,:>V. vVrsiSBS? ^if^r ,^^-, l,*'^^ Jjli -ftr SCw ..*«»* HART MEMORIAL LIBRARY CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY ENGLISH COLLECTION THE GIFT OF JAMES MORGAN HART PROFESSOR OF ENGUSH M3^S6 CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 3 1924 085 201 253 DATE DUE -^ itr- ©1964 M.T. A .A. — A — ' TpaT 1 %f^^^? F.P^ 'Wfr ^^Mfy V w^n ^^j£ V Noi/. l.'srr' ^^ »l^-^"" ; 1 ! ! GAYt-ORD PRINTED IN U.S.A. \ Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924085201253 iSnglt^ ^t^xint^. WILLIAM WEBBE, Graduate. A Discourse or English Poetrie. 1586. CAREFULLY EDITED BY EDWARD ARBER, Associate, Kin^s College, London, F.R.G.S., i^c. LONDON : 5 QUEEN SQUARE, BLOOMSBURY, W.C. Eni. Stat. Hall. 1 December 1871. [All rights reseived. a E.V. J ^71 CONTENTS. Notes of Williani Webbe, .... 3 Contemporary English Authors referred to, . 5 Introduction, ...... 7 Bibliography, ...... io A DISCOURSE OF ENGLISH POETRIE, n 1. TheEpiffleto EdwardSulyard, Efquire, . . 13 2. A Preface to the noble Poets of England, . ^ 17 3. A Discourse of English Poetrie, . 21 (s) What Poetry is ? . . . .21 (6) The beginning of Poetry, and of what eftimation it hath always been, . . . .21 (c) The ufe of Poetry, and wherein it rightly con- fifted, ...... 25 (S) The Author's judgement of Englifti Poets, . 30-37 (t) ©fjE fHttttet n£ lEnsItgij ^oetrk, . . . 38-56 Ex. Comparifon of Thomas Phaer's tranllation of the ^neid with the original text of Virgil 47-5 1 (f) a;f)EilHanner()r JFormof Englislj^lojtrw, . 56-84 A. Rhymed Verse. There be three fpecial notes neceffary to be obferved in the framing of our accuflomed Englifh Rhyme : — (1) The metre or verfe mujl be proportionate . 57 Ex. Criticifm of the different forts of Verfe in Spencer's Shepherds Calender . . 59-61 (2) The natural Accent of the words mujl not be wrejled . . . . .62 (3) The Rhyme or like ending o/ver/es . . 63 B. The Reformed kind of English Verse [i.e., in Classical Feet], . . . 67-84 Ex. The Author's tranflation of the firil two Eglogues of Virgil into Englifli Hexameters, 73-79 Ex. -His tranflation of Hobbirioll's Song in the Shepherds Calender into Englifli Sapphics, 81-84 (g) The Canons or general Cautions of Poetry, pre- fcribed by Horace : coUedled by George Fabricius [b. 23 April 1516 at Chemnitz, — d. 13 Julyi57i] ..... 85-95 4. Epilogue, 96 N. 'TES of WILLIAM WEBBE. " Probable or approximate dates. Very little is known of the Author of this work. The suggestion that he was the WilHam Webbe, M.A., one of the joint Authors of a topographical book The Vale Royal, 1648, fol., is quite anachronistic. Messrs. Cooper, in A thence Cantabrigiensis, it. 12. Ed. 1861, state that our Author "was a graduate of this University, but we have no means of determining his college. One of this name, who was of. St. John's College, was B.A. i572-3_ [the same year as Spenser], as was another who was of Catharine Hall in 1581-2. His place of residence is unknown, although it may perhaps be inferred that it was in or near the county of Suffolk. We have no information as to his position in life, or the time or place of his death. He was evidently a man of superior intellect and no mean attain- ments.*' [Our Author apparently witnessed Tancred and Gismund in 1568, and being evidently acquainted with Gabriel Harvey and Spenser (who left Cambridge in 1578), must be the earlier graduate of the above two Webbes.] 1568. • Tancred and Gisviund, written by five members of the Inner Temple, the first letters of whose names are attached to the several acts, viz., Rod. Staff; Hen. NoLwell?]; G. All; Ch. Hat[ton?]; and R. W[ilmot] : is 'curiously acted in view of her Majesty, by whom it was then princely accepted.' Webbe appears to have been present at the representation : see 1691. Mr. J. P. Collier in his edition of * Dodsley's Old Plays,' i. IS3, prints from a MS. what is apparently a por- tion of this Tragedy as it was then acted, written in alternate rhymes. He also states in his Hist, of Dram. Poet, that it * is the earliest English play extant, the plot of which is known to be deiaved from an Italian novel."" Hi. 13. Ed. 1831. *1572-3. Our Author takes his B.A. at Cambridge. 1582. Nov. 28. Gabriel Poyntz presented Robert Wilmott, clerk to the Rectory of North Okendon, Essex : 18 miles from London. Neivcourt Repertorium, ii. 447. Ed. 1710. Flemyngs is a large manor house in Essex in the parish of Runwell, in the hundred of Chelmsford ; from which town it is ten miles distant, and about twenty-nine miles from London. ' This house commands extensive views of some parts of the county and of Kent, including more than thirty parish churches,' Edward Sulyard succeeded, on the death of his father Eustace in 1546, to Flemyngs and other possessions. He had two sons, Edward and Thomas, and a daughter named Elizabeth. He was knighted on 23 July 1603 at Whitehall by James I, before his coronation: and died in June 1610. Of his two sons, Edward died vnthout issue; Thomas, b. 1573, was knighted, and d. March 1634; leaving a son Edward, who d. 7 Nov. 1692 without issue, ' the last of the house and family.' See W. Berry, Coujity Gen. Essex, 64. T. Wright, Hist, of Essex, i. 142, 143. Ed. 1S31. J, P[hiIipot] Knis. Batch, made by Javtes I. 1660. ^1583 or 4. Webbe appears to have been at this time private tutor to Mr Sulyard's two sons, for he presented his MS. translation (now lost) of the Georgics to Mr. Sulyard ; sec pp. 55 and 16. 1585. Dec. z. The Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's appomt Robert Wilmott, M.A., to the Vicarage of Horndon on the Hill, twenty-four miles from London, and a few miles from Flemyngs, where his friend Webbe was a private tutor. Newconrt, idem. ii. 343. 4 Notes of William Webbe. 1586. Of ' the pregnant ympes of right excellent hope/ Thomas Sulyard was about thirteen years old, and his brother Edward was older than him, W. Webbe writes the present work in tlie summer evenings. Sept. 4. It is thus registered for publication. " Robt. Walley John Charlewood, Rd. of them, for printinge A Discourse oi englishe poetrye , vj*^." f. P. Collier, Extr. of Stat. Co.'s Regrs. iz., 215. Ed. 1849. 1587. Feb, 5. Margaret, the mother of Mr. Sulyard died. She is buried at R unwell. 15SS. Warton quotes "a small black-lettered tract entitled The Toitck-stone of Wittes, chiefly compiled, with some slender additions, from William Webbe's Discourse of English Poetne, written by Edward Hake, and printed at London by Edmund Bollifant." /. 804. Ed. 1870. Our Author — his pupils growing to manhood — then appears to have gone, possibly also in the same capacity of private tutor into the family of Henry Grey, Esquire [created Baron Grey of Groby, 21 July 1603 : d. 1614] at Pirgo, in the parish of Havering atte Bower, Essex ; fifteen miles from Lon- don. Dugdale states that the first husband of one of the daughters of this Henry Grey, Esquire, was a Williatn Sulyard, Esquire. Baron, i. 722. Ed. 1675. From this old Palaceof the Queens of England Webbe wrote the'fol- lowing letter to Wilmott, which is reprinted in the revised edition of Tan- cred and GisTnund published in 1592: of which there are copies in the Bodleian, and at Bridgewater House, and an imperfect one in the British Museum (C. 34, e. 44). 1691. Aug. 8. To hisfrendR. W. Master R. VV. looke not now for the tearmes of an intreator, I wil beg no longer, and for your promises, I wil refuse them as bad paiment : neither can I be satisfied with any thing, but a peremptorie performance of ali old intention of yours, the publishing I meane of those wast papers (as it pleaseth you to cal them, but as I esteem them, a most exquisite inuention) of Gismunds Tragedie. Thinke not to shift me oflf with longer delayes, nor alledge more ex- cuses to get further respite, least I arrest you with my Acfujn est, and commence such a Sute of vnkindenesse against you, as when the case shall be scand before the Judges of courtesie, the court will crie out of your immoderat modestie. And thus much I tel you before, you shal not be able to wage against me in the charges growing vpon this action, especi^ly, if the worshipful company of the Inner temple gentlemen jjatronize my cause, as viidoubtedly they wil, yea, and rather plead partially for me then let my cause miscary, because them- selues are parties. The tragedie. was by them most pithely framed, and no lesse curiously acted in view of her Maiesty, by whom it was then as princely accepted, as of the whole honorable audience notably applauded : yea, and of al men generally desired, as a work, either in statelines of shew, depdi of conceit, or true ornaments of poeticall arte, inferior to none of the best in that kinde : no, were the Roman Seneca the censurer. The braue youths that then (to their high praises) so feelingly performed the same in action, did shortly after lay vp the booke vnregarded, or perhaps let it run abroade (as many parentes doe their children once past dandling) not respecting so much what hard fortune might befall it being out of their fingers, as how their heroical wits might againe be quickly conceiued with new inuentions of like worthines, wherof they haue been euer since wonderful! fertill. But this orphan of theirs (for he wandreth as it were fatherlesse,) hath notwithstanding, by the rare and bewtiful Derfections appearing in him, hetherto neuer wanted great Notes of William Webbe. 5 fauourers, and louing preseruers. Among whom I cannot sufficiently commend your more then charitable zeale, and scholerly compassion towards him, that haue not only rescued and defended him from the deuouring iawes of obliuion, but vouchsafed also to apparrel him in a new sute at your own charges, wherein he may again more boldly come abroad, and by your permission returne to his olde parents, clothed perhaps not in richer or more costly furniture than it went from them, but in handsomnes and fashion more answerable to these times, wherein fashionb are so often altered. Let one word suffice for your encouragement herein : namely, your commendable pains in disrobing him of his antike curiositie, and adorning him with the approoued guise of our stateliest Englishe termes (not diminishing, but augmenting his arti- ficiall colours of absolute poesie, deriued from his first parents) cannot but bee grateful to most mens appetites, who vpon our experience we know .highly to esteem such lofty measures of sententiously composed Tragedies. _ How much you shal make me, and the rest of your priuate frends beholding vnto you, I list not to discourse : and there- fore grounding vpon these alledged reasons, that the suppress- ■ing of this Tragedie, so worthy for ye presse, were no other thmg then wilfully to defraud your selfe of an vniuersall thank, your frends of their expectations, and sweete G. of a famous eternitie. I will cease to doubt of any other pretence to cloake your bashfulnesse, hoping to read it in print (which lately lay neglected amongst your papers) at our next ap- pointed meeting. I bid you heartely farewell. From Pyrgo in Essex, August the eight, 1591. Tuusfide et factdtate. GuiL. Webbe. It may also be noted that Wilmott dedicated this revised tragedy to two Essex ladies : one of whom was Lady Anne Grey, the daughter of Lord Windsor, and the wife of the above-mentioned Henry Grey, E.squire of Pirgo, That the above R. Wilmott, Clergyman, is the same as the Reviser of the play appears from the following passage in his Preface. " Hereupon I have indured some conflicts between reason and judgement, whether it were convenient for the commonwealth, and the indecorum of my calling (as some think it) that the memory of Taitcred's Tragedy should be again by my means revised, which the oitner I read over, and the more I considered thereon, the sooner I was won to consent thereunto : calling to mind, that neither the thrice reverend and learned father, M. Beza, was ashamed in his younger years to send abroad, in his own name, his Tragedy oi Abraftatfi, nor that rare Scot (the scholar of our age) Buchanan, hi.s most pathetical leptJia." ' Dodsle^s bldPlays^ ii. 165. Ed. by J. P. Collier, 1825. If the identity may be considered as established, Wilmott the Poet lived on till i6ig : when he was succeeded on his death by W, Jackson, in the Rectory of North Okendon. Newconrt, idem, ii, 447. No later information concerning W. Webbe than the above letter, has yet been recovered. CONTEMPORARY ENGLISH AUTHORS REFERRED TO IN THE FOLLOWING DifcOUrfe, R. AscHAM. The Scholemajier, . . . 3i» 57 G. B. ? The Shippe of Safeguarde, 1569 . . 35 F. C. . . ? . . . .35 T. Churchyard. Churchyard^ s *" Chippes^^ ^575 J Church- yard's ^Chance,' 1580; Churchyark s^ Charge^ '1580; ^c. 33 M. D. [? Mafter Dyer, i.e,. Sir Edward Dyer] . . 33 ? Darrell '. ? . . . -35 6 ' Contemporary English Authors. .R. Edwardes. Par. of Dainty Devifes, 1576 ; Comedies 33 Sir T. Elyot. The Governor, 1538 . . 42, 43 G. Gascoigne. Pojies, 1572; The Steele Glas, &c., 1576. 33 B. GooGE. Eglogs, Efytaphes, and Sotieites,-ii63 ; tranf- la.tion o{ Paiingenms' Zodiac 0/ Zi/e. 1560. 1565. ., 34 Sir J. Grange. TAe Golden Aphroditis, 1577 . . 35 G. Harvey. . . ' . . . -35 Heiwood [either John Heywood or Jasper Heywood] 33 W. HUNNIS. Paradifeof Dainty Devifes, 1576, 1578 . 33 ? Hyll ? . . . . . .33 E. K. \i.e. Edward Kirke] . . . 33> S3 F. K. [? Fr. Kindlemarfti] Par. of Dainty Devifes, 1576, 1578 35 J. Lyly. Euphues, r579-8o ; Plays . . .46 A. MuNDAY. r/ie Mirrour of Mutabilitie, 1579 ; The Paine of Pleafure, 1580 . . . -35 T. Norton. IoSxA. K-a.'Csiox oi Ferrex and Porrex, 1561 . 33 C. OcKLANDE. Anglorum Prcelia, 1580, 1582 . . 30 [?Dr. E.] SAND[ys]. Par. of Dainty Devifes, 1576, &c. . 33 E. Spenser. Shepheards Calender, 1579, 1581, 1586 35, 52, ^l Henry, Earlof Surrey. Sonnets, &=c., inTottel's Mifc. 1557 33 T. Tusser. Five hundred points of Good Hufbandrie, 1557-80 . . . . . .33 Thomas, Lord Vaux. Sonnetes, &=€., in Tottel's Mifc. 1557 ; and Par. of Dainty Devifes, 1576 . . 33 E. Vere, Earl of Oxford. Unpublifhed Sdnnets . . 33 G. Whetstone. The Rocke of Regard, 1576 . -35 R. Wilmott. Tancred and Gifmund, 1568 . . 35 S. Y. [? M. Yloop, i.e. M. Pooly inPar. of Dainty Dev/fes} 35 TJTE TRANSLATORS. SENECA. J. Heywood. Troas, 1559; Thyefles, 1560; Hercules Furens, 1561 . . . ... 34 A. Nevill. CEdipus, 1563 . . . .34 J. Studley. Medea, 1566; Agamemnon, 1566 . . 34 OVID. G. TURBERVILLE. Heroical Epiflles, 1567 . . 34 A. GOLDING. Metamorp/iofes, 1565 . . 34, 51 T. Churchyard. Triflia, 1578 . . . -34 T. Drant. Satires, 1566 ; Art of Poetrie, 1567 . . 34 VIRGIL. Henry, Earl of Surrey. Two Books of the' .MneiS,' xtiyj 33 T. Phaer, M.D. <}lrdBooks ofthe'JEneid,' 1558-1562 33, 46-51 T. Twyne. The remaining ?.^rd Books, 1573 . . 34 A.Fleming. BucoHcks, 1575, in rhyme. His Ceorgicsxe- ferred to at/. 55 appeared in 1589 . . 34, 55 A Difcourfe of Rnglijh Poetrie INTRODUCTION. Part from the exceffive rarity of this work, two copies of it only being known ; it deferves permanent repubhcation as a good example of the befl. form of Effay Writing of its time ; and as one of the feries of Poetical Criticifms before the ad- vent of Shakefpeare as a writer, the fludy of which is fo effential to a right underflanding of our befl. Verfe; Although Poetry is the moft ethereal part of Thought and Expreffion ; though Poets mufl, be born and cannot be made : yet is there an art of Poefy ; fet forth long ago by Horace but varying with differ- ing languages and countries, and even with different ages in the life of the fame country. In our tongue — Milton only excepted — there is nothing approaching, either in the average merit of the Journeymen or the fuperlative excellence of the few Mafter-Craftfmen, the Poefy of the Elizabethan age. Hence the value of thefe early Poetical Criticifms. Their difcuffion of principles is mofl helpful to all readers in the difcern- ment of the fubtle beauties of the numberlefs poems of that era : while for thofe who can, and who will ; they will be found Angularly fuggeflive in the training of their own Power of Song, for the inilrudtion and delight of this and future generations. A Cambridge graduate ; the private tutor, for fome two or three years paft, to Edward and Thomas Sul- lo Inirodtidlion. vppe fome other of meete abilitie, to beflowe trauell in this matter.' His with had been anticipated. Al- ready a Mafler Critic was at work — we know not for certainty whether it was George Puttenham, or who elfe — who, beginning to write in 1585, publifhed in 1589 The Arte of Englijh Foefie : which is the largeft and ablefl, criticifm of Englifli Poefy that appeared in print, during the reign of Ehzabeth.- BIBLIOGRAPHY. fesitteiS in tlje ^tttl)oc'iS lifctinu. I. — As a feparate publication. 1, 1586. London, i vol. 4to. See title on oppofite page. Of the two copies known, the one here re- printed is among the Malone books in the Bodleian. The other paffed from hand to hand at the following fales : always increafmg in price. 1773. Apr. 8. Mr. West's sale. No. 1856, los. 6d. , to Mr. Pearson. 1778. Apr. 22. Mr. Pearson's sale, No. 1888, ;^3, 5s., to Mr. Stevens. " 1800. May 19. Mr Stevens' sale, No. 1128, ;C8, 8s., to the Duke of Roxburghe. 