按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ld have persuaded me to have wished myself a horse。 But thus much； at least； with his no few words； he drove into me； that self love is better than any gilding； to make that seem gorgeous wherein ourselves be parties。
Wherein； if Pugliano's strong affection and weak arguments will not satisfy you； I will give you a nearer example of myself； who； I know not by what mischance； in these my not old years and idlest times； having slipped into the title of a poet； am provoked to say something unto you in the defence of that my unelected vocation； which if I handle with more good will than good reasons； bear with me； since the scholar is to be pardoned that followeth the steps of his master。
And yet I must say； that as I have more just cause to make a pitiful defence of poor poetry； which； from almost the highest estimation of learning； is fallen to be the laughing…stock of children； so have I need to bring some more available proofs； since the former is by no man barred of his deserved credit； whereas the silly latter hath had even the names of philosophers used to the defacing of it； with great danger of civil war among the Muses。 ｛2｝
At first； truly； to all them that； professing learning； inveigh against poetry； may justly be objected； that they go very near to ungratefulness to seek to deface that which； in the noblest nations and languages that are known； hath been the first light…giver to ignorance； and first nurse； whose milk by little and little enabled them to feed afterwards of tougher knowledges。 And will you play the hedgehog； that being received into the den； drove out his host？ ｛3｝ or rather the vipers； that with their birth kill their parents？ ｛4｝
Let learned Greece； in any of her manifold sciences； be able to show me one book before Musaeus； Homer； and Hesiod； all three nothing else but poets。 Nay； let any history he brought that can say any writers were there before them； if they were not men of the same skill； as Orpheus； Linus； and some others are named； who having been the first of that country that made pens deliverers of their knowledge to posterity； may justly challenge to be called their fathers in learning。 For not only in time they had this priority （although in itself antiquity be venerable） but went before them as causes to draw with their charming sweetness the wild untamed wits to an admiration of knowledge。 So as Amphion was said to move stones with his poetry to build Thebes； and Orpheus to be listened to by beasts； indeed； stony and beastly people； so among the Romans were Livius Andronicus； and Ennius； so in the Italian language； the first that made it to aspire to be a treasure…house of science； were the poets Dante； Boccace； and Petrarch； so in our English were Gower and Chaucer； after whom； encouraged and delighted with their excellent foregoing； others have followed to beautify our mother tongue； as well in the same kind as other arts。
This ｛5｝ did so notably show itself that the philosophers of Greece durst not a long time appear to the world but under the mask of poets； so Thales； Empedocles； and Parmenides sang their natural philosophy in verses； so did Pythagoras and Phocylides their moral counsels； so did Tyrtaeus in war matters； and Solon in matters of policy； or rather they； being poets； did exercise their delightful vein in those points of highest knowledge； which before them lay hidden to the world； for that wise Solon was directly a poet it is manifest； having written in verse the notable fable of the Atlantic Island； which was continued by Plato。 ｛6｝ And； truly； even Plato； whosoever well considereth shall find that in the body of his work； though the inside and strength were philosophy； the skin； as it were； and beauty depended most of poetry。 For all stands upon dialogues； wherein he feigns many honest burgesses of Athens speaking of such matters that if they had been set on the rack they would never have confessed them； besides； his poetical describing the circumstances of their meetings； as the well…ordering of a banquet； the delicacy of a walk； with interlacing mere tiles； as Gyges's Ring； ｛7｝ and others； which； who knows not to be flowers of poetry； did never walk into Apollo's garden。
And ｛8｝ even historiographers； although their lips sound of things done； and verity be written in their foreheads； have been glad to borrow both fashion and； perchance； weight of the poets； so Herodotus entitled the books of his history by the names of the Nine Muses； and both he； and all the rest that followed him； either stole or usurped； of poetry； their passionate describing of passions； the many particularities of battles which no man could affirm； or； if that be denied me； long orations； put in the months of great kings and captains； which it is certain they never pronounced。
So that； truly； neither philosopher nor historiographer could； at the first； have entered into the gates of popular judgments； if they had not taken a great disport of poetry； which in all nations； at this day； where learning flourisheth not； is plain to be seen； in all which they have some feeling of poetry。 In Turkey； besides their lawgiving divines they have no other writers but poets。 In our neighbour…country Ireland； where； too； learning goes very bare； yet are their poets held in a devout reverence。 Even among the most barbarous and simple Indians； where no writing is； yet have they their poets who make and sing songs； which they call 〃Arentos；〃 both of their ancestor's deeds and praises of their gods。 A sufficient probability； that if ever learning comes among them； it must be by having their hard dull wits softened and sharpened with the sweet delight of poetry； for until they find a pleasure in the exercise of the mind； great promises of much knowledge will little persuade them that know not the fruits of knowledge。 In Wales； the true remnant of the ancient Britons； as there are good authorities to show the long time they had poets； which they called bards； so through all the conquests of Romans； Saxons； Danes； and Normans； some of whom did seek to ruin all memory of learning from among them； yet do their poets； even to this day； last； so as it is not more notable in the soon beginning than in long…continuing。
But since the authors of most of our sciences were the Romans； and before them the Greeks； let us； a little； stand upon their authorities； but even so far； as to see what names they have given unto this now scorned skill。 ｛9｝ Among the Romans a poet was called 〃vates；〃 which is as much as a diviner； foreseer； or prophet； as by his conjoined words 〃vaticinium；〃 and 〃vaticinari；〃 is manifest； so heavenly a title did that excellent people bestow upon this heart… ravishing knowledge！ And so far were they carried into the admiration thereof； that they thought in the changeable hitting upon any such verses； great foretokens of their following fortunes were placed。 Whereupon grew the word of sortes Virgilianae； when； by sudden opening Virgil's book； they lighted upon some verse； as it is reported by many； whereof the histories of the Emperors' lives are full。 As of Albinus； the governor of our island； who； in his childhood； met with this verse …
Arma amens capio； nec sat r