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engtigh 13 eptitutg
W I L L I A M w EB BE
Graduate
A Discourse of
English Poetrie
586–
EDITED BY
E D W A R D A R B E R
F. S. A. ETC. LATE EXAMINER IN EN (; LISH
LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
TO THE UNIVERSITY OF
LONDON
WESTMINSTER
A. CONSTABLE AND
I 895

Grad. R. R. 2
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C O N T E N T S
NOTES of William Webbe, e o e º
CONTEMPORARY ENGLISH AUTHORs referred to,
INTRODUCTION, .
BIBLIOGRAPHY, . e
A DISCOURSE OF ENGLISH POETRIE, II
I. The Epiſtle to Edward Sulyard, Eſquire, . g I3
2. A Preface to the noble Poets of England, . e 17
3. A DISCOURSE OF ENGLISH PoETRIE, e 2 I
(a) What Poetry is P e 2 I
(b) The beginning of Poetry, and of what eſtimation
it hath always been, . g © & 2I
(c) The uſe of Poetry, and wherein it rightly con-
ſiſted, g © - e e 25
(b) The Author's judgment of Engliſh Poets, g 3O
(c) (Tijt ſtilatter of 32nglisi, 3}octric, 38-56
Ax. Compariſon of Thomas Phaer's tranſlation
of the Aneid with the original text of Virgil.
(f) QIijt ſtammer or form of 32nglisi) 330ttric, . 56-84
A. RHYMED VERSE.
There be three ſpecial notes neceſſary to be obſerved
in the framing of our accuſtomed Engliſh Rhyme:—
(1) The metre or zer/e muſt be proportionate, . 57
Aºx. Criticiſm of the different ſorts of Verſe in
Spencer's Shepherd's Calender.
(2) The natural Accent of the words muſt not
Öe wreſted, . º e º º 62
(3) The Athyme or like ending of Verſes, * 63
B. The Reformed kind of ENGLISH VERSE [i.e.,
in CLASSICAL FEET], e º e
Fx. The Author’s tranſlation of the firſt two
Fglogues of Virgil into Engliſh Hexameters, 73-79
Fx. His tranſlation of Hobbinoll’s Song in the
Shepherds Calender into Engliſh Sapphics, .. 81-84
67-84
(g) The Canons or general Cautions of Poetry, pre-
ſcribed by Horace : colle&ted by George
icials [b. 23 April 1516 at Chemnitz,-d.
I571), e º º . 85-95
Q o • 96

/* - /4 & /73
NOTES
of
W I L L I A M W E B B E.
* Probable or approximate dates.
Very little is known of the Author of this work. The suggestion that he
was the William Webbe, M.A., one of the joint Authors of a topographical
book The Vale Royal, 1648, fol., is quite anachronistic.
Messrs. Cooper, in Athenae Cantabrigiensis, ii. 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. 1572-3 [the same year as Spenserl, 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 Gismund, 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.
Hatſtom ?]; and R. W[ilmot) : is ‘curiously acted in view
of her Maiesty, by whom it was then princely accepted.’
Webbe appears to have been present at the representation :
see 1591. Mr. J. P. Collier in his edition of “Dodsley's Old
Plays,’ i. 153, 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 Drama. Poet, that it
‘is the earliest English play extant, the plot of which is known
to be derived from an Italian novel,” iii. 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.
Newcourt Repertorizeme, ii. 447. Ed. 171o.
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 1616. Of his
two sons, Edward died without 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, County Gen. Essex, 64. T.
Wright, Hist, of Essex, i. 142, 143. Ed. 1831. J. Philipot] Kats. Batch.
made by 9ames 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 M.S. translation (now
lost) of the Georgics to Mr. Sulyard: see Aé.55 and 16.
1585. DEC, 2. The Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's appoint Robert Wilmott,
- M.A., to the Vicarage of Horndon on the Hill, twenty-four
miles from London, and a ſew miles from Flemyngs, where his
friend Webbe was a private tutor. Newcomert, aſſemt. ii. 343.
yº.
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 the summer evenings.
SEPT. 4. It is thus registered for publication.
* Robt. Walle
John Charlewood, Rd. of them, for printinge A Discourse on
englishe poetrye tº e © tº . . . vid.”
3. P. Collier, Eartr. of Stat. Co.'s Aegºs. ii., 215. Ed. 1849.
1587. FEB. 5. jºb the mother of Mr. Sulyard died. She is buried at
U111Well,
1588. Warton quotes “a small black-lettered tract entitled The
Touch-stone of Wittes, chiefly compiled, with some slender
additions, from . William Webbe's Discourse of English
A'oetrie, written by Edward Hake, and printed at London by
Edmund Bollifant.” A. 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 Williazz Szelyard, Esquire. , Baron. i. 722.
