The sanctuarie of saluation, helmet of health, and mirrour of modestie and good maners wherein is contained an exhortation vnto the institution of Christian, vertuous, honest, and laudable life, very behoouefull, holsome and fruitfull both to highest and lowest degrees of men ... / written in Latin verie learnedly and elegantlie by Leuinus Lemnius of Zirizaa, physitian, and Englished by H.K. for the common commoditie and comfort of them which understand not the Latine tongue ...

The office and duetie of a Poet, and what profit studious youth and men also of good yeares may reape by reading of Poets.

CHAP. 14.

HOw perfectly and exactly a Poet, being ve∣ry like to an Orator, teacheth, ordereth, and enformeth children in such speech and be∣hauiour as is most decent and conuenient (for which cause he is accounted to bee the master of liberall artes and comely conuersation) Ho∣race dooth properly shew in elegant verse,

The tender maffling mouth of childe the Poet formeth well, From talke wherewith minde is de••ilde his cares he dooth repell,

And straight his heart he brings in frame with louely lessons so, From wrath and rancour to refraine, and enuie to let go, Of deedes well don he makes report, each time how men should knowe Examples giues, and great comfort to poore and sick dooth showe.

The Poet also dooth inculcate into the minde of young and tender age certaine other profitable precepts, not seuerely, not threat∣ningly, not imperiously, least they should bee discouraged, and leaue of so good a purpose: but handleth & entreateth them gently, mildly sweetely, pleasantly, and with such moderation and cunning skill, as hostlers and horsebrea∣kers doo with gentle stroaking and clapping, and noyse made with their mouth, accustome noble and stout stomacked horses to praunce and leape vp, and with cunning nimblenesse of their feete To bounce so brauely on the ground with swift, stout, lofty pase. Moreouer these pleasant delights and recreations of studies do not onely stir vp, animate, & quicken the hue∣linesse of the spirit and power of the minde in young men & striplings, but they are also cō∣modious, & profitable to mē of greater age, whensoeuer they may haue conuenient lea∣sure from troublesome businesses, and encum∣brances of the common wealth, and weightie

and earnest affayres of ciuil policie. Theoph•…•…∣stus and likewise Cicero and Fabius do affir•• that the generation of Poets is of great anti∣quitie and very auncient, and much commen∣ded of the olde world. For it is certaine and well knowen, that by them the barbarous, straying, and sauage people wandring here & there like wilde beasts, were drawen together, and brought to ciuill societie of life, as Ho∣race hath expressed in prety pleasant verse,

The sacred Poet Orpheus the Gods interpreter The sauage people did restraine frō barbarique murther And filthy feeding, for which cause the Tigres he to ta•…•… And Lions rage to mitigate, is sayd with lasting fame. Amphion foūder of the Towres of thebes with soūd of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Reported is to moue the rocks, with sweet intreating su••e To lead thē as he list. This was in old time wisdom plaine The publique things from priuate goods, the sacred from prophane Discerning right to separate: giue God & men their own, The bed defiled to forbid, let nuptial lawes be knowne. Towns & Cities great to build, and graue good lawes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 wood. Such fame and name haue Poets diuine, their works are thought so good.

Notes

• The intent and pur∣pose and practist of a Poet.
• Lib. 2. Epis. ad August∣um.
• A Poet is a perfect in∣former of maners.
• Virgil. Georg. 3.
• Poetrie is the most ancient of artes.
• Lib. 10. c. 1.
• In art. Poet.
• The excel∣lent praise of a Poet.