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overnor of our island; who; in his childhood; met with this verse …
Arma amens capio; nec sat rationis in armis
and in his age performed it。 Although it were a very vain and godless superstition; as also it was; to think spirits were commanded by such verses; whereupon this word charms; derived of 〃carmina;〃 cometh; so yet serveth it to show the great reverence those wits were held in; and altogether not without ground; since both the oracles of Delphi and the Sibyl's prophecies were wholly delivered in verses; for that same exquisite observing of number and measure in the words; and that high…flying liberty of conceit proper to the poet; did seem to have some divine force in it。
And {10} may not I presume a little farther to show the reasonableness of this word 〃vates;〃 and say; that the holy David's Psalms are a divine poem? If I do; I shall not do it without the testimony of great learned men; both ancient and modern。 But even the name of Psalms will speak for me; which; being interpreted; is nothing but Songs; then; that is fully written in metre; as all learned Hebricians agree; although the rules be not yet fully found。 Lastly; and principally; his handling his prophecy; which is merely poetical。 For what else is the awaking his musical instruments; the often and free changing of persons; his notable prosopopoeias; when he maketh you; as it were; see God coming in His majesty; his telling of the beasts' joyfulness; and hills leaping; but a heavenly poesy; wherein; almost; he sheweth himself a passionate lover of that unspeakable and everlasting beauty; to be seen by the eyes of the mind; only cleared by faith? But truly; now; having named him; I fear I seem to profane that holy name; applying it to poetry; which is; among us; thrown down to so ridiculous an estimation。 But they that; with quiet judgments; will look a little deeper into it; shall find the end and working of it such; as; being rightly applied; deserveth not to be scourged out of the church of God。
But {11} now let us see how the Greeks have named it; and how they deemed of it。 The Greeks named him 'Greek text'; which name hath; as the most excellent; gone through other languages; it cometh of this word 'Greek text'; which is TO MAKE; wherein; I know not whether by luck or wisdom; we Englishmen have met with the Greeks in calling him 〃a maker;〃 which name; how high and incomparable a title it is; I had rather were known by marking the scope of other sciences; than by any partial allegation。 There is no art delivered unto mankind that hath not the works of nature for his principal object; without which they could not consist; and on which they so depend as they become actors and players; as it were; of what nature will have set forth。 {12} So doth the astronomer look upon the stars; and by that he seeth set down what order nature hath taken therein。 So doth the geometrician and arithmetician; in their diverse sorts of quantities。 So doth the musician; in times; tell you which by nature agree; which not。 The natural philosopher thereon hath his name; and the moral philosopher standeth upon the natural virtues; vices; or passions of man; and follow nature; saith he; therein; and thou shalt not err。 The lawyer saith what men have determined。 The historian; what men have done。 The grammarian speaketh only of the rules of speech; and the rhetorician and logician; considering what in nature will soonest prove and persuade; thereon give artificial rules; which still are compassed within the circle of a question; according to the proposed matter。 The physician weigheth the nature of man's body; and the nature of things helpful and hurtful unto it。 And the metaphysic; though it be in the second and abstract notions; and therefore be counted supernatural; yet doth he; indeed; build upon the depth of nature。 Only the poet; disdaining to be tied to any such subjection; lifted up with the vigour of his own invention; doth grow; in effect; into another nature; in making things either better than nature bringeth forth; or quite anew; forms such as never were in nature; as the heroes; demi…gods; Cyclops; chimeras; furies; and such like; so as he goeth hand in hand with Nature; not enclosed within the narrow warrant of her gifts; but freely ranging within the zodiac of his own wit。 {13} Nature never set forth the earth in so rich tapestry as divers poets have done; neither with so pleasant rivers; fruitful trees; sweet…smelling flowers; nor whatsoever else may make the too… much…loved earth more lovely; her world is brazen; the poets only deliver a golden。
But let those things alone; and go to man; {14} for whom as the other things are; so it seemeth in him her uttermost cunning is employed; and know; whether she have brought forth so true a lover as Theagenes; so constant a friend as Pylades; so valiant a man as Orlando; so right a prince as Xenophon's Cyrus; and so excellent a man every way as Virgil's AEneas? Neither let this be jestingly conceived; because the works of the one be essential; the other in imitation or fiction; for every understanding knoweth the skill of each artificer standeth in that idea; or fore…conceit of the work; and not in the work itself。 And that the poet hath that idea is manifest by delivering them forth in such excellency as he had imagined them; which delivering forth; also; is not wholly imaginative; as we are wont to say by them that build castles in the air; but so far substantially it worketh not only to make a Cyrus; which had been but a particular excellency; as nature might have done; but to bestow a Cyrus upon the world to make many Cyruses; if they will learn aright; why; and how; that maker made him。 Neither let it be deemed too saucy a comparison to balance the highest point of man's wit with the efficacy of nature; but rather give right honour to the heavenly Maker of that maker; who having made man to His own likeness; set him beyond and over all the works of that second nature; which in nothing he showeth so much as in poetry; when; with the force of a divine breath; he bringeth things forth surpassing her doings; with no small arguments to the incredulous of that first accursed fall of Adam; since our erected wit maketh us know what perfection is; and yet our infected will keepeth us from reaching unto it。 But these arguments will by few be understood; and by fewer granted; thus much I hope will be given me; that the Greeks; with some probability of reason; gave him the name above all names of learning。
Now {15} let us go to a more ordinary opening of him; that the truth may be the more palpable; and so; I hope; though we get not so unmatched a praise as the etymology of his names will grant; yet his very description; which no man will deny; shall not justly be barred from a principal commendation。
Poesy; {16} therefore; is an art of imitation; for so Aristotle termeth it in the word 'Greek text'; that is to say; a representing; counterfeiting; or figuring forth: to speak metaphorically; a speaking picture; with this end; to teach and delight。
Of {17} this have been three general kinds: the CHIEF; both in antiquity and excellency; which they that did imitate the inconceivable exce