Ed. 1675. From this old Palace of the Queens of England Webbe wrote the fol-
lowing letter to Wilmott, which is reprinted in the revised edition of Tazz-
cred and Gismund 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).
1591. AUG. 8. To his fremd R. W. Master R. V.V. looke not now for
the tearmes of an intreator, I wil beg no longer, and for your
promises, I wil refuse them as bad painment: neither can I be
satisfied with any thing, but a peremptorie performance of an
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 Gismund's Tragedie. Thinke
not to shift me off with longer delayes, nor alledge more ex-
cuses to get further respite, least I arrest you with my Actum
est, and commence such a Sute of vnkindenesse against you,
as when the case shall be scand before the Iudges of courtesie,
the court will crie out of your immoderat modestie. And thus
much I telyou before, you shal not be able to wage against
me in the charges growing vpon this action, especially, if the
worshipful company of the Inner temple gentlemen patronize
my cause, as vmdoubtedly 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,
depth 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 º conceiued with new inuentions of
like worthines, wherof they haue been euer since wonderfull
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. S
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 fashions 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
thing 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. Tuus ſide et facultate. 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, Esquire 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 Tancred's Tragedy should be
again by my means revised, which the oftner 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
of Abraham, nor that rare Scot (the scholar of our age) Buchanam, his most
pathetical Jeptha.” “Dodsley's Old Plays,’ ii. 165. Ed. by J. P. Collier, 1825.
If the identity may be considered as established, Wilmott the Poet lived
on till 1619 : when he was succeeded on his death by W. Jackson, in the
Rectory of North Okendon. Newcourt, ident. ii. 447.
No later information concerning W. Webbe than the above letter, has yet
been recovered.
CONTEMPORARY ENGLISH AlJTHORS
REFERRED TO IN THE FOLLOWING Diſcourſe.
R. ASCIIAM. 7%e Scholema/ter, . g Q 3I, 57
G. B. P Zhe Shippe of Safeguarde, 1569 . • 35
F. C. º te P tº {} º • 35
T. CHURCHYARD. Churchyard’s ‘Chippes,’ 1575; Church-
yard’s ‘Chance,’ 1580; Churchyard’s ‘Charge, '1580; &c. 33
M. D. [? Maſter Dyer, i.e., Sir Edward Dyer] . • 33
P DARRELL © P e * g • 35
6 CONTEMPORARY ENGLISH AUTHORS.
R. EDWARDES. Par. of Dainty Deviſes, 1576; Comedies 33
Sir T. ELyot. The Governor, 1538 * º 42, 43
G. GASCOIGNE. Poſſes, 1572; 7%e Steele Glas, &c., 1576. 33
B. GOOGE. Eg/ogs, AEAytaphes, and Sonettes, 1563; tranſ-
lation of Palingenius' Zodiac of Zife. I56o. 1565. • 34
Sir J. GRANGE. The Golden Aphroditis, 1577 . • 35
G. HARVEY. º º e e - • 35
HEIwooD [either JoHN HEywooD or JASPER HEywooD] 33
W. HUNNIS. Paradiſe of Painty Deviſes, 1576, 1578 • 33
P HYLL P . e e e © • 33
E. K. [i.e. EDWARD RIRKE] © e - 33, 5
F. K. [? Fr. Kindlemarſh] Par. of Dainty Deviſes, 1576, 1578 35
J. LYLY. A up/ºues, 1579-80 ; Plays º e • 4
A. MUNDAY. The Mirrour of Mutabilitie, 1579; The
Paine of Pleaſure, 1580 s & - e
T. NORTON. Joint Author of Ferrex and Porrex, 1561 .. 33
C. OCKLANDE. Anglorum Praelia, 1580, 1582 . . 3O
[? DR. E.] SANDIYs]. Par. of Z)ainty Deviſes, 1576, &c. . 33
E. SPENSER. Shepheard's Calender, 1579, 1581, 1586 35, 52, 81
HENRY, Earl of SURREY. Sommets, &c., in Tottel's Miſc. 1557 33
T. TUSSER. Five hundred points of Good Huſbandrie,
I557-80 e e º e º . 33
THOMAS, Lord VAUx. Sonnetes, &c., in Tottel's Miſc.
I557; and Par. of Dainty Deviſes, 1576 º . 33
E. VERE, Earl of Oxfor D. Unpubliſhed Sonneſs. . 33
G. WHETSTONE. The Rocke of Regard, 1576 º • 35
R. WILMoTT. Tancred and Giſmund, 1568 e • 35
S. Y. [? M. YLoop, i.e. M. Pooly in Par. of Dainty Deviſes] 35
7"Aſ AE 7'A' A M.S Z. A 7" OA”,S.
