°®°®Ð¡ËµÍø > ÆäËûµç×ÓÊé > a defence of poesie and poems >

µÚ9ÕÂ

a defence of poesie and poems-µÚ9ÕÂ

С˵£º a defence of poesie and poems ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ3500×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡



s¡¡banishment¡¡grew¡¡not¡¡for¡¡effeminate¡¡wantonness£»¡¡since¡¡little¡¡should¡¡poetical¡¡sonnets¡¡be¡¡hurtful£»¡¡when¡¡a¡¡man¡¡might¡¡have¡¡what¡¡woman¡¡he¡¡listed¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡I¡¡honour¡¡philosophical¡¡instructions£»¡¡and¡¡bless¡¡the¡¡wits¡¡which¡¡bred¡¡them£»¡¡so¡¡as¡¡they¡¡be¡¡not¡¡abused£»¡¡which¡¡is¡¡likewise¡¡stretched¡¡to¡¡poetry¡£¡¡¡¡Saint¡¡Paul¡¡himself¡¡sets¡¡a¡¡watchword¡¡upon¡¡philosophy£»¡¡indeed¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡abuse¡£¡¡¡¡So¡¡doth¡¡Plato¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡abuse£»¡¡not¡¡upon¡¡poetry¡£¡¡¡¡Plato¡¡found¡¡fault¡¡that¡¡the¡¡poets¡¡of¡¡his¡¡time¡¡filled¡¡the¡¡world¡¡with¡¡wrong¡¡opinions¡¡of¡¡the¡¡gods£»¡¡making¡¡light¡¡tales¡¡of¡¡that¡¡unspotted¡¡essence£»¡¡and¡¡therefore¡¡would¡¡not¡¡have¡¡the¡¡youth¡¡depraved¡¡with¡¡such¡¡opinions¡£¡¡¡¡Herein¡¡may¡¡much¡¡be¡¡said£»¡¡let¡¡this¡¡suffice£º¡¡¡¡the¡¡poets¡¡did¡¡not¡¡induce¡¡such¡¡opinions£»¡¡but¡¡did¡¡imitate¡¡those¡¡opinions¡¡already¡¡induced¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡all¡¡the¡¡Greek¡¡stories¡¡can¡¡well¡¡testify¡¡that¡¡the¡¡very¡¡religion¡¡of¡¡that¡¡time¡¡stood¡¡upon¡¡many¡¡and¡¡many¡­fashioned¡¡gods£»¡¡not¡¡taught¡¡so¡¡by¡¡poets£»¡¡but¡¡followed¡¡according¡¡to¡¡their¡¡nature¡¡of¡¡imitation¡£¡¡¡¡Who¡¡list¡¡may¡¡read¡¡in¡¡Plutarch¡¡the¡¡discourses¡¡of¡¡Isis¡¡and¡¡Osiris£»¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cause¡¡why¡¡oracles¡¡ceased£»¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Divine¡¡providence£»¡¡and¡¡see¡¡whether¡¡the¡¡theology¡¡of¡¡that¡¡nation¡¡stood¡¡not¡¡upon¡¡such¡¡dreams£»¡¡which¡¡the¡¡poets¡¡indeed¡¡superstitiously¡¡observed£»¡¡and¡¡truly£»¡¡since¡¡they¡¡had¡¡not¡¡the¡¡light¡¡of¡¡Christ£»¡¡did¡¡much¡¡better¡¡in¡¡it¡¡than¡¡the¡¡philosophers£»¡¡who£»¡¡shaking¡¡off¡¡superstition£»¡¡brought¡¡in¡¡atheism¡£