1812. June 2. The Roxburghe sale. No. 3168, £6^^ to the Marquis of Blandford. It'S^uefi iStnte tlje |itttl)oi:'!S beatl). I. — As a /eparate publication. 3. 1870. Dec. I. London. Englijh Reprints : fee title at 1 vol. 8vo. /. I. II. — With other works. 2. 1815. London. Aruient Critical EJfays. Ed. by J. Hafle- 2 vols. 4to. wood: A Difcourfe of Englijh Poetrie oc- cupies Vol. ii; pp. 13-95. o oooooooooo o oooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo 0O0CXXXW00OC)O0000CX)O(X)00OOOCXXX)0OOOOC)OC>CX>00CKXK)O^ ADifcourfeofEng- li/k Poetrie. Together, with the Authors iudgment, touching the re- formation of our Eng- lifli Verfe. By William VVebbe Graduate. jmprinted at London, by lohn Charlewood for Robert VValley 1586. O0O0000O0OCXKXXXKXJ0OOOO0CKX)OOC)OOOOCX>DCKXKXKXXX30C^ 000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 To the right vvorfhip= full, learned, and mofl gentle Gentle- man, my verie good Master, Ma. Edward Suliard, Efquire. W. W. wyflieth his harts defire. Ay it pleafe you Syr, thys once more to beare with my rudenes, in prefentin^ vnto your viewe, an other /lender conceite, of my fimple capa city: wherin although I am notable to bring you anie thing, which is meete to detaine you from your more ferious matters: yet vppon my knowledge of your former courtefy and your fauour able countenaunce towardes all enterprifes of Learning, I dare make bold to craue your accustomed patience, in turning ouerfome of thefe fewe leaues, which I Jhall account a greater recompence, then the wryting thereof may deferue. 14 The Epiflle. Thefirme hope of your wonted gentlenes, not any good lyking of myne owne labour, made me thus prefumptu- oufly to craue your worships patronage for my poore booke. A pretty aunfwere is reported by fame to be made ^jC Appelles to King KS&^z.-aA&x, who (in difpori) taking vp one of his penfilles to drawe a line, and asking the Paynters iudgment of his draught. It is doone (quoth Apelles) like a King; meaning indeede it was drawen as hepleafed, but was nothing leffe then good workmanshippe. Myfelfe in like fort, taking vppon me, to make a draught of Englifli Poetry, and requefling your worfhyps cenfure of the fame, you wyll perhaps gyue me thys verdiSl, It was doone like a SchoUer, meaning, as T could, but indeede more like to a learner, then one through grounded in Poeticall workmanship. Alexander in drawing his lyne, leaned fometime too hard, otherwhyle too foft, as neuer hauing beene appren- tice to the Arte: I in drawing this Poeticall difcourfe, make it fome where toflraight (leauing out the cheefe col- lour es and ornaments of Poetry) in an other place to wyde (fluffing in peeces little pertinent to true Poetry) as one neuer acquainted wyth the learned Mufes. What then i as he being a king, myght meddle in what Scyence him lifted, though therein hee had no skyll: fo I beeing a learner, wyll try e my cunning in fome parts of Learning, though neuer fofimple. Nowe, as for my fauciepreffing vppon your expelled fauor in crauing your iudgment, I befeech you let me The Epiftle. . 15 make thys excufe: that whereas true Gentilitie did neuer withdrawe her louing affellion from Lady Learn- ing, so J am perfwaded, that your worshyppe cannot chufe, but continue your wonted fauourable benignitie towardes all the indeuourers to learning, of which corporation I doo indeede profeffe my felfe one flllie member. For fith the wryters of all ages, haue fought as an vn- doubted Bulwarke and stedfafl fauegarde the patronage of Nobilitye, (a fhielde as fure as can be to learning) wherin tofhrowde andfafelye place their feuerall inuen- tions: why should not Ifeeke fome harbour for my poore trauell to reste and flay e vppon, beeing of it felfe vnable to fhyft the carping cauilles and byting f comes of lewde controllers ? And in trueth, where myght I rather choofe a fure defence and readye refuge for the fame, then where I fee perfede Gentility e, and nobleneffe ofminde, to be fafle' lynched with excellencie of learning and arable courtefye ? Moreouer, adde thys to the ende of myne excufe: that I fende it into your fight, not as anie wyttiepeece ofworke that may delight you: but being a fleight fomewhat com- fy led for recreation, in the intermyffions of my day lie bufineffe, (euen thys Summer Eueninges) as a token of that earnest and vnquenchable defyre I haue to shewe my felfe duetifull and welwyllittg towardes you. VVherevnto I am continually enflamed more and more, when I con- fider eyther your fauourable freendshyppe vfed towardes i6 The Epiftle. my felfe, or your gentle countenaunce Jhewed to my fimfle trauelles. The one I haue tryed in that homely tranfla. tion I prefented vnto you: the other I finde true in your curteous putting to my trujl, and dooing me fo great honejiy and credite, with the charge of thefe toward young Gentlemen your fonnes. To which pregnant ympes of right excellent hope, I would I were able, or you myght haue occafion to make triall of my louing minde: who shoulde well perceyue my felfe to remayne vnto tfcem afaythfull andtrufly Achates, euenfofarre as my wealth my woe, my power or perrill, my petme or witte, my health or lyfe mayferue to ferche myne ability. Huge heapes'of wordes I myght pyle together to trouble you withall: eyther of my felfe or of my dooinges, (as fome doo) or of your worfhyppes commendable vertues (as the mofle doo) But I purpofely chufe rather to letpaffe thefpreading of that worthy fame which you haue euer deferued, then to runne infufpicion of fawning flattery which I euer abhorred. Therefore once againe crauing your gentle pardon, and patience in your ouerlooking thys rude Epiftle: and wyshing more happineffe then my penne can exprejjfe to you and your whole retinewe, I rest. Your worjhippes faithfull Semant. W. W. ^ A Preface to the not Poets of Rnglande. Mong the innumerable fortes c lyfhe Bookes, and infinite fai printed pamphlets, wherewil Countrey is peflered, all f fluffed, and euery fludy fur the greatefl part I thinke one kinde, are fuch as are meere Poeticall, or which tende in' fome refpe either in matter or forme) to Poetry. Of fuch '. therfore, fith I haue beene one, that haue defire to reade not the fewefl, and becaufe i argument, which men of great learning haue i fure to handle, or at leafl hauing to doo with ferious matters doo leafl regarde : If I write fom concerning what I thinke of our Englilh Poets, uenture to fette downe my fimple iudgement of J Poetrie, I trufl the learned Poets will giue me and vouchfafe my Booke paffage, as beeing 1 rudeneffe thereof no preiudice to their noble 1 but euen (as my intent is) an injlar cotis to flirr fome other of meete abilitie, to beflowe trauell matter: whereby I thinke wee may not onelie ] meanes which wee yet want, to difcerne between writers and badde, but perhappes alfo challeng the rude multitude of rufticall Rymers, who i called Poets, the right practife and orderly co true Poetry. i8 The Preface. manie, that where as all kinde of good learning, haue afpyred to royall dignitie and ftatelie grace in our Englilh tongue, being not onelie founded, defended, maintained, and enlarged, but alfo purged from faultes, weeded of errours, and pollifhed from barbaroufnes, by men of great authoritie and iudgement : onelie Poetrie hath founde feweft frends to amende it, thofe that can, referuing theyr fkyll to themfelues, thofe that cannot, running headlong vppon it, thinking to garnilh it with their deuifes, but more corrupting it with fantafticall errours. What flioulde be the caufe, that our Englifh fpeeche in fome of the wyfeft mens iudgements, hath neuer attained to anie fufiScient ripenes, nay not ful auoided the reproch of barbaroufnes in Poetry? the rudenes of the Countrey, or bafeneffe of wytts.- or the courfe DialeB of the fpeeche ? experience vtterlie dif- proueth it to be anie of thefe.- what then? furelie the canckred enmitie of curious cuflome/ which as it neuer was great freend to any good learning, fo-in this hath it grounded- in the moll, fuch a negligent perfwafion of an impoffibilitie in matching the beil, that the finefl. witts and moll diuine heades, haue contented them- felues with a bafe kinde of fingering.- rather debafmg theyr faculties, in fetting forth theyr Ikyll in the cour- feft manner, then for breaking cuflome, they would labour to adorne their Countrey and aduaunce their ftyle with the highefl aiid mofl learnedfl toppe of true Poetry. The rudenes or vnaptneffe of our Countrey to be either none or no hinderaunce, if reformation were made accordinglie, the exquifite ex- cellency in all kindes of good learning nowe floarifli- ing among vs, inferiour to none other nation, may fufficiently declare. The Preface. 19 That there be as Iharpe and quicke wittes in Eng- land as euer were among the peereleffe Grecians, or renowmed Romaines, it were a note of no witte at all in me to deny. And. is our fpeeche fo courfe, or our phrafe fo harfhe, that Poetry cannot therein finde a vayne whereby it may appeare like it felfe ? why fliould we think fo bafely of this ? rather then of her fifter, I meane Rhetoricall Eloquution, which as they were by byrth Twyns, by kinde the fame, by originall of one defcent; fo no doubt, as Eloquence hath founde fuch fauoures, in the Englifh tongue, as fhe frequenteth not any more gladly; fo would Poetrye if there were the like welcome and entertainment gyuen her by our Englifh Poets, without queflion afpyre to wonderfull perfection, and appeare farre more gorgeous and delecfl- able among vs. Thus much I am bolde to fay in behalfe of Poetrie, not that I meane to call in queflion the reuerend and learned workes of Poetrie, written in our tongue by men of rare iudgement, and mod excel- lent Poets; but euen as it were by way of fupplication to the famous and learned Lawreat Maflers of Eng- lande, that they would but confult one halfe howre with their heauenly Mufe, what credite they might winne to theyr natiue fpeeche, what enormities they might wipe out of Englifh Poetry, what a fitte vaine they might frequent, wherein to Ihewe forth theirworthie faculties; if Englilh Poetrie were truely reformed, and fome perfedl platforme or Profodia of verfifying were by them ratifyed and fette downe : eyther in immitation of Greekes and Latines, or where it would (kant abyde the touch of theyr Rules, the like obferuations feledled and eflablifhed by tlie naturall affedtation of the fpeeche. Thus much I fay, not to perfwade you that 20 The Preface, are the fauourers of Englifhe Poetry but to mooue it to you ; beeing not the firde that haue thought vpon this matter, but one that by confent. of others, haue taken vppon me to lay it once again in your wayes, if perhaps you may flumble vppon it, and chance to looke fo lowe from your diuine cogitations, when your Mufe mounteth to the flarres, and ranfacketh the Spheres of heauen.- whereby perhaps you may take compaffion of noble Poetry, pittifullie mangled and defaced, by rude fmatterers and barbarous, immitatours of your worthy fludies. If the motion bee worthy your regard it is enough to mooue it, if not, my wordes woulde fimply preuaile in perfwading you, and therefore I reft vppon thys onely requeft, that of your courtefies, you wyll graunt paffage, vnder your fauourable corredlions, for this my fiiiiple cenfure of Englifh Poetry, wherein if you pleafe to runne it ouer, you Ihall knowe breefely myne opinion of the moft part of your accuftomed Poets and particularly, in his place, the lyttle fomewhat which I haue fifted out of my weake brayne concerning thys reformed verfifying. VV: W: A Difcourfe of Eng= lifhe Poetrie. j]Ntending to write fome difcourfe of Englifli Poetrie, I thinke it not amyffe if I fpeake fomething gene- rally of Poetrie, as, what it is, whence it had the beginning, and of what eflimation it hath alwayes beene and ought to be among al forts of people. Poetrie called in Greeke iroerpia, beeing deriued from the Verbe irotew, which fignifieth in Latine facere, in Englifh, to make, may properly be defined, the arte of making : which word as it hath alwaies beene efpecially vfed of the beft of our Englifh Poets, fb expreffe ye very faculty of fpeaking or wryting Poetically, fo doth it in deede containe mofl fitly the whole gracd and property of the fame, ye more fullye and effectually then any other Englifh Verbe. That Poetry is an Arte, (or rather a more excellent thing then can be contayned wythin the compaffe of Arte) though I neede not flande long to prooue, both the witnes of Horace, who wrote de arte Poetica, and of Terence, who calleth it Artem ■Muficam, and the very naturall property thereof may fufficiently declare : The beginning of it as appeareth by Plato, was of a vertuous and mofl deuout purpofe, 22 A Difcourfe of who witneffeth, that by occafion of meeting of a great company of young men, to folemnize ye feafls" which were called Panegeryca, and were wont to be cele- brated euery fift yeere, there, they that were mofl preg- nant in wytt, and indued with great gyfts of wyfedome and knowledge in Muficke aboue the reft, did vfe commonly to make goodly verfes, meafured according to the fweeteft notes of Muficke, containing the prayfe of fome noble vertue, or of immortalitie, or of fome fuch thing of greatefl ellimation: which vnto them feemed; fo heauenly and ioyous a thing, that, think- ing fuch men to be infpyrde with fome diuine inflinct from heauen, they called them Vates. So when other among them of the finefl wits, and aptefl capacities begahne in imitation of thefe to frame ditties of lighter matters, and tuning them to the fl,roake of fome-of the pleafanteft. kind of Muficke, then began there to grow a diftinction and great diuerfity betweene makers and makers. Whereby (I take it) beganne thys difference : that they which handled in the audience of the people, graue and neceflary matters, were called wife men or eloquent men, which they meant by Vates: and the reft which fange of loue matters, or other lighter deuifes alluring vnto pleafure and delight, were called PoetcB or makers. Thus it appeareth, boli Eloquence and Poetrie to haue had their beginning and originall from thefe exercifes, beeing framed in fuch fweete meafure of fentences and pleafant harmonie called Pt^/ios, which is an apt compofition of wordes or claufes, drawing as it were by force ye hearers eares euen whether foeuer it lylleth: that Plato affirmeth therein to be contained Aoijtcmx an inchauntment, as it were to perfwade them anie thing whether they would or no. And heerehence is fayde, that men were firft withdrawne from a wylde and fauadge kinde of life,' to ciuillity and gentlenes, and ye right knowledge of humanity by the force of this meafurable or tunable fpeaking. This opinion fliall you finde confirmed throughout Englifh Poetrie. 23 the whole workes of Plato and Arijlotle. And that fuch was the eftimation of this Poetry at thofe times, that they fuppofed all wifedome and knowledge' to be included myflically in that diuine inflinction, wherewith they thought their Vates to bee infpyred. Wherevpon, throughout the noble workes of thofe moll excellent Philofophers before named, are the authorities of Poets very often alledged. And Cicero in his Tufculane quef- tions is of that minde, that a Poet cannot expreffe verfes aboundantly, fufficiently, and fully, neither his eloquence can flowe pleafauntly, or his wordes founde well and plenteoufly, without celefliall inflinction: which Poets themfelues doo very often and gladlie witnes of themfelues, as namely Ouid in. 6. Fajio: Est deus in nobis Agitante callefcimus ilia. etc. Where- vnto I doubt not equally to adioyne the authoritye of our late famous Englifh Poet, who wrote the Sheep- heards Calender, where lamenting the decay of Poetry, at thefe dayes, faith mofl. fweetely to the fame. Then make thee winges of thine afpyring wytt. And whence thou camefl. flye back to heauen apace, etc. Whofe fine poeticall witt, and moll exquifite learning, as he fhewed aboundantly in that peece of worke, in my iudgment inferiour to the workes neither of Theocritus in Greeke, nor Virgill in Latine, whom hee narrowly immitateth: fo I nothing doubt, but if his other workes were common abroade, which are as I thinke in ye clofe cuflodie of certaine his freends, we fhould haue of our owne Poets, whom wee might matche in^ all refpects with the befL And among all other his workes what- foeuer, I would wyfh to haue the fight of hys Englijh Poet, which his freend E. K. did once promife to publifhe, which whether he performed or not, I knowe not, if he did, my happe hath not beene fo good as yet to fee it. But to returne to the ellimation of Poetry. Befides ye great and profitable fruites contained in Poetry, for 24 A Difcourfe of the inflruction of manners and precepts of good life (for that was cheefly refpected in the firfl age of Poetry) this is alfo added to the etemall commendations i of that noble faculty: that Kinges and Princes, great and famous men, did euer encourage, mayntaine, and reward Poets in al ages : becaufe they were thought onely to haue the whole power in their handes, of making men either immortally famous for their valiaunt exploytes and'vertuous exercifes, or perpetually infamous for their vicious Hues. Wherevppon it is faid of Achilles, that this onely vantage he had of Heilor, that it was his fortune to be extolled and renowned by the hea- uenly verfe of Homer. And as Tully recordeth to be written of Alexander, that with natural teares he wept ouer Achilles Tombe, in ioy that he conceiued at the confideration, howe it was his happe to be honoured wyth fo diuine a worke, as Homers was. Arijlotle, a mofl prudent and learned Philofopher,beeing appointed Schoolemafler to the young Prince Alexander, thought no worke fo meete to be reade vnto a King, as the worke oi Homer: wherein the young Prince being by him inflructed throughly, found fuch wonderfuU delight in the fame when hee came to maturity, that hee would not onely haue it with him in all his iourneyes, but in his bedde alfo vnder his pyllowe, to delight him and teache him both nights and dayes. The fame is reported of noble Scipio, who finding the two Bookes of Homer xaiht fpoyle'of Kyng Darius, efleemed them as wonderfull precious lewelles, making one of them his companion for the night, the other for the day.