SENECA.
J. HEYWOOD. Troas, 1559; Thyeſtes, 1560; Hercules
Purens, 1561 . º e te o • 34
A. NEVILL. CEdipus, 1563 º e e • 34
J. STUDLEY. Medea, 1566; Agamemnon, 1566 . • 34
OVID.
G. TURBERVILLE. Heroical Epi/?les, 1567 º • 34
A. GOLDING. Metamorphoſes, I565 * . º 34, 5 I
T. CHURCHYARD. 7% iſłia, 1578 . * º • 34
T. DRANT. Satires, 1566; Art of Poetrie, 1567 . • 34
- VIRGIL,
HENRY, Earl of SURREY. Two Books of the ‘A’neid,' 1557 33
T. PHAER, M.D. 937 dBooks ofthe ‘A’neid,’ 1558-1562 33, 46-51
T. Twyn E. The remaining 23rd Books, 1573 º º 4
A. FLEMING. Bucolicks, I575, in rhyme. His Georgics re-
ferred to at £. 55 appeared in I589 . º 34, 55
A Diſcourſe of Eng//? Poeffrie
AAV7'A' O Z) O C 7"/ O M.
ºf Part from the exceſſive rarity of this work, two
§( a | copies of it only being known ; it deſerves
3)} S) permanent republication as a good example
of the beſt form of Eſſay Writing of its time; and as
one of the ſeries of Poetical Criticiſms before the ad-
vent of Shakeſpeare as a writer, the ſtudy of which is
ſo eſſential to a right underſtanding of our beſt Verſe.
Although Poetry is the moſt ethereal part of
Thought and Expreſſion; though Poets muſt be born
and cannot be made : yet is there an art of Poeſy;
ſet forth long ago by Horace but varying with differ-
ing languages and countries, and even with different
ages in the life of the ſame country. In our tongue—
Milton only excepted—there is nothing approaching,
either in the average merit of the Journeymen or the
ſuperlative excellence of the few Maſter-Craftſmen, the
Poeſy of the Elizabethan age. Hence the value of
theſe early Poetical Criticiſms. Their diſcuſſion of
principles is moſt helpful to all readers in the diſcern-
ment of the ſubtle beauties of the numberleſs poems
of that era : while for thoſe who can, and who will ;
they will be found ſingularly ſuggeſtive in the training
of their own Power of Song, for the inſtrućtion and
delight of this and future generations.
A Cambridge graduate; the private tutor, for ſome
two or three years paſt, to Edward and Thomas Sul-

8 Antrodu/?ion.
yard, the ſons of Edward Sulyard Eſquire, of Flem-
yngs, ſituated in Eſſex, ſome thirty miles diſtant from
London. Our Author gave his leiſure hours to the
ſtudy of Latin and Engliſh poetry.
He had acquainted himſelf with our older Poets,
and with the contemporary verſe: and, thinking for
himſelf, he endeavoured to ſee exačtly what Engliſh
poetry ačtually was, and what it might and ſhould be-
come. Doubtleſs in his walks in the large park ſur-
rounding the Old Manor Houſe this ſubjećt often oc-
cupied his thoughts, and he ſat down to commit his
opinions to the preſs, in the preſence and quietude of
a large and fair landſcape ſtretching far away ſouth-
ward beyond the Thames into Kent, diverſified with
the ſpires of many churches and the maſts of many
paſſing ſhips: and all illuminated with the glow and
glory of the ſummer evenings of 1586.
Webbe was as much affected with the “immoderate
modeſty’ with which, five years later, he charged Wil-
mot, as any of the writers of that age. He dreads, at
p. 55, the unauthorized publication of his verſion of
the Georgics, and he muſt have been moved deeply
by “the rude multitude of ruſticall Rymers, who will
be called Poets’ before he ventured to advocate in
print ‘the reformation of our Engliſh Verſe,” i.e., the
abandonment of Rhyme for Metre.
He calls his work “a ſleight ſomewhat compyled for
recreation, in the intermyſfions of my daylie buſineſſe,'
yet it is the moſt extenſive piece of Poetical Criticiſm
that had hitherto appeared. He had read, for he
quotes at p. 64, G. Gaſcoigne's Certayne Moſes, &c.,
1575: alſo Three proper and zwittie, familiar Zetters,
by Immerito [Edmund Spenſer] and Gabriel Harvey]
1580, to which he alludes at £. 36. He may have
heard of Sir P. Sidney's Apologie for Poetrie [1582],
then circulating in manuſcript, or of the young Scotch
King's Areuſis and Caufelis of Scottiſh Poeſie, then being
Infrodu/?ion. 9
publiſhed at Edinburgh. Yet none of theſe is ſo
lengthy, nor deals with the ſame extent of ſubjećt,
nor is illuſtrated by original examples, as is this
Piſcourſe.