Plato£»¡¡therefore£»¡¡whose¡¡authority¡¡I¡¡had¡¡much¡¡rather¡¡justly¡¡construe¡¡than¡¡unjustly¡¡resist£»¡¡meant¡¡not¡¡in¡¡general¡¡of¡¡poets£»¡¡in¡¡those¡¡words¡¡of¡¡which¡¡Julius¡¡Scaliger¡¡saith£»¡¡¡¨qua¡¡authoritate£»¡¡barbari¡¡quidam¡¡atque¡¡insipidi£»¡¡abuti¡¡velint¡¡ad¡¡poetas¡¡e¡¡republica¡¡exigendos¡¡£û71£ý£º¡¨¡¡but¡¡only¡¡meant¡¡to¡¡drive¡¡out¡¡those¡¡wrong¡¡opinions¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Deity£»¡¡whereof¡¡now£»¡¡without¡¡farther¡¡law£»¡¡Christianity¡¡hath¡¡taken¡¡away¡¡all¡¡the¡¡hurtful¡¡belief£»¡¡perchance¡¡as¡¡he¡¡thought¡¡nourished¡¡by¡¡then¡¡esteemed¡¡poets¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡a¡¡man¡¡need¡¡go¡¡no¡¡farther¡¡than¡¡to¡¡Plato¡¡himself¡¡to¡¡know¡¡his¡¡meaning£»¡¡who£»¡¡in¡¡his¡¡dialogue¡¡called¡¡¡¨Ion£»¡¨¡¡£û72£ý¡¡giveth¡¡high£»¡¡and¡¡rightly£»¡¡divine¡¡commendation¡¡unto¡¡poetry¡£¡¡¡¡So¡¡as¡¡Plato£»¡¡banishing¡¡the¡¡abuse£»¡¡not¡¡the¡¡thing£»¡¡not¡¡banishing¡¡it£»¡¡but¡¡giving¡¡due¡¡honour¡¡to¡¡it£»¡¡shall¡¡be¡¡our¡¡patron£»¡¡and¡¡not¡¡our¡¡adversary¡£¡¡¡¡For£»¡¡indeed£»¡¡I¡¡had¡¡much¡¡rather£»¡¡since¡¡truly¡¡I¡¡may¡¡do¡¡it£»¡¡show¡¡their¡¡mistaking¡¡of¡¡Plato£»¡¡under¡¡whose¡¡lion's¡¡skin¡¡they¡¡would¡¡make¡¡an¡¡ass¡­¡¡like¡¡braying¡¡against¡¡poesy£»¡¡than¡¡go¡¡about¡¡to¡¡overthrow¡¡his¡¡authority£»¡¡whom£»¡¡the¡¡wiser¡¡a¡¡man¡¡is£»¡¡the¡¡more¡¡just¡¡cause¡¡he¡¡shall¡¡find¡¡to¡¡have¡¡in¡¡admiration£»¡¡especially¡¡since¡¡he¡¡attributeth¡¡unto¡¡poesy¡¡more¡¡than¡¡myself¡¡do£»¡¡namely£»¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡very¡¡inspiring¡¡of¡¡a¡¡divine¡¡force£»¡¡far¡¡above¡¡man's¡¡wit£»¡¡as¡¡in¡¡the¡¡fore¡­named¡¡dialogue¡¡is¡¡apparent¡£

Of¡¡the¡¡other¡¡side£»¡¡who¡¡would¡¡show¡¡the¡¡honours¡¡have¡¡been¡¡by¡¡the¡¡best¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡judgments¡¡granted¡¡them£»¡¡a¡¡whole¡¡sea¡¡of¡¡examples¡¡would¡¡present¡¡themselves£»¡¡Alexanders£»¡¡Caesars£»¡¡Scipios£»¡¡all¡¡favourers¡¡of¡¡poets£»¡¡Laelius£»¡¡called¡¡the¡¡Roman¡¡Socrates£»¡¡himself¡¡a¡¡poet£»¡¡so¡¡as¡¡part¡¡of¡¡Heautontimeroumenos£»¡¡in¡¡Terence£»¡¡was¡¡supposed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡made¡¡by¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡even¡¡the¡¡Greek¡¡Socrates£»¡¡whom¡¡Apollo¡¡confirmed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡the¡¡only¡¡wise¡¡man£»¡¡is¡¡said¡¡to¡¡have¡¡spent¡¡part¡¡of¡¡his¡¡old¡¡time¡¡in¡¡putting¡¡AEsop's¡¡Fables¡¡into¡¡verse£»¡¡and£»¡¡therefore£»¡¡full¡¡evil¡¡should¡¡it¡¡become¡¡his¡¡scholar¡¡Plato¡¡to¡¡put¡¡such¡¡words¡¡in¡¡his¡¡master's¡¡mouth¡¡against¡¡poets¡£¡¡But¡¡what¡¡needs¡¡more£¿¡¡¡¡Aristotle¡¡writes¡¡the¡¡¡¨Art¡¡of¡¡Poesy£»¡¨¡¡and¡¡why£»¡¡if¡¡it¡¡should¡¡not¡¡be¡¡written£¿¡¡¡¡Plutarch¡¡teacheth¡¡the¡¡use¡¡to¡¡be¡¡gathered¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡how£»¡¡if¡¡they¡¡should¡¡not¡¡be¡¡read£¿¡¡And¡¡who¡¡reads¡¡Plutarch's¡¡either¡¡history¡¡or¡¡philosophy£»¡¡shall¡¡find¡¡he¡¡trimmeth¡¡both¡¡their¡¡garments¡¡with¡¡guards¡¡£û73£ý¡¡of¡¡poesy¡£