- And not onely was he thus affected to yat one peece or parte ofPoetry, but fo generally he loued the profef- fors thereof, that in his mofl ferious affayres, and hot- tefl warres againfl Numantia and Carthage he could no whitte be without that olde Poet Ennius in his company. But to fpeake of all thofe noble and wyfe Princes, who bare fpeciall fauour and countenaunce to Poets, were tedious, and would require a rehearfall of all fuch, in whofe time there gi-ewe any to credite ^nd Englifh Poetrie. 25 eflimation in that faculty. Thus farre therefore may fuffice for the eflimation of Poets. Nowe I thinke mod meete, to fpeake fomewhat, concerning what hath beene the vfe of, Poetry, and wherin it rightly confided, and whereof confequently it obteyned fuch eflimation. To begin therefore with the firfl that was firll worthe- lye memorable in the excellent gyft of Poetrye, the bed wryters agree that it was. Orpheus, who by .,the fweete gyft of his heauenly Poetry, withdrew men from raung3Tig vncertainly, and wandring brutifhly about, and made them gather together, and keepe company, made houfes, and kept fellowfhippe together, who therefore is reported (as Horace fayth) to affwage the fierceneCfe of Tygers, and mooue the harde Flynts. After him was Amphion, who was. the fird that caufed Citties to bee builded, and men therein to Hue decently and orderly according to lawe and right. Next, was Tyrtaus, who began to practife warlike defences, to keepe back enemies, and faue themfelues from inuafion of foes. In thys place I thinke were mod conuenient to rehearfe that auncient Poet Fyndarus: but of the certaine time wherein he flourilhed, I am not very certaine : but of the place where he continued mode, it fhoulde feeme to be the Citty of Thebes, by Plinie who reporteth, that Alexander in facking the fame Cittie, woulde not fuflfer the houfe wherein he dwelt to be fpoyled as all the red were. After thefe was Homer, who as it were in one fumme comprehended all know- ledge, wifedome, learning, and poUicie, that was inci- dent to the capacity of man. And who fo lide to take viewe of hys two Bookes, one of his Iliades, the other his Odifsea, fhall throughly perceiue what the right vfe of Poetry is : which indeede is to mingle profite with pleafure, and fo to delight the Reader with pleafantnes of hys Arte, as in ye meane time, his mind may be well indructed with knowledge and wifedome. For fo did- that worthy Poet frame thofe his two workes, that in reading the fird, that is his Iliads, by declaring and fetting forth fo liuely the Grecians affembly againd 26 A Difcourfe of Troy, together with their proweffe and fortitude againfl their foes, a Prince fhall learne not onely courage, and valiantneffe, but difcretion alfo and pollicie to encounter with his enemies, yea a perfect forme of wyfe confulta- tions, with his Captaines, and exhortations to the people, with other infinite commodities. Agayne, in the other part, wherein are defcribed the manifold and daungerous,aduentures of Vliffes, may a man learne many noble vertues: and alfo learne to efcape and auoyde the fubtyll practifes, and perrilous entrappinges of naughty perfons : and not onely this, but in what fort alfo he may deale to knowe and per- ceiue the affections of thofe which be neere vnto him, and mofl, familiar with him, the better to put them in truft, with his matters of waight and importaunce. Therefore I may boldly fette downe thys to be the truefl, auncientefl. and befl. kinde of Poetry, to direct ones endeuour alwayes to that marke, that with delight they may euermore adioyne commoditie to theyr Readers: which becaufe I grounde vpon Homer the Prince of all Poets, therefore haue I aUedged the order of his worke, as an authority fufficiently proouing this" affertion. Nowe what other Poets which followed him, and beene of greatefl fame, haue doone for the molle parte in their feuerall workes I wyll briefely, and as my flender ability wyll ferue me declare. But by my leaue, I muft. content my felfe to fpeake not of all, but of fuch , as my felfe haue feene, and beene befl acquainted withall, and thofe not all nor the moile part of the auncient Grecians, of whom I know not how many there were, but thefe of the Latinifts, which are of greatefl. fame and mofl obuious among vs., Thus much I can fay, that Arijlotle reportetK none to haue greatly flourifhed in Greece, at leafl wyfe not left behynd them any notable memoriall, before the time of Homer. And Tully fay th as much, that there were none wrytt woorth the reading twyce in the Romaine tongue, before ye Poet Enniiis. And furely Englifti Poetrie. 27 as the very fumme or cheefeft effence of Poetry, dyd alwayes for the mofl part confifl in delighting the readers or hearers wyth pleafure, fo as the number of Poets increafed, they ftyll' inclyned thys way rather then the other, fo that mofl of them had fpeciall regarde, to. the pleafantneffe of thejr fine conceytes, whereby they might drawe mens mindes into admira- tion of theyr inuentions, more then they had to the profitte or commoditye that the Readers fhoulde reape by their works. And thus as I fuppofe came it to paffe among them, that for the mofl. part of them, they would not write one worke contayning fome ferious matter : but for the fame they wold likewife powre foorth as much of fome wanton or laciuious inuention. Yet fome of the auncientefl fort of Grecians, as it feemeth were not fo much difpofed to vayne delectation: as Ariflotk fayth of Empedodes, that in hys iudgment he was onely a natural! Philofopher, no Poet at all, nor that he was like vnto Homer in any thing but hys meeter, or number of feete, that is, that hee wrote in verfe. After the time of Homer, there began the firfte Comedy wryters, who compyled theyr workes in a better flile which continued not long, before it was expelled by penalty, for fcoffing too broade at mens manners, and the priuie reuengements which the Poets vfed againfl their ill wyllers. Among thefe was Eupolis, Cratinus, and Arijlophenes, but afterward the order of thys wryting Comedies was reformed and made more plaufible: then wrytte Plato, Comicus, Menander, and I knowe not who more. There be many mofl. profitable workes, of like anti- quity, or rather before them, of the Tragedy writers : as of Euripides, and Sophocles, then was there Phoci- tides and Theagines, with many other : which Tragedies bad their inuention by one Thefpis, and were pollifhed and amended by ^fchilus. The profitte or difcom- moditie which aryfeth by the vfe of thefe Comedies and Tragedies, which is mofl., hath beene long in contro- uerfie, and is fore vrged among vs at thefe dayes : what 28 A Difcourfe of I thinke of the fame, perhaps I fhall breefely declare anon. Nowe concerning the Poets which wrote in homely manner, as they pretended, but indeede, with great pythe and learned iudgment, fuch as were the wryters of Sheepeheards talke and of hufbandly precepts, who were among the Grecians that excelled, befides Theo- critus and Hefiodiis I know not, of whom the firfl, what profitable wo'rkes he left to poflerity, befides hys Idillia or contentions of Goteheards, tending mofl to delight, and pretty inuentions, I can not tell. The other, no doubt for his Argument he tooke in hande, dealt very learnedly and profitably, that is, in precepts of Hufbandry, but yet fo as he m)rxed much wanton flufife among the rell. The firft. wryters of Poetry among the Latines, fhoulde feeme to be thofe, which excelled in the fram- ing of Commedies, and that they continued a long time without any notable memory of other Poets. Among whom, the cheefefl. that we may fee or heare tell of, were thefe. Ennius, Cacilius, Nmuius, Licinius, Atti- lius, Turpitius, Trabea, Lufcitis, Plautus, and Terens, Of whom thefe two laft. named, haue beene euer fmce theyr time mofl famous, and to thefe dayes are efleemed, as greate helpes and furtheraunces to the obtayning of good Letters. But heere cannot I flaye to fpeake of the mofl. famous, renowned -and excellent, that euer writte among the Latine Poets, P. Virgin, who per- formed the very fame in that tongue, which Homer had doone in Greeke : or rather better if better might as Sex. Propert. in his Elegies gallantly recordeth in his praife, Nefcio quid magis n(tfcitur Iliade. Vnder the perfon of ^Eneas he expreffeth the valoure of a worthy Captaine and valiaunt Gouernour, together with the perrilous aduentures of warre, and poUiticke deuifes at all affayes. And as he immitateth Homer in that worke, fo dooth he likewyfe followe the very fl,eps of Theo- critus, in his mofl: pythy inuentions of his ^glogues : and likewyfe Hefiodus in h;s Georgicks or bookes of Englifh Poetrie. 29 Hufbandry, but yet more grauely, and in a more decent flyle. But notwithflanding hys fage grauity and won- derful! wifedome, dyd he not altogether reflra3rne his vayne, but that he would haue a call at fome wanton and fkant comely an Argument, if indeede fuch trifles as be fathered vppon him were his owne. There fol- lowed after him, very many rare and excellent Poets, whereof the moil part writt light matters, as Epigram- mes and Elegies, with much pleafant dalliance, among whom may be accounted Propertius, Tibullus, Catullus, with diuers whom Quid fpeaketh of in diuers places of his workes. Then are there two Hyfloricall Poets, no leffe profitable then delightfome to bee read : Silius and Lucanus : the one declaring the valiant proweffe of two noble Captaines, one enemie to the other, that is, Scipio and Haniball: the other likewife, the fortitude of two expert warriours (yet more lamentably then the other becaufe thefe warres were ciuill) Pompey and Cafar. The next in tyme (but as mofl men doo account, and •fo did he himfelfe) the fecond in dignity, we will ad ioyne Ouid, a mofl. learned, and exquifite Poet. The worke of greatefl profitte which he wrote, was his Booke of Metanorphofis, which though it confifl.ed ot fayned Fables for the mofl. part, and poeticall inuentions, yet beeing moralized according to his meaning, and the trueth of euery tale beeing difcouered, it is a worke of exceeding wyfedome and founde iudgment. If one lyfl in like manner, to haue knowledge and perfect intelligence of thofe rytes and ceremonies which were obfemed after the Religion of the Heathen, no more profitable worke for that purpofe, then his bookes De fastis. The reft of his dooinges, though they tende to the vayne delights of loue and dalliaunce (except his Tristtbus wherein he bewayleth hys exile) yet furely are mixed with much good counfayle and profitable leflbns if they be wifely and narrowly read. After his time I know no worke of any great fame, till the time of Horace, a Poet not of the fmootheft ftyle, but in fliarpneife of wytt inferiour to none, and one to whom 30 A Difcourfe of all the refl both before his time and fince, are very much beholding. About the fame time luuenall and Perfius, then Martial, Seneca a mofl. excellent wryter of Trage- dies, Boetius, Lucretius, Statius, Val: Flaccus, Manilius, Aufonius, Claudian, and many other, whofe iufl times and feuerall woorkes to fpeake of in this place, were neither much needefuU, nor altogeather tollerable, becaufe I purpofed an other argument. Onely I will adde two of later times, yet not farre inferiour to the mofl. of them aforefayde, Pallengenius, and Bap. Man- tuanus, and for a fmguler gyft in a fweete Heroicall verfe, match with them Chr. Oclan. the Authour of our Anglorum Prcelia. ■ But nowe leafl. I fl,ray too farre from my purpofe, I wyl come to our Englifh Poets, to whom I would I were able toyeelde the5rr deferued commendations : and afiFoorde them that cenfure, which I know many woulde, which can better, if they were nowe to write in my fleede. I know no memorable worke written by any Poet in our Englifh fpeeche, vntill twenty yeeres pafl.: where although Learning was notgenerally decayde at anytime, efpecially fmce the Conqueft of King William Duke of Normandy, as it may appeare by many famous works and learned bookes (though not of this kinde) wiytten by Byfhoppes and others : yet furelye that Poetry was in fmall price among them, it is very manifefl;, and no great maruayle, for euen that light of Greeke and Latine Poets which they had, they much contemned, as ap- peareth by theyr rude verfifying, which of long time was vfed (a barbarous vfe it was) wherin they conuerted the naturall property of the fweete Latine verfe, to be a balde kinde of ryming, thinking nothing to be lear- nedly written in verfe, which fell noi out in ryme, that is, in wordes .whereof the middle worde of eche verfe ftiould found a like with 1:he lafl, or of two verfes, the ende of both fliould fall in the like letters as thus. O malk viuentes, verfus audite fequentes. Englifh Poetrie. 31 And thus likewyfe. Propter hcec et alia dogmata doBorum Reor effe melius et magis decorum: Quifquefuam habeat, et non proximorum. This bnitifh Poetrie, though it had not the beginning in, this Countrey, yet fo hath it beene affected heere, that the infection thereof would neuer (nor I thinke euer will) be rooted vppe againe: I meane this tynkerly verfe which we call ryme : Mafler Afcham fayth, that it firfl began to be followed and maintained among the Hunnes and Gothians, and other barbarous Nations, who with the decay of all good learning, brought it into Italy: from thence it came into Fraunce, and fo to Germany, atlaflconueyed into England, by men indeede of great wifedome and learning, but not confiderate nor circumfpect in that behalfe. But of this I mufl, intreate more heereafter. Henry the firil King of that name in England, is wonderfully extolled, in all auncient Recordes of me- mory, for hys fmguler good learning, in all kiride of noble fludies, in fo much as he was named by his fur- name Beaucleark, as much to fay, as Fayreclerke (whereof perhappes came ye name of Fayreclowe) what knowledge hee attained in the fkyll of Poetry, I am not able to fay, I report his name for proofe, that learning in this Country was not little efleemed of at that rude time, and that like it is, among other fludies, a King would not neglect the faculty of Poetry. The firfl of our Englifh Poets that I haue heard of, was lohn Gower, about the time of king Ry chard the feconde, as -it fhould feeme by certayne coniectures bothe a Knight, and queflionleffe a fmguler well learned man: whofe workes I could wyfli they were all whole and perfect among vs, for no doubt they contained very much deepe knowledge and delight : which may be gathered by his freend Chawcer, who fpeaketh of him oftentimes, in 32 A Difcourfe of diuer[s] places of hys workes. Chawcer, who for that excellent fame which hee obtayned in his Poetry, was alwayes accounted the God of Englifli Poets (fuch a tytle for honours fake hath beene giuen him) was next after, if not equall in time to Gower, and hath left many workes, both for delight and profitable knowledge, farre exceeding any other that as yet euer fmce hys time directed the]^: fludies that way. Though the manner of hys flile may feeme blunte and courfe to many fine Englifh eares at thefe dayes, yet in trueth, if it be equally pondered, and with good iudgment aduifed,'and con- firmed with the time wherein he wrote, a man fhall perceiue thereby euen a true picture or perfect fliape of a right Poet. He by his delightfome vayne, fo gulled the eares of men with his deuifes, that, although. corruption bare fuch fway in mofl, matters, that learning and truth might (kant bee admitted to ftiewe it felfe, yet without controllment, myght hee gyrde at the vices and abufes of all flates, and gawle with very Iharpe and eger inuentions, which he did fo learnedly and plea- fantly, that none therefore would call him into queftion. For fuch was his bolde fpyrit, that what enormities he faw in any, he would not fpare to pay them home, eyther in playnS words, or els in fome prety afid pleafant couert, that the fimplefl, might efpy him. Neere in' time vnto him was Lydgate a Poet, furely for good proportion of his verfe, and. meetely currant flyle, as the time afifoorded comparable with Chawcer, yet more occupyed in fuperflicious and odde matters, then was requefite in fo good a wytte : which, though he handled them commendably, yet the matters them- felues beeing not fo commendable, hys eflimation hath beene the leffe. The next of our auncient Poets, that I can tell of, I fuppofe to be Fierce Ploughman, who in hys dooinges is fomewhat harfhe and obfcure, but indeede a very pithy wryter, and (to hys commendation I fpeake it) was the firfl that I haue feene, that obferued ye quantity of our verfe without the curiofity of Ryme. Since thefe I knowe none other tyll the time of Eiiglifh Poetrie. 