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ce flourished； and if to a slight conjecture a conjecture may be opposed； truly it may seem； that as by him their learned men took almost their first light of knowledge； so their active men receive their first notions of courage。 Only Alexander's example may serve； who by Plutarch is accounted of such virtue that fortune was not his guide but his footstool； whose acts speak for him； though Plutarch did not； indeed； the phoenix of warlike princes。 This Alexander left his schoolmaster； living Aristotle； behind him； but took dead Homer with him。 He put the philosopher Callisthenes to death； for his seeming philosophical； indeed mutinous； stubbornness； but the chief thing he was ever heard to wish for was that Homer had been alive。 He well found he received more bravery of mind by the pattern of Achilles； than by hearing the definition of fortitude。 And； therefore； if Cato misliked Fulvius for carrying Ennius with him to the field； it may be answered that if Cato misliked it the noble Fulvius liked it； or else he had not done it； for it was not the excellent Cato Uticensis whose authority I would much more have reverenced； but it was the former； in truth a bitter punisher of faults； but else a man that had never sacrificed to the Graces。 He misliked； and cried out against； all Greek learning； and yet； being fourscore years old； began to learn it； belike fearing that Pluto understood not Latin。 Indeed； the Roman laws allowed no person to be carried to the wars but he that was in the soldiers' roll。 And； therefore； though Cato misliked his unmustered person； he misliked not his work。 And if he had； Scipio Nasica （judged by common consent the best Roman） loved him： both the other Scipio brothers； who had by their virtues no less surnames than of Asia and Afric； so loved him that they caused his body to be buried in their sepulture。 So； as Cato's authority being but against his person； and that answered with so far greater than himself； is herein of no validity。
But ｛70｝ now； indeed； my burthen is great； that Plato's name is laid upon me； whom； I must confess； of all philosophers I have ever esteemed most worthy of reverence； and with good reason； since of all philosophers he is the most poetical； yet if he will defile the fountain out of which his flowing streams have proceeded； let us boldly examine with what reason he did it。
First； truly； a man might maliciously object that Plato； being a philosopher； was a natural enemy of poets。 For； indeed； after the philosophers had picked out of the sweet mysteries of poetry the right discerning of true points of knowledge； they forthwith； putting it in method； and making a school of art of that which the poets did only teach by a divine delightfulness； beginning to spurn at their guides； like ungrateful apprentices； were not content to set up shop for themselves； but sought by all means to discredit their masters； which； by the force of delight being barred them； the less they could overthrow them； the more they hated them。 For； indeed； they found for Homer seven cities strove who should have him for their citizen； where many cities banished philosophers as not fit members to live among them。 For only repeating certain of Euripides' verses many Athenians had their lives saved of the Syracusans； where the Athenians themselves thought many of the philosophers unworthy to live。 Certain poets； as Simonides and Pindar； had so prevailed with Hiero the First； that of a tyrant they made him a just king； where Plato could do so little with Dionysius that he himself； of a philosopher； was made a slave。 But who should do thus； I confess； should requite the objections raised against poets with like cavillations against philosophers； as likewise one should do that should bid one read Phaedrus or Symposium in Plato； or the discourse of Love in Plutarch； and see whether any poet do authorise abominable filthiness as they do。
Again； a man might ask； out of what Commonwealth Plato doth banish them？ In sooth； thence where he himself alloweth community of women。 So； as belike this 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： 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 ｛71｝：〃 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；〃 ｛72｝ 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 suc