But¡¡I¡¡list¡¡not¡¡to¡¡defend¡¡poesy¡¡with¡¡the¡¡help¡¡of¡¡his¡¡underling¡¡historiographer¡£¡¡¡¡Let¡¡it¡¡suffice¡¡to¡¡have¡¡showed¡¡it¡¡is¡¡a¡¡fit¡¡soil¡¡for¡¡praise¡¡to¡¡dwell¡¡upon£»¡¡and¡¡what¡¡dispraise¡¡may¡¡be¡¡set¡¡upon¡¡it¡¡is¡¡either¡¡easily¡¡overcome£»¡¡or¡¡transformed¡¡into¡¡just¡¡commendation¡£¡¡¡¡So¡¡that¡¡since¡¡the¡¡excellences¡¡of¡¡it¡¡may¡¡be¡¡so¡¡easily¡¡and¡¡so¡¡justly¡¡confirmed£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡low¡¡creeping¡¡objections¡¡so¡¡soon¡¡trodden¡¡down¡¡£û74£ý£»¡¡it¡¡not¡¡being¡¡an¡¡art¡¡of¡¡lies£»¡¡but¡¡of¡¡true¡¡doctrine£»¡¡not¡¡of¡¡effeminateness£»¡¡but¡¡of¡¡notable¡¡stirring¡¡of¡¡courage£»¡¡not¡¡of¡¡abusing¡¡man's¡¡wit£»¡¡but¡¡of¡¡strengthening¡¡man's¡¡wit£»¡¡not¡¡banished£»¡¡but¡¡honoured¡¡by¡¡Plato£»¡¡let¡¡us¡¡rather¡¡plant¡¡more¡¡laurels¡¡for¡¡to¡¡ingarland¡¡the¡¡poets'¡¡heads¡¡£¨which¡¡honour¡¡of¡¡being¡¡laureate£»¡¡as¡¡besides¡¡them¡¡only¡¡triumphant¡¡captains¡¡were£»¡¡is¡¡a¡¡sufficient¡¡authority¡¡to¡¡show¡¡the¡¡price¡¡they¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡be¡¡held¡¡in£©¡¡than¡¡suffer¡¡the¡¡ill¡­favoured¡¡breath¡¡of¡¡such¡¡wrong¡¡speakers¡¡once¡¡to¡¡blow¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡clear¡¡springs¡¡of¡¡poesy¡£

But¡¡£û75£ý¡¡since¡¡I¡¡have¡¡run¡¡so¡¡long¡¡a¡¡career¡¡in¡¡this¡¡matter£»¡¡methinks£»¡¡before¡¡I¡¡give¡¡my¡¡pen¡¡a¡¡full¡¡stop£»¡¡it¡¡shall¡¡be¡¡but¡¡a¡¡little¡¡more¡¡lost¡¡time¡¡to¡¡inquire£»¡¡why¡¡England£»¡¡the¡¡mother¡¡of¡¡excellent¡¡minds£»¡¡should¡¡be¡¡grown¡¡so¡¡hard¡¡a¡¡step¡­mother¡¡to¡¡poets£»¡¡who¡¡certainly¡¡in¡¡wit¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡pass¡¡all¡¡others£»¡¡since¡¡all¡¡only¡¡proceeds¡¡from¡¡their¡¡wit£»¡¡being£»¡¡indeed£»¡¡makers¡¡of¡¡themselves£»¡¡not¡¡takers¡¡of¡¡others¡£¡¡¡¡How¡¡can¡¡I¡¡but¡¡exclaim£»


