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th these men play their parts； but wisheth them in 〃pistrinum；〃 ｛53｝ although； perchance； the sack of his own faults lie so behind his back； that he seeth not himself to dance in the same measure； whereto yet nothing can more open his eyes than to see his own actions contemptibly set forth； so that the right use of comedy will； I think； by nobody be blamed。
And much less of the high and excellent tragedy； ｛54｝ that openeth the greatest wounds； and showeth forth the ulcers that are covered with tissue； that maketh kings fear to be tyrants； and tyrants to manifest their tyrannical humours； that with stirring the effects of admiration and commiseration； teacheth the uncertainty of this world； and upon how weak foundations gilded roofs are builded； that maketh us know； 〃qui sceptra saevos duro imperio regit； timet timentes； metus in authorem redit。〃 But how much it can move； Plutarch yielded a notable testimony of the abominable tyrant Alexander Pheraeus； from whose eyes a tragedy； well made and represented； drew abundance of tears； who without all pity had murdered infinite numbers； and some of his own blood； so as he that was not ashamed to make matters for tragedies； yet could not resist the sweet violence of a tragedy。 And if it wrought no farther good in him； it was that he； in despite of himself； withdrew himself from hearkening to that which might mollify his hardened heart。 But it is not the tragedy they do dislike； for it were too absurd to cast out so excellent a representation of whatsoever is most worthy to be learned。
Is it the lyric that most displeaseth； who with his tuned lyre and well…accorded voice； giveth praise； the reward of virtue； to virtuous acts？ who giveth moral precepts and natural problems？ who sometimes raiseth up his voice to the height of the heavens； in singing the lauds of the immortal God？ Certainly； I must confess mine own barbarousness； I never heard the old song of Percy and Douglas； that I found not my heart moved more than with a trumpet； ｛55｝ and yet it is sung but by some blind crowder； with no rougher voice than rude style； which being so evil apparelled in the dust and cobweb of that uncivil age； what would it work； trimmed in the gorgeous eloquence of Pindar？ In Hungary I have seen it the manner at all feasts； and all other such…like meetings； to have songs of their ancestors' valour； which that right soldier…like nation think one of the chiefest kindlers of brave courage。 The incomparable Lacedaemonians did not only carry that kind of music ever with them to the field； but even at home； as such songs were made； so were they all content to be singers of them； when the lusty men were to tell what they did； the old men what they had done； and the young what they would do。 And where a man may say that Pindar many times praiseth highly victories of small moment； rather matters of sport than virtue； as it may be answered； it was the fault of the poet； and not of the poetry； so； indeed； the chief fault was in the time and custom of the Greeks； who set those toys at so high a price； that Philip of Macedon reckoned a horse…race won at Olympus among three fearful felicities。 But as the inimitable Pindar often did； so is that kind most capable； and most fit； to awake the thoughts from the sleep of idleness； to embrace honourable enterprises。
There rests the heroical； ｛56｝ whose very name； I think； should daunt all backbiters。 For by what conceit can a tongue be directed to speak evil of that which draweth with him no less champions than Achilles； Cyrus； AEneas； Turus； Tydeus； Rinaldo？ who doth not only teach and move to truth； but teacheth and moveth to the most high and excellent truth： who maketh magnanimity and justice shine through all misty fearfulness and foggy desires？ who； if the saying of Plato and Tully be true； that who could see virtue； would be wonderfully ravished with the love of her beauty； this man setteth her out to make her more lovely； in her holiday apparel； to the eye of any that will deign not to disdain until they understand。 But if any thing be already said in the defence of sweet poetry； all concurreth to the maintaining the heroical； which is not only a kind； but the best and most accomplished kind； of poetry。 For； as the image of each action stirreth and instructeth the mind； so the lofty image of such worthies most inflameth the mind with desire to be worthy； and informs with counsel how to be worthy。 Only let AEneas be worn in the tablet of your memory； how he governeth himself in the ruin of his country； in the preserving his old father； and carrying away his religious ceremonies； in obeying God's commandments； to leave Dido； though not only passionate kindness； but even the human consideration of virtuous gratefulness； would have craved other of him； how in storms； how in sports； how in war； how in peace； how a fugitive； how victorious； how besieged； how besieging； how to strangers； how to allies； how to enemies； how to his own； lastly； how in his inward self； and how in his outward government； and I think； in a mind most prejudiced with a prejudicating humour； he will be found in excellency fruitful。 Yea； as Horace saith； 〃Melius Chrysippo et Crantore：〃 ｛57｝ but； truly； I imagine it falleth out with these poet…whippers as with some good women who often are sick； but in faith they cannot tell where。 So the name of poetry is odious to them； but neither his cause nor effects； neither the sum that contains him； nor the particularities descending from him； give any fast handle to their carping dispraise。
Since； then； ｛58｝ poetry is of all human learnings the most ancient； and of most fatherly antiquity； as from whence other learnings have taken their beginnings； since it is so universal that no learned nation doth despise it； nor barbarous nation is without it； since both Roman and Greek gave such divine names unto it； the one of prophesying； the other of making； and that indeed that name of making is fit for him； considering； that where all other arts retain themselves within their subject； and receive； as it were； their being from it； the poet only； only bringeth his own stuff； and doth not learn a conceit out of a matter； but maketh matter for a conceit； since neither his description nor end containeth any evil； the thing described cannot be evil； since his effects be so good as to teach goodness； and delight the learners of it； since therein （namely； in moral doctrine； the chief of all knowledges） he doth not only far pass the historian； but； for instructing； is well nigh comparable to the philosopher； for moving； leaveth him behind him； since the Holy Scripture （wherein there is no uncleanness） hath whole parts in it poetical； and that even our Saviour Christ vouchsafed to use the flowers of it； since all his kinds are not only in their united forms； but in their severed dissections fully commendable； I think； and think I think rightly； the laurel crown appointed for triumphant captains； doth worthily； of all other learnings； honour the poet's triumph。
But ｛59｝ because we have ears as well as tongues； and that the lightest reasons that may be； will seem to weigh greatly； if nothing be put in the counterbalance； let us hear； and； as well as