33 Skelton, who writ in the time of Kyng Henry the eyght, who as indeede he obtayned the Lawrell Garland, fo may I wyth good ryght yeelde him the title of a Poet: hee was doubtles a pleafant conceyted fellowe, and of a very ftiarpe wytte, exceeding bolde, and would nyppe to the very quicke where he once fette holde. Next hym I thynke I may place mafler George Gajkoyne, as painefull a Souldier in the affayres of hys Prince and Country, as he was a wytty Poet in his wryting : whofe commendations^ becaufe I found in one of better iudgment then my felfe, I wyl fette downe hys wordes, and fuppreffe myne owne, of hym thus wryteth E. K. vppon the ninth ^glogue of the new Poet. Mafler George Gajkoyne a wytty Gentleman and the very cheefe of our late rymers, who and if fome partes of learning wanted not (albeit is well knowne he altoge- ■ ther wanted not learning) no doubt would haue attayned to the excellencye of thofe famous Poets. For gyfts of wytt, and naturall prdmptnes appeare in him abouh- dantly. I might next fpeake of the dyuers workes of the olde Earle of Surrey : of the L. Vaus^ of Norton, of Brijlow, Edwardes, Tuffer, Churchyard. Wyl: Hunnis: Haiwood: Sand: Hyll: S. Y. M. D. and many others, but to fpeake of their feuerall gyfts, and aboundant fkyll fhewed forth by them in many pretty and learned workes, would make my difcourfe much more tedious. I may not omitte the deferued commendations of many honourable and noble Lordes, and Gentlemen, in her Maiefties Courle, which in the rare deuifes of Poetry, haue beene and yet are mofl excellent fkyl- full, among whom, the right honourable Earle of Oxford may challenge to him felfe the tytle of ye mofl excellent among the reft.. I can no longer forget thofe learned Gentlemen which tooke fuch profitable paynes in trans- lating the Latine Poets into our Englifh tongue, whofe defertes in that behalfe are more then I can vtter. Among thefe, I euer efleemed, and while I lyue, in my conceyt I fhall account lAa&trD.Fhaer: without doubt C 34 A Difcourfe of the beft: who as indeede hee had the bed peece of Poetry whereon to fette a moll gallant verfe, fo per- formed he it accordmgly, and in fuch fort, as in my confcience I thinke would fcarcely be doone againe, if it were to doo again. Notwithflanding, I fpeak it but as myne own fancy, -not preiudiciall to thofe that Ufl. to thinke otherwyfe. Hys worke whereof I fpeake, is the englifhing of ^neidos of Virgil, fo farre foorth as it pleafed God to fpare him life, which was to the halfe parte of the tenth Booke, the reft, beeing fmce wyth no leife commendations finifhed, by that worthy fchbller and famous Phifition Mafl,er Thomas Twyne. Equally with him may I well adioyne Mafl,er Arthur Golding, for hys labour in englifhing Quids Metamor- phofis, for which Gentleman, fiirely our Country hath for many refpects greatly to gyue God thankes : as for him which hath taken infinite paynes without ceafing, trauelleth as yet indefatigably, and is addicted without fociety, by his continuall laboure, to profit this nation and fpeeche in all kind of good learning. The next, very well deferueth Mafler Barnabe Googe to be placed, , , / Z^^^^^> as a painefullfurtherer of learning: hys helpe to Poetry (Le^c~ Cr' li/rv-t-^-j •'^'^'-T^'?' ^■'''"^'^^befides hys ownedeuifes, as the tranflating of Pallen.- I . ^ / >/ /S7 y^ a i^t*^\s^nius. Lodiac. Abraham Fkmming 2& \a many prety /l. G J ^'^r>.-' /•"i*Jf . ^^ Poefis ofhys owne, fo in tranfiating hath doone to hys ^, "i i-irAi^ t^ 'hx.ojT^ uXCM/^ II Hyi^ commendations. To whom I would heere adioyne one II , «/- X.i^aJ(JL *? '^c^ °^ ^^y^ name, whom I know to haue excelled, as well a/i^iM^ ^ 4o . _z^-p?— ' jji a.11 kinde of learning as in Poetry moft. efpecially, '' and would appeare fo, if the dainty morfelles, and fine poeticall inuentiojis of hys, were as common abroade as I knowe they Tdc among fome of hys freendes. I wyl craue leaue of the laudable Authors of Seneca in Eng- lifli, of the other partes of Quid, of Horace, of Maniuan, and diuers other, becaufe I would haflen to ende thys rehearfall, perhappes offenfyue to fome, whom eyther by forgetfulnes, or want of knowledge, I mufl. needes ouer paffe. And once againe, I am humbly to defire pardon of the learned company of Gentlemen Schollers, and Englifh Poetrie. 35 ftudents of the Vniueriities, and Innes of Courte, yf I omitte theyr feuerall commendations in this place, which I knowe a great number of them haue worthely deferued, in many rare deuifes, and fmguler inuentions of Poetrie : for neither hath it beene my good happe, to haue feene all which I haue hearde of, neyther is my abyding in fuch place, where I can with facility get knowledge of their workes^ One Gentleman notwithflanding among them may I not ouerflyppe, fo farre reacheth his fame, and fo worthy is he, if hee haue not already, to weare the Lawrell wreathe, Mailer George VVhetJlone, a man Angularly well fkyld in this faculty of Poetrie: To him I wyl ioyne Anthony Munday, an earneft. traueller in this arte, and in whofe name I haue feene very excellent workes, among which furely, the mofl exquifite vaine of a witty poeticall heade is fhewed in the fweete fobs of Sheepheardes and Nymphes : a worke well worthy to be viewed, and to bee efleemed as very rare Poetrie. With thefe I may place John Graunge, Knyght, VVyl- mott, Darrell, F. C. F. K. G. B. and many other, whofe names come not nowe to my remembraunce. This place haue I purpofely referued for one, who if not only, yet in my iudgement principally deferueth the tytle of the rightefl Englifh Poet, that euer I read : that is, the Author of the Sheepeheardes Kalender, intituled to the woorthy Gentleman Mafler Phillip Sydney, whether it was Mafler Sp. or what rare Schol- ler in Pembrooke Hall foeuer, becaufe himfelf and his freendes, for what refpect I knowe not, would not reueale it, I force not greatly to fette downe : forry I am that I can not find none other with whom I might couple him in this Catalogue, iij his rare gyft of Poetry: although one there is, though nowe long fmce, ferioufly occupied in grauer fludies, (Mafler Gabriell Haruey) yet, as he was once his mofl fpecial freende and fellow Poet, fo becaufe he hath taken fuch paynes, not onely in his Latin Poetry (for which he enioyed great com- mendations of the befl both in iudgment and dignity in 36 A Difcourfe of thys Realme) but alfo to reforme our Englifli verfe, and to beautify the fame- with braue deuifes, of which I thinke the cheefe lye hidde in hateful! obfcurity : there- fore wyll I aduenture to fette them together, as two of the rarefl witts, and learnedft. maflers of Poetrie in England. Whofe worthy and notable fkyl in this faculty, I would wyfli if their high dignities and ferious bufmeffes would permit, they would flyll graunt to' bee a furtheraunce to that reforined kinde of Poetry, which Mafter Haruey did once beginne to ratify : and furely in mine opinion, if hee had chofen fome grauer matter, and handled but with halfe that fkyll, which I knowe he could haue doone, and not powred it ifoorth at a venture, as a thinge betweene iefl. and earneft., it had taken greater effect then it did. As for the other Gentleman, if it, would pleafe him or hys freendes to let thofe excellent Poemes, whereof I know he hath plenty, come abroad, as his Dreames, his Legends, his Court of Cupid, his English Poet with other: he fhoulde not onely flay the rude pens of my felfe and others, but alfo fatiffye the thirfly defires of many which defire riothing more, then to fee more of hys rare inuentions. If I ioyne to Mafler Haruey hys two Brethren, I am affured, though they be both bufied with great and waighty callinges (the one a godly and learned Diuine, the other a famous and IkylfuU Phifition) yet if they lylled to fette to their helping handes to Poetry, they would as much beautify and adorne it as any others. If I let paffe the vncoun table rabble of ryming Ballet makers and compylers of fenceleffe fonets, who be mofl. bufy, to fluffe euery flail full of groffe deuifes and vn- leamed Pamphlets : I trufl, I fhall with the befl. fort be held excufed. Nor though many fuch can frame an Alehoufe fong of fine of fixe fcore verfes, hobbling vppon fome tune of a Northen lygge, or Robyn hoode, or La lubber etc. And perhappes obferue iufl number of fillables, eyght in one line, fixe in an other, and there withall an A to make a iercke in the ende : yet if thefe Englifh Poetrie. 37 might be accounted Poets (as it is fayde fome of them make meanes to be promoted to ye Lawrell) furely we ftiall fhortly haue whole fwarmes of Poets : and euery one that can frame a Booke in Ryme, though for want of matter, it be but in commendations of Copper nofes or Bottle Ale, wyll catch at the Garlande due to Poets : whofe potticall poeticall (I fhould fay) heades, I would wyflie, at their worfhipfuU comencements might in fleede of Lawrell, be gorgioufly gamiflied with fayre greene Barley, in token of their good affection to our Engliflie Malt. One fpeaketh thus homely of them, with whofe words I wyll content my felfe for thys time, be- caufe I woulde not bee too broade wyth them in myne owne fpeeche. In regarde (he meaneth of the learned framing the newe Poets workes which writt the Sheepheardes Calen- der.) I fcorne and fpue out the rakehelly rout of our ragged Rymers, (for fo themfelues vfe to hunt the Let- ter) which without learning boafle, without iudgment iangle, without reafon rage and fume, as if fome inflinct of poeticall fpyrite had newlie rauifhed them, aboue the meaneffe of common capacity. And beeing in the midft of all their brauery, fuddainly for want of matter or of Ryme, or hauing forgotten their former conceyt, they feeme to be ,fo payned and trauelled in theyr remembraunce, as it were a woman itt Chyldbyrth, or as that fame Pythia when the traunce came vpon her. Os rabidumfera cor da domans etc. Hus farre foorth haue I aduentured to fette downe parte of my fimple iudgement con- cerning thofe Poets, with whom for the moil part Ihaue beene acquainted through myne owne reading : which though it may 38 A Difcourfe of feeme fomething impertinent to the tytle of my Booke, yet I trufl the courteous Readers wyll pardon me, con- fidering that poetry is not of that grounde and antiquity in our EngUfh tongue, but that fpeaking thereof only as it is EngUfh, would feeme like vnto the drawing of ones pycture without a heade. Nowe therefore by your gentle patience, wyll I wyth like "breuity make tryall, what I can fay concerning our Enghfhe Poetry, firfl in the matter thereof, then in the forme, that is, the manner of our verfe ; yet fo as I muil euermore haue recourfe to thofe times and wryters, whereon the Englilh poetry taketh as it were the difcent and proprietye. Englifli Poetry therefore beeing confidered accord- ing to common cuflome and auncient vfe, is, where any worke is learnedly compiled in meafurable fpeeche, and framed in wordes contayning number or propor- tion of iufl fyllables, delighting the readers or hearers as well, by the apt and decent framing of wordes in equall refemblance of quantity, commonly called verfe, as by the Ikyllfull handhng of the matter whereof it is intreated. I fpake fomewhat of the beginning Of thys meafuring of wordes in iufl number, taken out of Plato: and indeede the regarde of true quantity in Letters and fyllables, feemeth not to haue been much vrged before the time of Homer in Greece, as Arijiotle witneffeth. The matters whereof verfes were firfl. made, were eyther exhortations to vertue, dehortations from vice, or the prayfes of fome laudable thing. From thence they beganne to vfe them in exercifes of immitating fome vertuous and wife man at their feaftes : where as fome one fhoulde be appointed to reprefent an other mans perfon of high eflimation, and he fang fine ditties and wittie fentences, tunably to their Mufick notes. Of thys fprang the firfl kinde of Comedy es,. when they beganne to bring into thefe exercifes, more perfons then one, whofe fpeeches were deuifed Dyalogue wife, in aunfwering one another. And of fuch hke exer- Englifh Poetrie. 39 cifes, or as fome wyll needes haue it, long before the other, began the firfl Tragedies, and were fo called of Tpayo^, becaufe the Actor when he. began to play his part, flewe and offered a Goate to their Goddeffe: but Commedies tooke their name of Ko/jid^eiv Kai aSeiv comefsatum ire, to goe a fealling, becaufe they vfed to goe in proceffion with their fport about the Citties and Villages, mingling much pleafaunt myrth wyth theyr graue Religion, and feafting cheerefully together wyth as great ioy as might be deuifed. But not long after (as one delight draweth another) they began to inuent new perfons and newe matters for their Comedies, fuch as the deuifers thought meetefl to pleafe the peoples vaine: And from thefe, they beganne to pre- fent in fliapes of men, the natures of vertues and vices, and affections and quallities incident to men, as luflice, Temperance, Pouerty, Wrathe, Vengeaunce, Sloth, Valiantnes, and fuch like, as may appeare by the auncient workes of Arijlophanes. There grewe at lafl to be a greater diuerfitye betweene Tragedy wryters and Comedy wryters, the one expreffing onely forrow- fuU and lamentable Hyflories, bringing in the perfons of Gods and Goddeffes, Kynges and Queenes, and great dates, whofe parts were cheefely to expreffe mofl. miferable calamities and dreadfull chaunces, which increafed worfe and worfe, tyll they came to the mofl, wofull plight that might be deuifed. The Comedies on the other fide, were directed to a contrary ende, which beginning doubtfully, drewe to fome trouble or turmoyle, and by fome lucky chaunce alwayes ended to the ioy and appeafement of all parties. Thys difl.inction grewe as fome holde opinion, by immitation of the workes of Homer : for out of his Iliads, the Tragedy wryters founde dreadfull euents, whereon to frame their matters, and the other out of hys Odyffea tooke arguments of delight, and pleafant ending after dangerous and troublefome doubtes. So that, though there be many fortes of poeticall wrytings, and Poetry is not debarred from any matter, which 40 A Difcourfe of may be expreffed by penne or fpeeche, yet for the better vnderflanding, and breefer method of thys difcourfe, I may comprehende the fame in three fortes, which are Comicall, Tragicall, Hiflori[c]all. Vnder the firfl, may be contained all fuch Epigrammes, Elegies and delectable ditties, which Poets haue deuifed re- fpecting onely the delight thereof: in the feconde, all dolefuU complaynts, lamentable chaunces, and what foeuer is poetically expreffed in forrow and heauines. In the third, we "may comprife, tthe refle of all fuch matters, which is indifferent betweene the other two, doo commonly occupy the pennes-of Poets: fuch, are the poeticall compyling of Chronicles, the freendly greetings betweene freendes, and very many fortes befides, which for the better diflinction may be refer- red to one of thefe three kindes of Poetry. But once againe, leaft, my difcourfe runne too farre awry, wyll I buckle my felfe more neerer to Englifh Poetry: the vfe wherof, becaufe it is nothing different from any other, I thinke befl. to confirme by the teflimony of Horace, a man worthy to beare authority in this matter: whofe very opinion is this, that the perfect perfection of poetrie is this, to mingle delight with profitt in fuch wyfe, that a Reader might by his read- ing be pertaker of bothe, which though I touched in the beginning, yet I thought good to alledge in this place for more confirmation thereof fome of hys owne wordes. In his treatife de arte Poetica, thus hee fayth. Aut prodeffe vohmt aut delegare poetiz, Autfimul et iucunda et idonea dicer e vitce. As much to faie: All Poets defire either by their works to profitt or delight men, or els to io)me both profitable and pleafant leffons together for the inflruc- tion of life. And again Englifh Poetrie. 