¡¨Musa£»¡¡mihi¡¡causas¡¡memora£»¡¡quo¡¡numine¡¡laeso£¿¡¨¡¡£û76£ý


Sweet¡¡poesy£¡¡¡that¡¡hath¡¡anciently¡¡had¡¡kings£»¡¡emperors£»¡¡senators£»¡¡great¡¡captains£»¡¡such¡¡as£»¡¡besides¡¡a¡¡thousand¡¡others£»¡¡David£»¡¡Adrian£»¡¡Sophocles£»¡¡Germanicus£»¡¡not¡¡only¡¡to¡¡favour¡¡poets£»¡¡but¡¡to¡¡be¡¡poets£»¡¡and¡¡of¡¡our¡¡nearer¡¡times¡¡can¡¡present¡¡for¡¡her¡¡patrons£»¡¡a¡¡Robert£»¡¡King¡¡of¡¡Sicily£»¡¡the¡¡great¡¡King¡¡Francis¡¡of¡¡France£»¡¡King¡¡James¡¡of¡¡Scotland£»¡¡such¡¡cardinals¡¡as¡¡Bembus¡¡and¡¡Bibiena£»¡¡such¡¡famous¡¡preachers¡¡and¡¡teachers¡¡as¡¡Beza¡¡and¡¡Melancthon£»¡¡so¡¡learned¡¡philosophers¡¡as¡¡Fracastorius¡¡and¡¡Scaliger£»¡¡so¡¡great¡¡orators¡¡as¡¡Pontanus¡¡and¡¡Muretus£»¡¡so¡¡piercing¡¡wits¡¡as¡¡George¡¡Buchanan£»¡¡so¡¡grave¡¡councillors¡¡as£»¡¡besides¡¡many£»¡¡but¡¡before¡¡all£»¡¡that¡¡Hospital¡¡£û77£ý¡¡of¡¡France£»¡¡than¡¡whom£»¡¡I¡¡think£»¡¡that¡¡realm¡¡never¡¡brought¡¡forth¡¡a¡¡more¡¡accomplished¡¡judgment¡¡more¡¡firmly¡¡builded¡¡upon¡¡virtue£»¡¡I¡¡say¡¡these£»¡¡with¡¡numbers¡¡of¡¡others£»¡¡not¡¡only¡¡to¡¡read¡¡others'¡¡poesies£»¡¡but¡¡to¡¡poetise¡¡for¡¡others'¡¡reading£º¡¡¡¡that¡¡poesy£»¡¡thus¡¡embraced¡¡in¡¡all¡¡other¡¡places£»¡¡should¡¡only¡¡find¡¡in¡¡our¡¡time¡¡a¡¡hard¡¡welcome¡¡in¡¡England£»¡¡I¡¡think¡¡the¡¡very¡¡earth¡¡laments¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡therefore¡¡decks¡¡our¡¡soil¡¡with¡¡fewer¡¡laurels¡¡than¡¡it¡¡was¡¡accustomed¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡heretofore¡¡poets¡¡have¡¡in¡¡England¡¡also¡¡flourished£»¡¡and£»¡¡which¡¡is¡¡to¡¡be¡¡noted£»¡¡even¡¡in¡¡those¡¡times¡¡when¡¡the¡¡trumpet¡¡of¡¡Mars¡¡did¡¡sound¡¡loudest¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡now¡¡that¡¡an¡¡over¡­faint¡¡quietness¡¡should¡¡seem¡¡to¡¡strew¡¡the¡¡house¡¡for¡¡poets£»¡¡they¡¡are¡¡almost¡¡in¡¡as¡¡good¡¡reputation¡¡as¡¡the¡¡mountebanks¡¡at¡¡Venice¡£¡¡Truly£»¡¡even¡¡that£»¡¡as¡¡of¡¡the¡¡one¡¡side¡¡it¡¡giveth¡¡great¡¡praise¡¡to¡¡poesy£»¡¡which£»¡¡like¡¡Venus¡¡£¨but¡¡to¡¡better¡¡purpose£©£»¡¡had¡¡rather¡¡be¡¡troubled¡¡in¡¡the¡¡net¡¡with¡¡Mars£»¡¡than¡¡enjoy¡¡the¡¡homely¡¡quiet¡¡of¡¡Vulcan£»¡¡so¡¡serveth¡¡it¡¡for¡¡a¡¡piece¡¡of¡¡a¡¡reason¡¡why¡¡they¡¡are¡¡less¡¡grateful¡¡to¡¡idle¡¡England£»¡¡which¡¡now¡¡can¡¡scarce¡¡endure¡¡the¡¡pain¡¡of¡¡a¡¡pen¡£¡¡¡¡Upon¡¡this¡¡necessarily¡¡followeth¡¡that¡¡base¡¡men¡¡with¡¡servile¡¡wits¡¡undertake¡¡it£»¡¡who¡¡think¡¡it¡¡enough¡¡if¡¡they¡¡can¡¡be¡¡rewarded¡¡of¡¡the¡¡printer£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡as¡¡Epaminondas¡¡is¡¡said£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡honour¡¡of¡¡his¡¡virtue£»¡¡to¡¡have¡¡made¡¡an¡¡office¡¡by¡¡his¡¡exercising¡¡it£»¡¡which¡¡before¡¡was¡¡contemptible£»¡¡to¡¡become¡¡highly¡¡respected£»¡¡so¡¡these¡¡men£»¡¡no¡¡more¡¡but¡¡setting¡¡their¡¡names¡¡to¡¡it£»¡¡by¡¡their¡¡own¡¡disgracefulness£»¡¡disgrace¡¡the¡¡most¡¡graceful¡¡poesy¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡now£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡all¡¡the¡¡Muses¡¡were¡¡got¡¡with¡¡child£»¡¡to¡¡bring¡¡forth¡¡bastard¡¡poets£»¡¡without¡¡any¡¡commission£»¡¡they¡¡do¡¡post¡¡over¡¡the¡¡banks¡¡of¡¡Helicon£»¡¡until¡¡they¡¡make¡¡their¡¡readers¡¡more¡¡weary¡¡than¡¡post¡­horses£»¡¡while£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡meantime£»¡¡they£»


