the end of the first, and beginning of the second book.

The first part of my task is ended now, The moneth is done my little book also: Junus is done, another moneth beginneth? Another book now with that moneth reneweth;

And in every one of his books after the transcitions are adhibited, but less accurately.

Q. How do the Orators follow this method?

A. The Orators in Poems, Narrations, Confirmations, Perorations do follow this order, as the nature both of the art, and the order of the thing do require, and sometimes more studiously too.

Q. Give example?

A. Cicero in an accusation first by propounding, then by parting, followeth this order. Questor Cu. paxeris, saith he, thou hast been Consul unto this time fourteen years, and from that day unto this day in which thou hast made me, I call thee un∣to judgement; there was no void hour found in robbery, wickedness, cruelty, iniquity. This is the proposition and defi∣nition of the chief matter, as in this judgement most gener∣ral. The partition followeth: These are the years consumed in the questorship, and a Sciatican embassage, and the Urban pretorship, and in the Sicilian pretorship: wherefore this shall be the fourfold disposition of my accusation; which four parts with their particular partitions he hath also handl∣ed in their several order and place, and coupled them with transcitions; the three first in the third book. Wherefore (saith he) his questorship being shewed, and his first magistracy, together with his theft and wickedness looked unto, let us attend to the rest. Then having expounded the faults of his embassadorship, the transcition to his pretorship, followeth. But let us now come to that famous pretorship, and those faults which were more known to those which were present, then to us who come meditated and prepared to pleading. This trans∣cition is more imperfect without an epilogue: at length in the beginning of the fourth oration, there is the like trans∣cition to the fourth part of the Sicilian pretorship. Many ne∣cessary things, O Judges, I must pretermit, that I may in some manner speak of those things which are commited to my trust, for I have received the cause of Sicilia, that province hath drawn me unto this business.

Q. Give an example ott of some Historiographer?

A. Livy doth so embrace the sum of seventy years in the beginning, then divideth them by tens.