41 Omne tulU punBum qui mifcuU vtile dulci, LeBorum dele6lando pariterque mouendo. That is, He miffeth nothing of his marke which ioyneth profits with deUght, as well delighting his Readers, as profiting them with counfell. And that whole Epiflle which hee wryt of his Arte of Poetrie, among all the parts thereof, runneth cheefelie vppon this, that whether the argument which the Poet hand- leth, be of thinges ddone, or fained inuentions, yet that they ftiould beare fuch an Image of trueth, that as they delight they may hkewife profitt. For thefe are his wordes. Filla voluptatis caufa fint proximo, veris. Let thinges that are faigned for pleafures fake, haue a neere refemblance of ye truth. This precept may you perceiue to bee mofl duelie obferued of Chawcer: for who could with more delight, prefcribe fuch wholfome counfaile and fage aduife, where he feemeth onelie to refpect the profitte of his leffons and inflructions? or who coulde with greater wifedome, or more pithie (kill, vnfold fuch pleafant and delightfome matters of mirth, as though they refpected nothing, but the telling of a merry tale? fo that this is the very grounde of right poetrie, to giue^profitable coun- faile, yet fo as it mud be mingled with delight. For among all the auncient works of poetrie, though the mod of them incline much to that part of delighting men with pleafant matters of fmall importaunce, yet euen in the vaineft. trifles among them, there is not forgotten fome profitable counfaile, which a man may learne, either by flatte precepts which therein are pre- fcribed, or by loathing fuch vile vices, the enormities whereof they largelie difcouer. For furelie, I am of this opinion, that the wantoneft. Poets of all, in their mofl laciuious workes wherein they bufied themfelues, fought rather by that meanes to withdraw mens raindes (efpeciallie the bell natures) from fuch foule vices, then to allure them to imbrace fuch beaflly follies as they detected. 42 A Difcourfe of Horace fpeaking of_,the generall dueties of Poets, fayth, Os tenerum pueri balbumque poeta fugitat,, and manie more wordes concerning the profitte to be hadde out of Poets, which becaufe I haue fome of them com- prifed into an Englifli tranflation of that learned and famous knight, Sir Thomas Elyot, I wyll fet downe his wordes. The Poet fafliioneth by fome pleafant meane, The fpeeche of children flable and vnfure: Gulling their eares from wordes and thingeSvncleane, Giuing to them precepts that are pure : Rebuking enuy and wrath if it dure : Thinges well donne he can by example commend, To needy and ficke he doth alfo his cure To recomfort if ought he can amende. And manie other like wordes are in that place of Ho- race to like effect. Therefore poetrie, as it is of it felfe, without abufe is not onely not vnprofitable to the liues and fludies of menne, but wonderfull commendable and of great excellencie. For nothing can be more accept- able to men, or rather to be wifhed, then fweete allure- ments to vertues, and commodious caueates from vices? of which Poetrie is exceeding plentifull, powring into gentle witts, not roughly and tirannicallie, but it is were with a louing authoritie. Nowe if the ill and vndecent prouocations, whereof fomevnbridled witts take occafion by the reading of laciuious Poemes, bee obiected : fuch as are Quids loue Bookes, and Elegies, Tibullus, Catul- lus, and Martials workes, with the Comedies for the mod part of Plautus and Terence: I thinke it eafily aunfwered. For though it may not iufllie be denied, that thefe workes are indeede very Poetrie, yet that Poetrie in them is not the" effentiall or formall matter or caufe of the. hurt therein might be affirmed, and although that reafon fliould come fliort, yet this might be fufficient, that the workes themfelues doo not cor- rupt, but the abufe of the vfers, who vndamaging their Englifh Poetrie, 43 owne difpofitions, by reading the difcoueries of vices, refemble foolifh folke, who comming into a Garden without anie choife or circumfpection tread downe the fairefl flowers, and wilfulHe thrull their fingers among the nettles. And fureUe to fpeake what I vereHe thinke, this is mine opinion : that one hauing fufficient fkyll, to reade and vnderfland thofe workes, and yet no flaie of him felfe to auoydeinconueniences, which the remembraunce of vnlawfuU things may flirre vppe in his minde, he, in my iudgement, is wholy to bee reputed a laciuious dif- pofed perfonne, whom the recitall of fins whether it be in a good worke or a badde, or vppon what occafion foeuer, wyll not flaie him but prouoke him further vnto them. Contrariwife, what good leffonsthe warie and (kylful Readers fliall picke out of the very worfl of them, if they hft, to take anie heede, and reade them not of an intent to bee made the worfe by them, you may fee by thefe fewe fentences, which the forefayd Sir Thomas Elyott gathered as he fayth at all aduentures,^ intreat- ing of the like argument. FirfL Plautus in commenda- tions of vertue, hath fuch like wordes. Verely vertue doth all thinges excell. For if liberty, health liuing or fubflaunce, I Our Country bur parents, and children doo well, It Jiapneth by vertue: fhe doth all aduaunce, Vertue hath all thinges vnder gouernaunce : And in whom of vertue is founde great plenty, Any thing that is good may neuer be dainty. Terence, in Eunucho hath a profitable fpeeche, in blafing foorth the fafhions of harlots, before the eyes of young men. Thus fayth Parmeno. In thys thing I tryumphe in myne owne conceite, That I haue found for all young men the way, Howe they of Harlots (hall know the deceite. Their witts and manners ; , that thereby they may Them perpetualhe hate, for fo much as they 44 A Difcourfe of Out of their owne houfes be frefh arid delicate. Feeding curioufly. at home all day Lyuing beggerlie in mofl wretched eflate. And many more wordes of the fame matter, but which may be gathered by thefe fewe. Ouid, in his mofl. wanton Bookes of loue, and the remedies thereof, hath very many pithie and wife fen- tences, which a heedefull Reader may marke, and chofe out from ye other fluffe. This is one. T)Tne is a medicine of it (hall profitt, Wine gyuen out of tyme may be annoyaunce. And man (hall irritat vice if he prohibitt, When time is not meete vnto his vtteraunce. Therfore if thou yet by eounfayle art recuperable, Fly thou from idlenes and euer be flable. Martiall, a moil diffolute wryter among all other, yet not without many graue'and prudent fpeeches, as this is one worthy to be marked of thefe fond youthes which intangle theyr wytts in raging loue, who depping once ouer fhoes in theyr fancyes, neuer reft plunging till they be ouer head and eares in their follie. If thou wylt efchewe bitter aduenture. And auoyde the annoyance of a penfifull hart. Set in no one perfon all wholly thy pleafure, The leffe maifl thou ioy, but the leffe (halt thou fmart. Thefe are but fewe gathered out by happe, yet fuffi- cient to (hewe that the wife and circumfpect Readers riiay finde very many profitable, leffons, difperfed in thefe workes, neither take any harme by reading fuch Poemes, but good, if they wil , themfelues. Neuerthe- les, I would not be thought to hold opinion, that the reading of them is fo tollerable, as that there neede no refpect to be had in making, choyfe of readers or hearers : for if they be prohibited from the tender and vnconftant wits of children and young mindes, I thinke Englifh Poetrie. 4S it not without great reafon : neyther am I of that deuiliifh opinion, of which fome there are, and haue beene ,in England, who hauing charge of youth to in- flruct them in learning, haue efpecially made choyfe of fuch vnchildifh fluffe, to reade vnto young Schollers, as it ftioulde feeme of fome filthy purpofe, wylfully to corrupt theyr tender mindes, and prepare them the more ready for theyr loathfome dyetts. For as it is fayd of that impudent worke of Luciane, a man were better to reade none of it then all of it, fo thinke I that thefe workes are rather to be kept alto- gether from children, then they fhould haue free liberty to reade them, before they be meete either of their owne difcretion or by heedefull inflruction, to make choyfe of the good from the badde.- As for our Englifhe Poetrie, I know no fuch perilous peeces (except a fewe balde ditties made ouer the Beere potts, which are nothing leffe then Poetry) which anie man may vfe and reade without damage or daunger : which indeede is leffe to be meruailed at among vs, then among the olde Latines and Greekes, confidering that Chriflianity may be a flaie to fuch illecibrous workes and inuentions, as among them (for their Arte fake) myght obtaine paffage. Nowe will I fpeake fomewhat, of that princehe part of Poetrie, wherein are difplaied the noble actes and valiant exploits of puiffaunt Captaines, expert fouldiers, wife men, with the famous reportes of auncient times, fuch as are the Heroycall workes of Homer in Greeke, and the heauenly verfe of Virgils 'jEneidos in Latine : which workes, comprehending as it were the fumme and ground of all Poetrie, are vereHe and incompar- ably the beft. of all other. To thefe, though wee haue no Englifh worke aunfwerable, in refpect of the glorious ornaments of gallant handling : yet our auncient Chroni- clers and reporters of our Countrey afra)Tes, come moil neere them : and no doubt, if fuch regarde of our Englifh fpeeche, and curious handUng of our verfe, had beene long fince thought vppon, and from time to 46 A Difcourfe of time been poUifhed and bettered by men of learning, iudgement, and authority, it would ere this, haue matched them in all - refpects. A manifeft example thereof, may bee the great good' grace and fweete vayne, which Eloquence hath attained in our fpeeche, be- caufe it hath had the help'e of fuch rare and finguler wits, as from time to time myght flill adde fome amendment to the fame. Among whom I thinke there is none that will gainfay, but Mailer lohn Lilly hath deferued mofle high commendations, as he which hath flept one fleppe further therein then any either before or fmce he fiifl, began the wyttie difcourfe of his Euphues. Whofe workes, furely in refpecte of his finguler eloquence and braue compofition of apt words and fentences, let the learned examine and make tryall thereof thorough all the partes of Rethoricke, in fitte phrafes, in pithy fentences, in gallant tropes, in flowing fpeeche, in plaine fence, and furely in my iudgment, I thinke he wyll yeelde him that verdict, which Quiniilian giueth of bothe the bell Orators Demojlhenes and Tully, that from the one, nothing may be taken away, to the other, nothing may be added. But a more neerer example to prooue my fonner aflertion true (I meane ye meetneffe of our fpeeche to receiue the befl, forme of Poetry) may bee taken by conference of that famous tranflation of Mailer D. Phaer with the coppie it felfe, who foeuer pleafe with courteous iudgement but a little to compare and marke them both together : and weigh with himfelfe, whether the Englifti tongue might by little and little be brought to the verye maiefly of a ryght HeroicaJl verfe. Firfl you may marke, how Virgill alwayes fitteth his matter in hande with wordes agree- able vnto the fame affection, which he expreffeth, as in hys Tragicall exclamations, what pathe[ti]call fpeeches he frameth? in his comfortable confolations, howe fmoothely hys verfe runnes ? in his dreadfull battayles, and dreery byckerments of warres, howe'bygge and boyflrous his wordes found ? and the like notes in all partes of his worke may be obferued. Which excellent Englifh Poetrie. 47 grace and comely kind of choyfe, if the tranflatour hath not hitte very neere in our courfe Englifh phrafe iudge vprightly : wee wyll conferre fome of the places, not picked out for the purpofe, but fuch as I tooke turning ouer the Booke at randon. When the Troyans were fo toft, about in tempeftious wether, caufed by ^olus at lunoes requeft, and driuen vpon the coafle oiAffrick with a very neere fcape of their Hues : ^neas after hee had gone a land and kylled plenty of victuals for his company of Souldiours, hee deuided the fame among them, and thus louinglie and fweetely he comforted them. jEn. Lib. i. et dictis tticBrentia pectora mfilcet O focii (neque ignarifumus ante malorum) O pafsi grauiora: dabit deus his quoquefinem Vos etfcyllcBam rabiem, penitufque fonantes, Accestis fcopulos : vos et cydopea faxa Experti, reuocate animos, mcejlumque timorem Mittite, for/an et hcec olim meminiffe iuuabit. Per varies cqfus, per tot difcrimina rerum Tendimus in Latium: fedes vbifata quietas Ostendunt, illic fas regna refurgere troioe, Durate, et vofmet rebus feruate fecundis. Talia voce rlfert, curifque ingentibus ceger Spem vulta fimulat, premit altum corde dolorem. Tranflated thus^ And then to cheere their heauy harts with thefe words he him bent. O Mates (quoth he) that many a woe haue bidden and borne ere thys, Worle haue we feene, and this alfo fhall end when Gods wyll is. Through Sylla rage (ye wott) and through the roaring rocks we paft, Though Cyclops fhore was full of feare, yet came we througJi at lafl. 48 A Difcourfe of Plucke vppe your harts, and driue from thence both feare and care away. To thinke on this may pleafure be perhapps another day. By paynes and many a daunger fore, by fundry chaunce we wend, To come to Italy, where we trufl to find our refling ende : A.nd where the deftnyes haue decreed Troyes Kingdome eft to ryfe Be bold and harden now your harts, take eafe while eafe applies Thus fpake he tho, but in his hart huge cares had hirn opprefl, . Diffembling hope with outward eyes' full heauy was his breft. Againe, marke the wounding of Dido in loue with ^neas, with howe choyfe wordes it is pithily defcribed, both by the Poet and the tranflator in the beginning of the fourth booke. At Regina graui iam dudumfaucia cur a Volnus alii venis, et cmco carpitur igfti, etc. By this time perced fatte the Queene fo fore with loues defire, Her wound in euery vayne fhe feedes, fhe fryes in fecrete fire. The manhood of the man full oft, full oft his famous lyne She doth reuolue, and from her thought his face cannot vntwyne. His countnaunce deepe (he drawes and fixed faft. fhe beares in brefl, His words alfo, nor to her carefuil hart can come no reft. And in many places of the fourth booke is the fame mat- ter fo gallantly profecuted in fweete wordes, as in mine opinion the coppy it felfe goeth no whit beyond it. Compare them likewife in the woefull and lamentable Englifh Poetrie, 49 cryes of the Queene for the departure oi^neas, towards the ende of that Booke. Terque quaierqice manu peHtis percuffa decorum Fiauentifque abfciffa comas, proh lupiter, ibit 1 Hie ait, ef nostris inluferit aduena Regnis 1 etc. Three times her hands fhe bet, and three times flrake her comely brefl, Her golden hayre flie tare and frantiklike with moode opprefl, She cryde, O lupiter, O God, quoth fhe, and fhall a goe? Indeede ? -and fhall a flowte me thus within my king- dome fo ? Shall notmine Annies out, andallmypeoplethempurfue? Shall they not fpoyle their fhyps and bunie them vp with vengance due ? Out people, out vppon them, follow fafl with fires antl flames. Set fayles aloft, make out with oares, in fliips, in boates, in frames. What fpeake I ? or where am I ? what furies me doo thus inchaunt ? O Dydo, wofull wretch, now deflnyes fell thy head dooth haunt. And a little after preparing to kyll her owne felfe. But Dydo quaking fierce with frantike moode and griefly hewe. With trembling fpotted cheekes, her huge attempting to perfue. Befides her felfe for rage, and towards death with vifage wanne. Her eyes about (he rolde, as redde as blood they looked than. so A Difcourfe of At lafl ready to fall vppon ^neas fworde. O happy (welaway) and ouer happy had-I beene, If neuerTroian Ihyps (ahlas) myCountryfhorehadfeene. Thus fayd flie wryde her head, and vnreuenged muft. we die ? But let vs boldly die (quoth fhee) thus, thus to death I ply- Nowe likewife for the braue warlike phrafe and bygge founding k)Tad of thundring fpeeche, in the hotte fkyr- myflies of battels, you may confer them in any of the laft. flue Bookes : for examples fake, thys is one about the ninth Booke. Et clantor totis per propugnaeula muris, fntendunt aeries arms, amentaque tofquent. Sternitur omnefolum telis, tum^fcutcB caumque Dant fonitum flidu galea: pugna asper furgit i etc. A clamarous noyfe vpmounts on fortrelTe tops and bulwarks towres, They llrike, they bend their bowes, they whirle from . firings fliarp (hoting fhowres. All flreetes with tooles are flrowed, than helmets', fkuUes, with battrings marrd. And fhieldes difhyuering cracke, vprifeth roughneffe byckring hard . Looke how the tempeft florme when wind out wraft- ling blowes at fouth, Raine ratling beates the grownde, or clowdes of haile from Winters mouth, Downe dalhyng headlong driues,-when God from Ikyes with griefly lleuen. His watry fhowres outwrings, and whirlwind clowdes downe breakes from heauen. And fo foorth much more of the like eflfect. Englifh Poetrie. 51 Ohely one comparifon more will I defire you to marke at your leyfures, which may ferae for all the refl, that is, the defcription of Fame, as it is in the 4. booke, towardes the end, of which it followeth thus. ^ Monstrum horrendum ingenscuiquotfuntcorporeplumm Tot vi^ilos oculi etc. Monfler gaflly great, for euery plume her carkaffe beares, Like number learing eyes fhe hath, like number harkning eares, Like number tongues, and mouthes fhe wagges, a wondrous thing to fpeake. At midnight foorth fliee flyes, and vnder fhade her found dooth fqueake. All night fhe wakes, nor fluraber fweete doth take nor neuer fleepes. By dayes on houfes tops fliee fits or gates of Townes Ihe keepes. On watching Towres fhe clymbes, and Citties great fhe makes agafl. Both trueth and falfhood forth (he telles, and lyes abroade doth call. But what neede I to repeate any more places? there is not one Booke among the twelue, which wyll not yeelde you mod excellent pleafure in conferring the tranflation with the Coppie, and marking the gallant grace which our Englifhe fpeeche affoordeth. And in traeth the like comparifons, may you choofe out through the whole tranflations of the Metamorphofis by Mailer Golding who (confidering both their Coppyes) hath equally deferued commendations for the beauti- fying of the Englifli fpeeche. It would be tedious to flay to rehearfe any places out of him nowe : let the other fufSce to prooue, that the EngUfli tongue lacketh neyther variety nor currantneffe of phrafe for any matter. 