¡¨Queis¡¡meliore¡¡luto¡¡finxit¡¡praecordia¡¡Titan£»¡¨¡¡£û78£ý


are¡¡better¡¡content¡¡to¡¡suppress¡¡the¡¡outflowings¡¡of¡¡their¡¡wit£»¡¡than¡¡by¡¡publishing¡¡them¡¡to¡¡be¡¡accounted¡¡knights¡¡of¡¡the¡¡same¡¡order¡£

But¡¡I¡¡that£»¡¡before¡¡ever¡¡I¡¡durst¡¡aspire¡¡unto¡¡the¡¡dignity£»¡¡am¡¡admitted¡¡into¡¡the¡¡company¡¡of¡¡the¡¡paper¡­blurrers£»¡¡do¡¡find¡¡the¡¡very¡¡true¡¡cause¡¡of¡¡our¡¡wanting¡¡estimation¡¡is¡¡want¡¡of¡¡desert£»¡¡taking¡¡upon¡¡us¡¡to¡¡be¡¡poets¡¡in¡¡despite¡¡of¡¡Pallas¡£¡¡¡¡Now£»¡¡wherein¡¡we¡¡want¡¡desert£»¡¡were¡¡a¡¡thankworthy¡¡labour¡¡to¡¡express¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡if¡¡I¡¡knew£»¡¡I¡¡should¡¡have¡¡mended¡¡myself£»¡¡but¡¡as¡¡I¡¡never¡¡desired¡¡the¡¡title¡¡so¡¡have¡¡I¡¡neglected¡¡the¡¡means¡¡to¡¡come¡¡by¡¡it£»¡¡only£»¡¡overmastered¡¡by¡¡some¡¡thoughts£»¡¡I¡¡yielded¡¡an¡¡inky¡¡tribute¡¡unto¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡Marry£»¡¡they¡¡that¡¡delight¡¡in¡¡poesy¡¡itself£»¡¡should¡¡seek¡¡to¡¡know¡¡what¡¡they¡¡do£»¡¡and¡¡how¡¡they¡¡do£»¡¡especially¡¡look¡¡themselves¡¡in¡¡an¡¡unflattering¡¡glass¡¡of¡¡reason£»¡¡if¡¡they¡¡be¡¡inclinable¡¡unto¡¡it¡£