52 A Difcourfe of Wyll nowe fpeake a little of an other kinde of poetical writing, which might notwith- ftanding for the variableneffe of the argu- ment therein vfually handled, bee com- prehended in thofekindes before declared : • that is, the compyling Eglogues, as much to fay as Goteheardes tales, becaufe they bee commonly Dia- logues or fpeeches framed or fuppofed betweene Sheepeheardes, Neteheardes, Goteheardes, or fuch like fimple men : in which kind of writing, many haue obtained as immortall prayfe and commendation, as in any other. The . cheefefl of thefe is TTheocritus in Greeke, next him, and almofl the very fame, is Virgill in Latin. After Virgy/ in like fort writ Tiius Calphurnius and Baptijla Mantuan, wyth many other both in Latine and other languages very learnedlye. Although the matter they take in hand feemeth commonHe in ap- pearaunce rude and homely, as the- vfuall talke of fimple clownes: yet doo they indeede vtter in the fame much pleafaunt and profitable dehght. For vnder thefe perfonnes, as it were in a cloake of- fimpli- citie, they would eyther fette foorth the prayfes of theyr freendes, without the note of flattery, or enueigh grieuoufly againft abufes, without any token of byt- terneffe. Somwliat like vnto thefe works, are many peeces of Chawcer, but yet not altogether fo poeticall. But nowe yet at ye laft, hath England hatched vppe one Poet of this, forte, in my confcience comparable with the befl in any'refpect: euen Mailer 6^: Author of the Sheepeheardes Calender, whofe trauell in that peece of Englifli Poetrie, I thinke verely is fo commendable, as none of equall iudgment can yeelde him leffe prayfe Englifh Poetrie. 53 for hys excellent flcyll, and IkylfuU excellency Ihewed foorth in the fame, then they would to eyther Theo- critus or Virgil, whom in mine opinion, if the courfe- nes of our fpeeche (I meane the courie of cuflome which he woulde not infringe) had beene no more let vnto him, then theyr pure natiue tongues were vnto them, he would haue (if it might be) furpaffed them. What one thing is there in them fo worthy admiration, whereunto we may not adioyne fome thing of his, of equall defert? Take Virgil and make fome little comparifon betweene them, and iudge as ye fhall fee caufe. Virgin hath a gallant report of Augujlus couertly compryfed in the firfl, Aiglogue: the like is in him, of her Maieflie, vnder the name oi Eliza. Virgin ma.ktth a braue coloured complaint of vnfledfaft. freendlhyppe in the perfon of Cory don: the lyke is him in his 5 •tSglogue. Agayne behold the pretty Paflorall con- tentions of Virgin in the third ^glogue: of him in ye eight Eglogue. Finally, either in comparifon with them, or refpect of hys owne great learning, he may well were the Garlande, and fleppe before ye befl, of all Englilh Poets that I haue feene or hearde : for I thinke no leife deferueth (thus fayth E, K in hys commendations) hys wittineffe in deuifmg, his pithi neffe in vttering, his complaintes of loue fo louely, his difcourfes of pleafure fo pleafantly, his Paflrall rude nes, his Morrall wyfeneffe, his due obfeming of decorum euery where, in perfonages, in feafon, in matter, in fpeeche, and generally in all feemely fimplicity, of handling hys matter and framing hys wordes. The occafion of his worke is a warning to other young men, who being intangled in loue and youthful vanities, may leame to looke to themfelues in time, and to auoyde' inconueniences which may breede if they be not in time preuented. Many good Morrall leffons are therein contained, as the reuerence which young men owe to the aged in the fecond Eglogue: the caueate or warning to beware a fubtill profeffor of 54 A Difcourfe of frdendfliippe in the Mt Eg/ogwe: the commendation of good Pallors, and fliame and difprayfe of idle and ambitious Goteheardes in the feauenth, the loofe and retchleffe lyuing of Popifh Prelates in the ninth. The Learned and fweete complaynt of the contempt of learning" vnder the name of Poetry in the tenth. There is alfo much matter vttered fomewhat couertly, efpecially ye abufes of fome whom he would not be too playne withall : in which, though it be not appar- ant to euery one, what hys fpeciall meaning was, yet fo fkilfuUy is it handled, as any man may take much delight at hys learned conueyance, and picke out much good fence in the mofl obfcureft, of it._ Hys notable prayfe deferued in euery parcell of that worke, becaufe I cannot expreffe as I woulde and as it fliould : I wyll ceafe to fpeake any more of, the rather becaufe I neuer hearde as yet any that hath reade it, which hath not with much admiration commended it. One only thing therein haue I hearde fome curious heades call in queflion: viz: the motiofi of fome vnfauery loue, fuch as in the fixt Eglogue he feemeth to deale withall (which fay they) is (kant allowable to Englifh eares, and might well haue beene left for the Italian defenders of loathfome beafl'lines, of whom perhappes he learned it : to thys obiection I haue often aunfwered and (I thinke truely) that theyr nyce opinion ouer Ihooteth the Poets meaning, who though hee in that as in other thinges, immitateth the auncient Poets, yet doth not meane, no more did they before hym, any difordered loue, or the filthy lufl of the deuillifli Federajiice taken in the worfe fence, but rather to fhewe howe the diffolute life of young men intangled in loue of women, doo neglect the freendfhyp and league with their olde freendes and familiers. Why (fay they) yet he fhold gyue no occafion of fufpition, nor offer to the viewe of Chriflians, any token of fuch filthineffe, howe good foeuer hys meaning were : where- vnto I oppofe the fimple conceyte they haue of matters which conceme learning or wytt, wylling them to gjae Englifh Poetrie. 55 Poets leaue to vfe theyr vayne as they fee good : it is their foolyfh conflruction, not hys wryting that is blameable. Wee mufl prefcrybe to no wryters, (much leffe to Poets) in what forte they fliould vtter theyr conceyts. But thys wyll be better difcuffed by fome I hope of better abilHty. One other forte of Poeticall wryters remayneth yet to bee remembred, that is, The precepts of Hufbandiy, learnedly compiled in Heroycall verfe. Such were the workes of Hefiodus in Greeke, and Virgils Georgickes in Latine. What memorable worke hath beene hand- led in immitation x)f thefe by any EngUfli Poet, I know not, (faue onely one worke of M. Tuffer, a peece furely of great wytt and experience, and wythal very prettilye handled) And I thinke the caufe why our Poets haue not trauayled in that behalfe, is efpecially, for that there haue beene alwayes plenty of other wryters that haue handled the fame argument very largely. Among whom Mafler Barnabe Googe, in tranflating and enlarging the mofl profitable worke of Heresbachius, hath deferued much commendation, as well for hys faythfull compyling and learned increafing the noble worke, as for hys wytty tranflation of a good part of the Georgickes of Virgil into Englifh verfe. Among all the tranflations, which hath beene my fortune to fee, I could neuer yet finde that worke of the Georgicks wholly performed. I remember once Abraham Flemming in his conuerfion of the Eglogues, promifed to tranflate and publifhe it : whether he dyd or not I knowe not, but as yet I heard not of it. I my felfe wott well I beflowed fome time in it'two or three yeeres fmce, turning it to that fame Englifh verfe, whicb other fuch workes were in, though it were rudely : howe beit, I did it onely for mine owne vfe, and vppon certayne refpectes towardes a Gentleman mine efpeciall freende, to whom I was defirous to fliewe fome token of duetifull good wyll, and not minding it fhould goe farre abroade, ronfidering howe flenderly I ranne it 56 A Difcourfe of ouer, yet fince then, hath one gott it in keeping, who as it is told me, eyther hatli or wyll vnaduifedly pub- hflie it : which iniury though he meanes to doo me in m)T:th, yet I hope he wyll make me fome fufifycient recompence, or els I fliall goe neere to watch hym the like or a worfe turne. But concerning the matter of our Englyfh wiyters, lett thys fuffice : nowe fliall ye heare my limple flsyl in what I am able to fay concerning the forme and manner of our Englyflie verfe. The mofl. vfuall and frequented kind of our Englifli Poetry hath alwayes runne vpon, and to this day is obferued in fuch equall number of fyllables, and like- nes of wordes, that in all places one verfe either im- mediatly, or by mutuall interpofition, may be aunfwer- able to an other both in proportion of length, and ending of Ijmes in the fame Letters. Which rude kinde of verfe, though (as I touched before)- it rather difcrediteth our fpeeche, as borrowed from the Bar- barians, then furnifheth the fame with any comely ornament : yet beeing fo ingraflfed by cuflome, and fre- quented by the mofl. parte, I may not vtterly diffalowe it, leaft I fliould feeme to call in queftion the iudge- ment of all our famous wryters, which haue wonne eternall prayfe by theyr memorable workes compyled in that verfe. For my part therefore, I can be content to efleeme it as a thing, the perfection whereof is very commend- able, y^t fo as wyth others I could wyfli it were by men of learning and ability bettered, and made, more artificiall, according to the woorthines of oui fpeeche. The falling out of verfes together in one like- founde, is commonly called in Englifh, Ryme, taken from the Greeke worde 'Pvd/j.os, which furely in my iudgment is verye abufiuelye applyed to fuch a fence : and by thys, the vnworthineffe of the thing may weU appeare, in that wanting a proper name, wherby to be called, it borroweth a word farre exceeding the dignitye of it, Englifh Poetrie. 57 and not appropriate to fo rude or bafe a thing. For Ryme is properly, the iuft proportion of a claufe or fentence, whether it be in profe or meeter, aptly com- prifed together : wherof there is both an naturall and an artificiall compofition, in any manner or kynde of fpeeche, eyther French, Italian, Spanifh or EngHfli : and is propper not onely to Poets, but alfo to Readers, Oratours, Pleaders, or any which are to pronounce or fpeake any thing in publike audience. The firfl begynning of Ryme (as we nowe terme it) though it be fomewhat auncient, yet nothing famous. In Greece (they fay) one Symias Rhodias, becaufe he would be fmguler in fomthing, wryt poetically of the Fable, contayning howe Jupiter beeing in Ihape of a Swanne, begatte the Egge on Leda, wherof came Caflor, Pollux, and Helena, whereof euery verfe ended in thys Ryme, and was called therefore wov but thys foolyfhe attempt was fo contemned and difpyfed, that the people would neither admitte the Author nor Booke any place in memory of learning. Since that it was not hearde of, till ye time ye Hunnes and Gothians renued it agayne, and brought it into Italie. But howfoeuer or wherefoeufir it beganne, certayne it is, that in our Englifh tongue it beareth ^s good grace, or rather better, then in any other : and is a faculty whereby many may and doo deferue great prayfe and commendation, though our fpeeche be capable of a farre more learned manner of verfifying, as I wyl partly declare heereafter. There be three fpeciall notes neceffary to be obferued in the framing of our accuflomed Englifh Ryme : the firfl is, that one meeter or verfe be aunfwerable to an other, in equall number of feete or fyllables, or pro- portionable to the tune whereby it is to be reade or meafured. The feconde, to place the words in fuch forte, as none of them be wrefled contrary to the naturall inclination or affectation of the fame, or more truely ye true quantity thereof. The thyrd, to make them fall together mutually in Ryme, that is, in wordes 58 A Difcourfe of of like founde, but fo as the wordes be not difordered for the Rymes fake, nor the fence hindered. Thefe be the mofl. pryncipall obferuations, which I thinke requifite in an EngHfh verfe : for as for the other ornaments which belong thereto, they be more properly belonging to the feuerall gyfts of fkylfuU Poets, then common notes to be prefcribed by me : but fomewhat perhaps I fhall haue occafion to fpeake heereafter. Of the kyndes of Englifh verfes which differ in number of iyllables, there are almofl infinite : which euery way alter according to hys fancy, or to the meafure of that meeter, wherein it pleafeth hym to frame hys ditty. Of the bell and mofl, frequented I wyll rehearfe fome. The longefl verfe in length, which I haue feene vfed in Englifli confifleth of fix- teene fyllables, eache two verfes ryming together, thus. Wher vertue wants and vice abounds^ there wealth is but a bayted hooke. To make men swallow down their bane, before on danger deepe they looke. Thys kynde is not very much ,vfed at length thus, but is commonly deuided, eche verfe into two, whereof eche (hal containe eyght fyllables, and ryme croffe wyfe, the firfl; to the thyrd, and tlie fecond to the fourth, in this manner. Great wealth is but a bayted hooke. Where vertue wants, and vice aboundes : Which men deuoure before they lookej So them in daungers deepe it drownes. An other kjnd next in length to thys, is, where eche verfe hath fourteene fyllables, which is the mofl. ac- cufloraed of all other, and efpecially vfed of all the tranflatours of the Latine Poets for the mofl part thus. My mind with furye fierce inflamde of late I tnow not howe, Doth burne Parnaffus hyll to fee, adornd wytli Lawrell bowe. Which may likewyfe and fo it often is deuyded, eche Englifh Poetrie. 59 verfe into two, to [the?] firfl hauing eyght fiUables, the fecond fixe, wherof the two fixes (hall alwayes ryme, and fometimes the eyghtes, fometimes not, according to the wyll of the maker. My minde with furye fierce inflamde, Of late I knowe not howe : Doth bume Pernaffus hyll to fee, Adornd wyth Lawrell bowe. There are nowe wythin this compaffe, as many fortes of verfes as may be deuifed differences of numbers : wherof fomeconfifl, of equall proportions, fome of long and Ihort together, fome of many rymes in one flaffe (as they call it) fome of croffe ryme, fome of counter ryme, fome ryming wyth one worde farre diflant from another, fome ryming euery thyrd or fourth word, and fo likewyfe all manner of dytties applyable to euery tune that may be fung or fayd, diflinct from profe or continued fpeeche. To auoyde therefore tedioufneffe and confufion, I wyll repeate onely the different fortes of verfes out of the Sheepeheardes Calender, which may well ferue to beare authoritie in thys matter. There are in that worke twelue or thirteene fundry forts of verfes, which differ eyther in length, or ryme, of deflinction of the llaues : but of them which differ in length or number of fillables not pafl. fixe or feauen. The firfl of them is of tenne fillables. or rather fiue feete in one verfe, thus, A Sheepheards boy no better doo him call. When Winters waflfull fpight was almofl fpent. This verfe he vfeth commonly in hys fweete com- playntes, and mornefull ditties, as very agreeable to fuch affections. The fecond fort hath naturally but nyne fyllables, and is a more rough or clownifh manner of verfe, vfed mofl. commonly of him if you mark him in hys 6o A Difcourfe of fatyricall reprehenfions, and his Sheepeheardes home- lyefl, talke, fuch as the fecond jEglogue is. Ah for pitty wyll rancke Winters rage, Thefe bytter blafls neuer gynne to aiTwage. The number of nine fiUables in thys verfe is very often altered, and fo it may without any difgrace to the fame, efpecially- where the fpeeche fhould be mofl clownifli and fimple, which is much obferued of hym. The third kynd is a pretty rounde verfe, running currantly together, commonly feauen fiUables or fome- time eyght in one verfe, as many in the next, both ryming together: euery two hauing one the like verfe after them, but of rounder wordes, and two of them likewyfe r3rming mutually. That verfe expreffeth notably, light and youthfuU talke, fuch as is the th)frde ^glogue. betweene two Sheepheardes boys concerning Joue, Thomalin why fitten we fo As weren ouerwent with woe Vpon fo fayre a morrowe? The ioyous time now nigheth fail That wyll allay this bitter blaft And flake the Winter forrow. The fourth fort containeth in eche flaffe manie vnequall verfes, but mofl. fweetelie falling together: which the Poet calleth the tune of the waters falL Therein is his fong In prayfe of Eliza. Ye daintie Nymphes v.-^hich in this blefled brooke doo bathe your breft, Forfake your watrie bowres and hether looke, at my requefl. And eke yee Virgins that on Parnafs dwell, , Whence floweth Helicon the learned Well, helpe me to blaze her woorthy praife That in her fex doth all excell. etc. Englifh Poetrie. 6i The fift, is a deuided verfe of twelue fillables into two verfes, whereof I fpake before, and feemeth mod meete for ye handling of a Morrall matter, fuch as is the praife of good Paflors, and the difpraife of ill in the feauenth yEglogue. The fixt kinde, is called, a round, beeing mutuallie fung betweene two : one fmgeth one verfe, the other the next, eche rymeth with himfelfe. Per. It fell vppon a holie eue Mjjl. Hey ho hoUiday Per. Whtn holie fathers wont to flirieue, SH^l. Thus ginneth our Rondelay. etc. The feauenth forte is a verie tragicall mournefuU meafure, wherein he bewayleth the death of fome freend vnder the perfon of Dydo. Vp then Melpomene the moumfulfl, Mufe of nyne, fuch caufe of mourning neuer hadfl afore : Vp griefly ghofles, and vp my moumfull ryme : matter of myrth now fhalt thou haue no more. Dydo my deere alas is dead, Dead and lyeth wrapt in leade : O heauie hearfe Let flreaming teares be powred out in flore O carefuU vearfe. Thefe fortes of verfes for breuities fake haue I chofen foorth of him, whereby I fliall auoide the tedious re- hearfall of all the kindes which are vfed: which I thinke would haue beene vnpoffible, feeing they may be altered to as manie formes as the Poets pleafe: neither is there anie tune or flroke which may be fung or plaide on itiflruments, which hath not fome poetical ditties framed according to the numbers thereof: fome to Rogero, fome to Trenchmore, to downe right Squire, to Galliardes, to Pauines, to lygges, to Brawles, to all manner of tunes which euerie Fidler knowes better then my felfe, and therefore I will let them pafTe. 62 A Difcourfe of Againe, the diuerfities of the ftaues (which are the number of verfes contained with the diuifions or partitions of a ditty) doo often times make great differences in thefe verfes. As when one flaffe con- taineth but two verfes, or (if they bee deuided) foure: the firft or the firil couple hauing twelue fillables, the other fourteene, which veriifyers call Powlters mea- fure,becaufe fo theytall[i]e their wares by dozens. Alfo, when one flafife hath manie verfes, whereof eche one rimeth to the next, or mutuallie croffe, or diflant by three, or by foure, or ended contrarye to the begin- ning, and a hundred fortes, whereof to fhewe feuerall examples, would bee too troublefome: nowe for the fecond point. The naturall courfe of mod Englifh verfes feemeth to run vppon the olde lambicke flroake, and I may well thinke by all likelihoode, it had the beginning thereof. For if you marke the right quantitie of our vfuall verfes, ye fhall perceiue them to containe in found ye very propertie of lambick feete, as thus. u — o — u — o — o — u — u I that my flender oaten pipe in verfe was wont to founde; For tranfpofe anie of thofe feete in pronouncing, and make fliort either the two, foure, fixe, eight, tenne, twelue fiUable, and it will (doo what you can) fall out very abfurdly. Againe, though our wordes can not well bee forced to abyde th6 touch of Pofdion and other rules of Pro- fodia, yet is there fuch a naturall force or quantity in eche worde, that it will not abide anie place but one, without fome foule difgrace: as for example try anie verfe, as thys, o O U U \J — o u Of fhapes tranfformde to bodies flrange I purpofetointreate. Make the firil fillable long, or the third, or the fift and fo foorth : or contrariwife make the other fillables to admitte the fliortneffe of one of them places, and fee Englifli Poetrie. 63 what a wonderfull defacing it wil be to the wordes, as thus. — o — u — o — u — o u u Of llrangebodies tranfformd to (hapes purpofe I to in treat. So that this is one efpeciall thing to be taken heede of in making a good Englilh verfe, that by difplacing no worde bee wrefled againft. his naturall propriety, where- vnto you flial perceyue eche worde to be affected, and may eafilie difcerne it in wordes of two fillables or aboue, though fome there be of indifferencie, that wyll fland in any place. Againe, in chouching the whole fentence, the like regarde is to be had, that wee exceede not too boldly in placing the verbe out of his order, and too farre behinde the nowne : which the neceffitie of Ryme may oftentimes vrge. For though it be toUerable in a verfe to fette wordes fo extraordinarily as other fpeeche will not admitt, yet heede is to be taken, leafl by too much affecting that manner, we make both the verfe vnpleafant and the fence obfcure. And fure it is a wonder to fee the folly of manie in this refpect, that vfe not onely too much of thys ouerthwart placing, or rather difplacing of wordes, ia theyr Poemes and verfes, but alfo in theyr profe or continued writings : where they thinke to rolle mofl. fmoothlie, and flow mofl eloquently, there by this means, come foorth theyr fentences dragging at one Authors tayle as they were tyde together with poynts, where often you (hall tarrie (fcratching your heade) a good fpace before you (hall ■heare hys principall verbe or fpeciall word, leafle hys finging grace, which in his fentence is contained fhould be leffe, and his fpeeche feeme nothing poeticall. The thyrd obferuation is, the Ryme or like ending of verfes : which though it is of lead importance, yet hath won fuch credite among vs, that of all other it is mofl regarded of the greatefl part of Readers. And furely as I am perf waded, the regarde of wryters to this, hath beene the greatefl decay of that good order of verfifying, which might ere this haue beene eflablilhed 64 A Difcourfe of in our fpeeche. In my iudgment, if there be any orna- ment in the fame, it is rather to be attributed to the plentiful! fulneffe of our fpeeche, which can aflfoorde ryming words fufficient for the handling of any matter, then to the thing it felfe for any beautifying it bringeth to a worke : which might bee adorned with farre more excellent coUours then ryming is. Notwithflanding I cannot but yeelde vnto it (as cuflome requireth) the deferued prayfes, efpecially where it is with good iudge-. ment ordered. And I thinke them right worthy ot admiration, for their readines and plenty of wytt and capacity, who ' can with facility intreate at large, and as we call it extempore, in good and fencible ryme, vppon fome vnacquainted matter. The ready (kyll of framing anie thing in verfe, befides the naturall promptneffe which many haue therevnto, is much helped by Arte, and exercife of the memory: for as I remember, I reade once zxciong Gaskoynes workes, a little inflruction to verfifying, where is pre- fcribed as I thinke thys courfe of learning to verfifye in Ryme. When ye haue one verfe well fetled, and decently ordered which you may difpofe at your pleafure, to ende it with what word you wyll : then what foeuer the word is, you may fpeedilie runne ouer the other wordes , which are aunfwerable therevnto, (for more readines through all the letters Alphabetically) whereof you may choofe that which wyll beft. fitte the fence of your matter in that place : as for example : if your laft, worde ende in Booke, you may flraightwayes in your minde runne them ouer thus. Brooke, Cooke, crooke, hooke,' looke, nooke, pooke, rooke, forfooke, tooke, awooke etc. Nowe it is twenty to one, but alwayes one of thefe fhall iumpe with your former worde and matter in good fence. If not, then alter the firfl. And indeede I thinke, that next to the Arte of memory, thys is ~ the readyefl way to attaine to the faculty of ryming well Extempore,- efpecially if it be helped with thus much paynes. Gather together all Engliih Poetrie. ej manner of wordes efpecially MonafillaUes, and place them Alphabetically in fome note, and either haue them meetely perfectly by hart (which is no verye labourfome matter) or but looke them dilligently ouer at fome time, practifing to ryme indifferent often, whereby I am perfwaded it wil foone be learned, fo as the party hkue withall any reafonable gyft of knowledge and learning, whereby hee want not bothe matter and wordes altogether. What the other circumftaunces of Ryming are, as what wordes may tollerably be placed in Ryme, and what not: what words doo befl. become a Ryme, and what not, how many fortes of Ryme there is: and fuch like I wyll not flay nowe to intreate. There be many more obferuations and notes to be prefcribed, to the exacte knowledge of verfifying, which I trufl wilbe better and larger laide forth by others, to whom I de- ferre manie confiderations in this treatife : hoping thai fome of greater Ikill will fliortlie handle this matter in better forte. Nowe the fundry kindes of rare deuifes, and pretty inuentions which come from ye fine poeticall vaine of manie in flrange and vnacuflomed manner, if I could report them, it were worthie my trauell : fuch are the turning of verfes : the infolding of wordes : the fine repititions: the clarldie conu eying of contraries, and manie fuch like. Whereof though I coulde fette downe manie: yet becaufe I want bothe manie and the befl. kindes of them, I will ouerpaffe : onelie pointing you to one or two which may fuffice for example. Looke vppon the rufuU fong of CqUti fung by Cuddle in the Sheepheardes Calender,' ■vihe.r& you Ihall fee a fmguler rare deuife of a dittie framed vpon thefe fixe wordes ' Woe, founde, cryes, pall, Jleep, augment, which are mofl. prettilie turned and wounde vppe mutually together, expreffmg wonderfully the doleful- neffe of the fong. A deuife not much vnlike vnto the fame, is vfed by fome, who taking the lafl. wordes of a certaine number of verfes, as it were by the rebound 66 A Difcourfe of of an Echo, fliall make them fall out in fome prettie fence. Of this forte there are fome deuifed by lohn Graunge, which becaufe they be not long I wyll rehearfe one. If feare oppreffe howe then may hope me fliielde? Denyall fayes, vayne hope hath pleafed well, But as fuch hope thou wouldefl not be thine, So would I not the like to rule my hart. For if thou louefl it bidds thee graunt forthwith Which is the ioy whereof I liue in hope. Here if you take the lafl worde of euerie verfe, and place them orderlie together^ you fliall haue this fen- tence : Shielde well thyne hart with hope. But of thefe Eclioes I knowe indeede verie daintie peeces of worke, among fome of the finefl Poets this day in Lon- don : who for the rareneffe of them keepe them priuelie to themfelues, and wil not let them come abroad. A like inuention to the lad rehearfed, or rather a better, haue I feene often practifed in framing a whole dittie to the Letters of ones name, or to the wordes of fome two or three verfes which is very witty, as for example this is one of W. Hiinnis, which for the fliortnes I rather chufde then fome ya,t are better. If thou defire to liue in quiet refl, Gyue eare and fee, but fay, the befl. Thefe two verfes are nowe as it were refolued into dyuers other, euery two wordes or fillables being the beginning of an other like verfe, in this fort. If thou [delight in quietnes of life, Defire ) to fliunne fr&m brawles, debate and ftrife ; To liue j in loue with GOD, with freend and foe, In rest Iflialt fleepe when other cannot fo. Gyue eare rto all, yet doo not all beleeue. And fee ) the end and then thy fentence gyue : But fay j For trueth of happy Hues affignde The best Vhath he that quiet is in minde. Englifh Poetrie. 67 Thus are there infinite fortes of fine conueiances (as they may be termed) to be vfed, and are much fre- quented by verfifyers, as well in compofition of their ' verfe, as the wittines of their matter : which all I will referre to the confideration of euerie pleafant headded Poet in their proper gifts : onelie I fett downe thefe fewe fortes of their formes of verfifying, which may fland in fleede to declare what manie others, may be deuifed in like forte. But nowe to proceede to the reformed kind of Eng- lifh verfe which manie haue before this, attempted to put in practife, and to eflablifli for an accullomed right among Englifh Poets, you fliall heare in like manner my fimple iudgment concerning the fame. I am fully and certainlie perfwaded, that if the true kind of verfifying in immitation of Greekes and Latines, had beene practifed in the Englifh tongue, and put in vre from time to tyme by our Poets, who might haue continually beene mending and poUyfhing the fame, euery one according to their feuerall giftes : it would long ere this haue afpyred to as full perfection, as in anie other tongue whatfoeuer. For why may I not thinke fo of our" Englifh, feeing that among the Romaines a long time, yea euen till the dayes of Tully, they elleemed not the Latine Poetrie almoll worth any thing, in refpecte of the Greeke, as appear- eth in the Oration pro Archia Poeta : yet afterwardes it increafed in credite more and more, and that in ftiort fpace : fo that in Virgilles time, wherein were they not comparable with the Greekes ? So likewife, now it feemeth not currant for an Englifh verfe to runne vpon true quantity, and thofe feete which the Latines vfe, becaufe it is flraunge, and the other barbarous cudome, beeing within compaffe of euery bafe witt, hath worne it out of credite or ellimation. But if our wiyters, beeing of learning and iudgment, would rather infringe thys curious cuflome, then omitte the occafion of inlarging the credite of their natiue fpeeche, and theyr owne prayfes, by practifing that commendable 68 A Difcourfe of kind of wryting in true verfe : then no doubt, as in other partes of learning, fo in Poetry, fhoulde not (loupe to the befl of them all in all maner of orna- ment and comlinefTe. But fome obiect that our wordes are nothing refeinblaunt in nature to theirs, and therefore not poffible to bee framed with any good grace after their vfe : but cannot we then as well as the Latines did, alter the cannon of the rule according to the quaUty of our worde, and where our wordes and theyrs wyll agree, there to iumpe with them, where they will not agree, there to eflablifh a rule of our owne to be directed by? Likewife, for ye tenor of the verfe might we not (as Horace dyd in the Latine) alter their proportions to what fortes we lifted, and to what we fawe wold beft become the nature of the thing handled, or the quallity of the words ? Surely it is to be thought that if any one, of found iudgment and learning, fhoulde putt foorth ibme famous worke, contayning dyuers formes of true verfes, fitting the meafures, according to the matter : it would of it felfe be a fufficient authority without any prefcription of rules, to the moft part of Poets, for them to follow and by cuftome to ratify. For fure it is, that the rules and principles of Poetry, were not precifely followed and obferued of the firft beginners and .wryters of Poetry, but were felected and gathered feuerally out of theyr workes, for the direction and behoofe of their followers. And indeede, he that fhall with , heedefull judgment make tryall of the Englifh wordes, fhall not finde them fo groffe or vnapt, but that they wyll become any one of ye moft accuftomed fortes of Latine- or Greeke verfes meetely, and run thereon fomewhat currantly. I my felfe, with funple Ikyll I confeffe, and farre vnable iudgment, haue ventured on a fewe, which not- (vithftanding the rudenes of them may ferue to fhewe vvhat better might bee brought into our fpeeche, if thofe which are of meete abilitye woulde beftowe fonae trauell vnd endeuour thereuppon. But before I fette theiH iowne, I wyll fpeake fomewhat of fuch obferuations as Englifh Poetrie. 69 I could gather neceflary to the knowledge of thefe kinde of verfes, lead I fhould feeme to runne vpon- them rafhly, \vithout regarde either of example or authority. The fpeciall poyntes of a true verfe, are the due obferuations of the feete, and place of the feete. The foote of a verfe, is a meafure of two fillables, or of three, diflinguifhed by time which is eyther long or fliort A foote of two fillables, is eyther fimple or mixt, that is, of like time or of diuers. A fimple foote of two fillables is likewife twofolde, eyther of two long fillables called SpondcBus, as goodneffe, or of two fliort called Pyrrichius as u u hyther. A myxt foote of 2. fillables, is eyther of one fhort and one long called Iambus as o - dying: or of one long and one fhort, called Choreus as - o gladly. A foote of 3. fillables in like forte is either fimple or myxt. The fimple is eyther Moloffus, tliat is of three long, as forgiue- nes: or Trockceus, that is of 3. fliort, as o u u merylie. The mixt is of 6. diuers fortes, i. Dactylus, of one long, and two fliort, as - o u happily. 2. Anapcetus, of two fliorte, and one long, as o o - i\r'\auelers. 3. Bacchius, of one fliort, and two long, as o remembrers. 4. Palimbachius, of two long and one fliort, as o accorded. 5. Creticus of a long, a fliort, and a long, - o — daungerous. 