For¡¡poesy¡¡must¡¡not¡¡be¡¡drawn¡¡by¡¡the¡¡ears£»¡¡it¡¡must¡¡be¡¡gently¡¡led£»¡¡or¡¡rather¡¡it¡¡must¡¡lead£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡partly¡¡the¡¡cause¡¡that¡¡made¡¡the¡¡ancient¡¡learned¡¡affirm¡¡it¡¡was¡¡a¡¡divine£»¡¡and¡¡no¡¡human¡¡skill£»¡¡since¡¡all¡¡other¡¡knowledges¡¡lie¡¡ready¡¡for¡¡any¡¡that¡¡have¡¡strength¡¡of¡¡wit£»¡¡a¡¡poet¡¡no¡¡industry¡¡can¡¡make£»¡¡if¡¡his¡¡own¡¡genius¡¡be¡¡not¡¡carried¡¡into¡¡it¡£¡¡And¡¡therefore¡¡is¡¡an¡¡old¡¡proverb£»¡¡¡¨Orator¡¡fit£»¡¡poeta¡¡nascitur¡£¡¨¡¡£û79£ý¡¡Yet¡¡confess¡¡I¡¡always£»¡¡that¡¡as¡¡the¡¡fertilest¡¡ground¡¡must¡¡be¡¡manured£»¡¡so¡¡must¡¡the¡¡highest¡¡flying¡¡wit¡¡have¡¡a¡¡Daedalus¡¡to¡¡guide¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡That¡¡Daedalus£»¡¡they¡¡say£»¡¡both¡¡in¡¡this¡¡and¡¡in¡¡other£»¡¡hath¡¡three¡¡wings¡¡to¡¡bear¡¡itself¡¡up¡¡into¡¡the¡¡air¡¡of¡¡due¡¡commendation£»¡¡that¡¡is¡¡art£»¡¡imitation£»¡¡and¡¡exercise¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡these£»¡¡neither¡¡artificial¡¡rules£»¡¡nor¡¡imitative¡¡patterns£»¡¡we¡¡much¡¡cumber¡¡ourselves¡¡withal¡£¡¡¡¡Exercise£»¡¡indeed£»¡¡we¡¡do£»¡¡but¡¡that¡¡very¡¡forebackwardly£»¡¡for¡¡where¡¡we¡¡should¡¡exercise¡¡to¡¡know£»¡¡we¡¡exercise¡¡as¡¡having¡¡known£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡is¡¡our¡¡brain¡¡delivered¡¡of¡¡much¡¡matter¡¡which¡¡never¡¡was¡¡begotten¡¡by¡¡knowledge¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡there¡¡being¡¡two¡¡principal¡¡parts£»¡¡matter¡¡to¡¡be¡¡expressed¡¡by¡¡words£»¡¡and¡¡words¡¡to¡¡express¡¡the¡¡matter£»¡¡in¡¡neither¡¡we¡¡use¡¡art¡¡or¡¡imitation¡¡rightly¡£¡¡¡¡Our¡¡matter¡¡is¡¡¡¨quodlibet£»¡¨¡¡£û80£ý¡¡indeed£»¡¡although¡¡wrongly£»¡¡performing¡¡Ovid's¡¡verse£»


¡¨Quicquid¡¡conabor¡¡dicere£»¡¡versus¡¡erit£»¡¨¡¡£û81£ý


never¡¡marshalling¡¡it¡¡into¡¡any¡¡assured¡¡rank£»¡¡that¡¡almost¡¡the¡¡readers¡¡cannot¡¡tell¡¡where¡¡to¡¡find¡¡themselves¡£

Chaucer£»¡¡undoubtedly£»¡¡did¡¡excellently¡¡in¡¡his¡¡Troilus¡¡and¡¡Cressida£»¡¡of¡¡whom£»¡¡truly£»¡¡I¡¡know¡¡not¡¡whether¡¡to¡¡marvel¡¡more£»¡¡either¡¡that¡¡he¡¡in¡¡that¡¡misty¡¡time¡¡could¡¡see¡¡so¡¡clearly£»¡¡or¡¡that¡¡we¡¡in¡¡this¡¡clear¡¡age¡¡go¡¡so¡¡stumblingly¡¡after¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡Yet¡¡had¡¡he¡¡great¡¡wants£»¡¡fit¡¡to¡¡be¡¡forgiven¡¡in¡¡so¡¡reverend¡¡antiquity¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡account¡¡the¡¡Mirror¡¡of¡¡Magistrates¡¡meetly¡¡furnished¡¡of¡¡beautiful¡¡parts¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Earl¡¡of¡¡Surrey's¡¡Lyrics£»¡¡many¡¡things¡¡tasting¡¡of¡¡a¡¡noble¡¡birth£»¡¡and¡¡worthy¡¡of¡¡a¡¡noble¡¡mind¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¨Shepherds'¡¡Kalendar¡¨¡¡hath¡¡much¡¡poesy¡¡in¡¡his¡¡eclogues£»¡¡indeed£»¡¡worthy¡¡the¡¡reading£»¡¡if¡¡I¡¡be¡¡not¡¡deceived¡£¡¡¡¡That¡¡same¡¡framing¡¡of¡¡his¡¡£û82£ý¡¡style¡¡to¡¡an¡¡old¡¡rustic¡¡language£»¡¡I¡¡dare¡¡not¡¡allow£»¡¡since¡¡neither¡¡Theocritus¡¡in¡¡Greek£»¡¡Virgil¡¡in¡¡Latin£»¡¡nor¡¡Sannazaro¡¡in¡¡Italian£»¡¡did¡¡affect¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡Besides¡¡these£»¡¡I¡¡do¡¡not¡¡remember¡¡to¡¡have¡¡seen¡¡but¡¡few¡¡£¨to¡¡speak¡¡boldly£©¡¡printed¡¡that¡¡have¡¡poetical¡¡sinews¡¡in¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡proof¡¡whereof£»¡¡let¡¡but¡¡most¡¡of¡¡the¡¡verses¡¡be¡¡put¡¡in¡¡prose£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡ask¡¡the¡¡meaning£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡will¡¡be¡¡found¡¡that¡¡one¡¡verse¡¡did¡¡but¡¡beget¡¡another£»¡¡without¡¡ordering¡¡at¡¡the¡¡first¡¡what¡¡should¡¡be¡¡at¡¡the¡¡last£»¡¡which¡¡becomes¡¡a¡¡confused¡¡mass¡¡of¡¡words£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡tinkling¡¡sound¡¡of¡¡rhyme£»¡¡barely¡¡accompanied¡¡with¡¡reason¡£

Our¡¡£û83£ý¡¡tragedies¡¡and¡¡comedies£»¡¡not¡¡without¡¡cause£»¡¡are¡¡cried¡¡out¡¡against£»¡¡observing¡¡rules¡¡neither¡¡of¡¡honest¡¡civility¡¡nor¡¡skilful¡¡poetry¡£¡¡¡¡Excepting¡¡Gorboduc¡¡£¨again¡¡I¡¡say¡¡of¡¡those¡¡that¡¡I¡¡have¡¡seen£©£»¡¡which¡¡notwithstanding£»¡¡as¡¡it¡¡is¡¡full¡¡of¡¡stately¡¡speeches£»¡¡and¡¡well¡­¡¡sounding¡¡phrases£»¡¡climbing¡¡to¡¡the¡¡height¡¡of¡¡Seneca¡¡his¡¡style£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡full¡¡of¡¡notable¡¡morality£»¡¡which¡¡it¡¡does¡¡most¡¡delightfully¡¡teach£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡obtain¡¡the¡¡very¡¡end¡¡of¡¡poesy£»¡¡yet£»¡¡in¡¡truth£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡very¡¡defectuous¡¡in¡¡the¡¡circumstances£»¡¡which¡¡grieves¡¡me£»¡¡because¡¡it¡¡might¡¡not¡¡remain¡¡as¡¡an¡¡exact¡¡model¡¡of¡¡all¡¡tragedies¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡it¡¡is¡¡faulty¡¡both¡¡in¡¡place¡¡and¡¡

·µ»ØÄ¿Â¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨0£© ²È£¨0£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