6. Amphibrachus, of a fliort, a long, and a fliort, as o - o reioyced. Many more deuifions of feete are vfed by fome, but thefe doo more artificially comprehende all quantities neceflary to the flcanning of any verfe, according to Tallceus in hys Rethorique. The place of the feete is the difpofing of them in theyr propper roomes, whereby may be difcerned the difference of eche verfe which is the right numbring of the fame. Now as for the quan- tity of our wordes, therein lyeth great difiicultye, and the cheefefl- matter in this faculty. For in truth there being fuch diuerfity betwixt our words and the Latine, it cannot flande indeede with great reafon that they flioulde frame, wee beeing onelie directed by fuch rules ijo A Difcourfe of as ferue for onely Latine words, yet notwithftanding one may well perceiue by thefe fewe, that thefe kinde of verfes would well become the fpeeche, if fo bee there were fuch Rules prefcribed, as woulde admitt the plac- ing of your aptefl and fuUeft. wordes together. For indeede excepting a fewe, of our Monafyllabks, which naturally fhoulde moll of them be long, we haue almofl. none, that wyll ftande fithe in a fhort foote : and ther- fore if fome exception ware made againfl the precife obferuation of Pofition, and certaine other of the rules, then might we haue as great plenty and choyfe of good woordes to furnifli and fette foorth a verfe, as in any other tongue. Likewife if there were fome derection in fuch wordes, as fall not within the compaffe of Greeke or Latine rules, it were a great helpe, and therefore I had great miffe in thefe few which I made. Such as is the lafl fiUable in . thefe wordes, able, noble, or pqffible and fuch like : againe for the nature and force of our W. of our th, of our oo, and ee, of our wordes which admytte an e in the ende after one or two Confonantes, and many other. I for my part, though (I mull needes confeffe) many faultes efcaped me in thefe fewe, yet tooke I as good heede as I coulde, and in trueth did rather alwaies omitt the beft. wordes and fuch as would naturally become the fpeech befl, then I wolde com- mitte any thing, which flioulde notorioufly impugne the Latine rules, which herein I had onely for my direction. Indeede mod of our Monafyllables I am forced to make fhort, to fupply the want of many (hort wordes requifite in thefe verfes. The Participle A, being but the Eng- lifh a.rticle adioyned to Nownes, I alwayes makefliort, both alone and in compofition, and likewife the wordes of one fillable. ending in E, as the, when it is an article, he, Jhe, ye, etc. we I thinke fhould needes be alwayes long becaufe we pronounce continually VVe. I, beeing alone flanding for the Pronowne Ego, in my iudgment might well be vfed common : but becaufe I neuer fawe it vfed but fhort I fo obferued it. Words ending in y Englifh Poetrie. 71 I make Ihort without doubt, fauing that I haue marked in others one difference which they vfe in the fame, that is to make it Ihort in the ende o of an Aduerb, as gladly, and long in the ende - of an Adiectiue as goodly : but the reafon is as I take it, becaufe the Adiectiue is or fliould be mofl. commonly written thus goodlie. O, beeing an Aduerbe is naturally long : in the ende of wordes both Monafyllables and other I thinke it may be vfed common. The firfl, of Pollifyllables I directed according to the nature of the worde, as I thought mod aunfwerable to Latine examples, fauing that fomewhere I am conflrayned to flraine curtefy with the prepofition of a worde compounded or fuch like, which breaketh no great fquare: as in defence or depart, etc. The myddle fiUables which are not very many, come for the mofl. part vnder the precinct of Pofition, whereof fome of them will not poffibly abide the touch, and therfore mufl needes be a little wrefled : fuch are commonly ye Aduerbs of three fiUables, as mournfully, fpyghtfiilly and fuch like words, deriued of this Adiectiue, full: and therfore if there be great occafion to vfe them, they mufl be reformed by detracting onely (/) and then they fland meetely currant, as mournfuly. The lafl fillables I wholly directed fo neere as I could to the touch of common rules. The mofl famous verfe of all the reft, is called Hexa- metrum Epicum, which confifteth of fixe feete, wherof the firfl. foure are indifferently either Spondcei or Da^yli, the fift is euermore a dactyl, aud the fixt a Spondee, as thus. Tyterus happily thou liest tumbling vnder a beetchtree. Thys kinde of verfe I haue onely feene to be practifed in our Englifh fpeeche: and indeede wyll Hand fome- what more orderlye therein then any of the other kindes, vntill we haue fome tolleration of wordes made by fpeciall rule. The firfl that attempted to practife thys verfe in Englifh, fhould feeme to be the Earle of Surry, who tranflated fome part of Virgill into verfe 72 A Difcourfe of indeede, but without regard of true quantity of fillables. There is one famous Dijtichdn, which is common in the mouthes of all men, that was made by one Mafler VVat- fon, fellowe of S. lohns CoUedge in Cambrydge about ■40. yeeres pafl, which for the fweetnes and gallantnes therof in all refpects doth mat[c]h and furpalTe the Latine coppy of Horace, which he made out oi Homers wordes, qui mores hominum etc. — u o — — — o o — — — _o o — — All traueUers doo gladlie report great praife to VUffes For that heknewemaniemensmaners, and favv many citties. Which two varies if they be examined throughout all the rules and obferuations of the befl. veriifying, (hall bee founde to attaine the very perfection of them all. There be two other not much inferiour to thefe, which I found in ye Gloffe of E. K. vppon the fift ^glogue of the newe Poet : which Tully tranflated out of Greeke into Latine, Hcec habui qum edi etc. All that I eate did I ioy and all that I greedilie gorged. As for thofe manie goodlie matters left -^ for others. Which though they wyll not abide the touch of SynalcRpha in one or two places, yet perhappes fome Englifli rule which might wyth good reafon be eftab- lifhed, would make them currant enough, and auoyde that inconuenience which is very obuious in our wordes. The great company of famous verfes of thys fort, which Mailer Hartley made, is not vnknowne to any and are to be viewed at all times. I for my part, fo farre as thofe examples would leade me, and mine owne fmall flcyll affoorde me, haue blundered vppon thefe fewe, whereinto I haue tranflated the two firfl ' .(Eglogues of Virgin : becaufe I thought no matter of mine owne inuention, nor any other of antiquitye more fitte for tryal of thys thyng, before there were fome more fpeciall direction, which might leade to a leiTe troublefome manner of wryting. Englifh Poetrie. 73 The Argument of the firft Vnder the perfonne of Tityrus Vyrgill beeing figured him- felfe, declareth to Melibeus an nother Neateheard, the great benefittes he receyued at Augiijlus hand, who in the fpoyle of Mantua gaue him hys goods and fubflaunce againe. Pclibacu:i8. ©itgruj!. Tityrus, happilie thou lysie iumbiing vnder a beech tree. All in afiTie oate pipe thefe fweete fongs lustilie chaunting: V Ve, poore Joules goe to wracke, and from thefe coastes beremooued, And fro our pastures fweete: thou Tityr, ateafe in a shade plott Makst thickegroues to refound vvithfonges ofbraue Amarillis. SCttgrtxsl. Melibsus, he was no man hut a God who releeude me: Euer he shalbe my God: from this fame Sheepcot his alters Neuer, a tender Lambe JJiall want, with blood to bedew them. This good gift did he giue, to my steeres thusfreelie to wander, And to tnyfelfe (thoufeest) on pipe to refound what y lifted. /4 A Difcourfe of llelibaetts. Grutch theifure I doo not, but this thing makes me to wonder. Whence comes all this adoo: with grieeuous paine not a little Can I remooue my Goates: here, Tityre skant get I forward Poore olde crone, two tvvyns at a clappe ith boyjlerous hafdles Leftjhe behind, best hope i my flock laid hard on a bare stone. Had not a luckleffe lotte poffest our mindes, I remember Warnings of t fro the blafl burnt oake wefavv to befent vs. Oft did a left hand crow foretell thefe thifiges in her hull tree. But this God let vs heaie what he was, good Tityre tell me. ®ttgnt!8. That fame Cittiefo braue w)hich Rome was wont to be called, Foole did Tthinke, to be like this of ours, where we to tJie pastures Wonted were to remooue from dammes our young prettie Cattell. Thus did jF thinke young whelpes, and Kids to be like to the mothers. Thus did I wont compare manie great thinges with many little. But this aboue all townes as loftily mounteth her high head. As by the lowe bafe shrubbes tall Cypreffe shooteth aboue them. And what did thee mooue thatneedes thou mustgoe to fee Romei SitjgrttiS. Freedome: which though late, yet once lookt backe to my pore flate. After time when haires from my beard did s;inne to be whitish: Yet lookt back at laft and found me out after a long time. When Amarill was once obtainde, Galatea departed: For (for I will confeffe) vvhilst as Galatea did hold mee, Hope did J not for freedome, and care had I none to my cattell. Though manie f aire young beastes our f olde for theaulters aforded Eriglifh Poetrie. 75 Andmanie cheefes good fro my preffe vverefent to the Cittie: Sddome times did I bring anie store of pence fro the markett. ItteltbatttiS. O Amarill, wherefore, to thy Gods (very much did I meruaile) Heauilie thou didfl praie: ripefruites vngathered all still: Tityrus is not at home: thefe Pyne trees Tityre inifl thee. Fountaines longd for thee : thefe hedgrovves vvisht thy return home What was then to ledoone ifrom bondage could not y wind out: Neither I could haue found fuch gentle Gods any where els. There did I fee (Meliboee) that youth whofe hestes I by courfe still. Fortnights ii,?u)le to obferue on the Alters fure will I not faile. Thus did he gentlie graunt to myfute when first I demaunded. Keepe your heardes poore flaues as erst, let bulks to the makes still. Ittcltbacttsi. Happy olde man, then thoufhalt haue thy farme to remaine still. Large and large to thy f elf e, others nought but stonie grauelL- And foule flymie rush wherewith their lees be befprinkled. Here no vnwoonted foode fhall ^ieue young theatus who be laded. Nor the infections foule of neighbours flocke fhall annoie them. Happie olde man. Infhaddowy bankes and coole prettie places, Heere by the quaintedfloodes and fprings most holie remaining. Here, thefe quickfets frefh which lands feuer out fro thy neighbors And greene willow rowes which Hiblce bees doo reioice in, Oft fine whistring noife, /hall bring fweete fieepe to thy fences. Vnder a Rock fide here will proyner chaunt merrie ditties. Neither on highe Elme trees, thy beloude Doues loftilie fitting. Nor prettie Turtles trim, will ceafe to crookewith a good cheer e. 76 A Difcourfe of Sitgntis. First, therefore fwifl buckes shall flie for foode to the skies ward, And from fish -with drawn broade feas themfelues shal auoid hence: First, (both borders broke) Ararisfhal run to the Parthanes, And likewife Tygris shall againe runne backe to the Ger manes: Ere his countnauncefweete shall flipfie once out from my hartroote. peltbaeusl. We poorefoules, muftfome to the land cald Affrica packe hence. Some to thefarre Scythia, andfome must to the fwift flood Oaxis. Some to Britannia coafles quite parted farre fro the whole world. Oh thefe paftures pure shall I nere more chance to behold yee? And our cottage poore with warme turues couerd about trim. Oh thefe trim tilde landes,fhall a rechleffe fouldier haue themi Andfhall a Barbarian haue this croppel fee what a mifchiefe Difcordvile hath araifde? for whom was our labour alltooke ? Novv Meliboee ingraft pearie stocks, fette vines in an order. Now goe (my braue flocke once that wei-e) O now goe my kidlings. Neuer againe fhall I now in a-greene bowre fweetelie roofed See ye in queachie briers farre a loofe clambring on a high hill. Now fhall Ifing no Jygges, nor whilst I doofall to my iunkets. i Shall ye my Goates, cropping fweete flowres and ledues fit about me. Sttgrusf. Yet thou maist tarrie heere, and keepe me companie this nightf All on a leauie couch : good Aples ripe I doo not lacke, Chestnutts fweete good store, and plentie of curddes will If et thee. Marke i the Towne how chimnie tops doo b^inne to befmoaking, And fro the Mountaines high howfhaddowes grow to be larger. Englifh Poetrie. 77 The feconde ^glogue called Alexis. The Argument. Virgin in the perfonne of Corydon as fome thinke, com- playneth that he is not fo gratious with Auguflus as he would bee : or els it is to be referred to a youth Alexander, which was giuen him of Afinius Pollio, whom he blameth for the vnfl.edfaflnes of his witt and wandering appetite, in refufmg the freendly counfayle which he vfed to giue him. THat Sheepheard Corydon did bume in loue with Alexis, All his mailersdeare : and nought had hewhereby tohope Onely in beechen groues, and dolefome ftiaddowy places, [for. Dailie reforted he : there thefe rude difordered outcrye's, Hylles and defert woodes throughout thus mournfully tuned. O hard harted Alex, haft thou no regard to my fweete fong? Pyttieft me not a whitt : yea makfl. me now that I fliall dye. Yet doo the beaftes find out fine ftiades and trim pretty coole plottes, And fro the fun beames fafe lie lyzardes vnder a bufhtufte : And for workmen toughe with boyling heate fo beparched, Garlick fauery fweete and coole hearbes plenty be dreffed. But, by the fcorcht banke fydes i' thy foote fteppes ftil I goe plodding. y8 A Difcourfe of Hedgerowes hott doo refound with Grafliops mournfully fqueak- O had I not ben better abyd Amarillis her anger ? [ing, And her proude difdaine ? yea better abyde my Menalcas ? What though brown did he feeme ? yea what though thou be fo gallant O tliou fine chary cheekt child trufl not t' much to thy beauty. Black violetts are tooke when dayfes white be refiifed. Me thou dofl. defpife vnknowne to thy felfe yet Alexis : What be my riches greate in neate, in milke what aboundance. In Sicill hylles be my Lambes of which there wander a thoufand. All times, colde and hote yet frefh milke neuer I wanted. Such be my Muficke notes, as (when his flockes he recalling) Amphion of Dirce did vfe on ihore Aracynt-hus. Much mifliapt I am not, for late in a ban eke I behelde me, When ftill feas were calme, to thy Daphnis neede not I giue place No, though thou be the iudge, if piflures haue any credite. O were thou content to remaine with me by the downes heere, In thefe lodgings fmall, and helpe me proppes to put vnder, And trym kydling flocke with me to driue to the greene fieldes: Pan in finging fweete with me Ihouldfl brauely refemble: Pan, was firfl the inuenter, p)rpes to adioyne in an order: Pan, poore flockes and Sheepheardes to mofl. duly regardeth. Thofefine lips thou needft. not feare to brufewith a fweete pype: What dyd Amynt forfake i'this excercife to be cunning? One pype with feauene fundry flops matcht fweetly together. Haue I my felfe, Damaetas which ats death he bequeathd me, And fayd, heere, thou art now thefecond which euer hath ought So fayd Damaetas : but Amyntas fpightfuUy fcornde it. [it. Alfo, two pretty fmall wyld kyddes, moft, goodlie befpotted Haue I, that heere i' the dales doo runne skant fafe I doo feare me. Twyce in a day two teates they fuck: for thee will I keepe them : Wondrous faine to haue had them both was Theftylis of late. And fo flie fhall : for I fee thou fcornft, whatfo-euer I giue thee. Come hyther O thou fweete face boy : fee fee, to thy felfe heere Howfajre Nym plies in baskets full doo bring manie Lillies: White violets fweete Nais plucks and bloomes fro the Poppies, Narcyfs, and dyll flowres moil fweete that fauoureth alfo. Englifh Poetrie. 79 Cafia, broade mary Goldes, with pancyes, and Hyacinthus. And I my felfe rype peaches foft as filke will I gather. And fuch Chefnutts as Amarill was wont to reioyce at. Ploms wj^ll I bring likewife : that fruite fhall be honored alfo. And ye O Lawrell twygges that I croppe, and myrte thy felfe next. For ye be wont, (bound both in a bunch) mofl fweetely to fauour. Thou art but aClowneCorydon: thefe gifts efleemesnot Alexis: Nor by thy gifts to obtaine art meete to incounter Idas. Wretch (ahlas) whats this that I wilh? fouth blafls to the yong flowers Orcleerecryftallflreames with loathfome fwyne to be troubled? Ah mad boy from whom doofl runne? why Gods ithe woods dwelt : And Paris erfl. of Troy : Pallas mofl. gladly reioyfeth, In thefe, bowres : and in trym groues we all chiefely delight vs. Grym Lyonefle doth courfe curft woolues, fo wolues doo the kydlinges. And thefe wanton Kyddes likewife thefe faire Cytifus flowers. Thee Corydon (O Alex) fome pleafure euery wight pulles. See thefe yoked fleeres fro the plough nowe feeme to be lett loofe. And thefe fhadowes large doo declare thys fun to depart hence Styll I doo bume in loue. What meane in loue to be lookt for? Ah Corydon Corydon, what raging fury dooth haunt thee, Halfe cropt downe be thy vynes and broade brauncht elmes ouerhang them. Rather about fome needefull worke now bufy thy felfe well, Either on Ofyers tuffe or bulrufh weaue pretty basketts. And if Alexis fcorne thee fl.ill, mayfl. hope for another. FINIS. 8b A Difcourfe of I durfl, not enterpryfe to goe any further with this rude tranflation : beeing for the refpects aforefayd a troublefome and vnpleafant peece of labour : And therefore thefe fhall fuffice till further occafion fliall feme to imploy fome profitable paynes in this behalfe. The next verfe in dignity to the Hexameters, is ye ' Carmen Elegiacum which confifleth of foure feete and two od fiUables : viz : the two firft feete, eyther Dallyli or Spondai indifferent, the one long fillable ; next two Dahyli and an other long fillable oo ou-