Though the book is an honeſt one, faithfully repre-
ſenting the author's robuſt mind; it was written under
the ſtrong influence of three works: Aſcham's Schole-
maſter, 1570; Edwardes' Paradiſe of Dainty Deviſes,
1576; and Spenſer's Shepherdes Calender, anonymouſly
publiſhed, without the author's conſent, by E. K. [i.e.,
Edward Kirke, as is generally believed] in 1579. He
follows Aſcham as to the origin of Rhyme; and alſo in
his error as to Simmias Rhodiasat £. 57, &c. He quotes
W. Hunnis' poem at p. 66, from the colle&tion of
Edwardes. It is alſo Webbe's great merit as a lover
and judge of poetry, that he inſtinétively fixes upon
the Shepherdes Calender (never openly acknowledged
by Spenſer in his lifetime) as the revelation of a great
poet, as great an Engliſh Poet indeed, as had yet ap-
peared. That Paſtoral Poem gave Webbe a higher
reverence for Spenſer than his great Allegory breeds
reſpect for him in many, now-a-days.
The facility of Rhyme, at a time when there were many
wonderfully facile Rhymers, induced Aſcham, Webbe,
and many others to ſeek after a more difficult form of
Engliſh verſe. Claſſical feet Webbe himſelf experi-
enced to be a ‘troubleſome and vnpleaſant peece of
labour,” ſo he ſought after ſomething more adapted to
the nature of the language, “ſome perfect platforme or
Proſodia of verſifying.' Blank verſe would have ſatiſ.
fied him, but he did not recogniſe its merits in Surrey's
tranſlation of the Aneid. He is, however, warm in
his praiſe of Phaer's verſion of that work in hexame-
ters: and gives us three pieces of reformed verſe of
his own coinage; two in hexameters, and one in
ſapphics.
Finally, Webbe wrote ‘theſe fewe leaues’ ‘to ſtirre
I O An/roduction.
vppe ſome other of meete abilitie, to beſtowe trauell
in this matter.” His wiſh had been anticipated. Al-
ready a Maſter Critic was at work—we know not for
certainty whether it was George Puttenham, or who
elſe—who, beginning to write in 1585, publiſhed in
1589 The Arte of Engliſh Poeſie: which is the largeſt
and ableſt criticiſm of Engliſh Poeſy that appeared in
print, during the reign of Elizabeth.
A / / / / O Gº AC A PA. V.
###utg in the Author's lifetime.
I.—As a ſeparate publication.
1, 1586. London. I vol. 4to. See title on oppoſite page.
Of the two copies known, the one here re-
printed is among the Malone books in the
Bodleian. The other paſſed from hand to
hand at the following ſales: always increaſing
in price.
1773. APR. 8. Mr. West's sale, No. 1856, Ios. 6d.,
to Mr. Pearson.
1778. APR. 22. Mr. Pearson's sale, No. 1888, 363, 5s.,
to Mr. Stevens.
18oo. MAY 19. Mr. Stevens’ sale, No. 1128, 268, 8s,
to the Duke of Roxburghe.
1812. JUNE 2. The Roxburghe sale, No. 31.08, 664,
to the Marquis of Blandford.
Higgutg gimte the Author’g beatſ).
I.—As a ſeparate publication.
3. 1870. DEC. I. London. Ængliſh Reprints: ſee title at
I vol. 8vo. A. I.
II. — With offer zworks.
2. 1815. London. Ancient Critical Eſſays. Ed. by J. Haſle-
2 vols. 4to. wood. A Diſcourſe of Engliſh Poetrie oc-
cupies Vol. ii., §6. I3-95.
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To the right vyorſhip-
full, learned, and moſt gentle Gentle-
man, may verie good Master, Ma.
Edward Suliard, Eſquire. VV. V.V.
wyſheth his harts deſire.
(".")
#: Ay it pleaſe you Syr, thys once
Wº more to beare with my rudenes, in
preſenting vnto your viewe, an offer
ſlender conceite, of my ſºmple capa'
city: wherin although I am not able
to bring you anie Zhing, which is
meeſe to detaine you from your more ſerious matters:
yet vppon my knowledge of your former courteſy and
your fauourable countenaunce towardes all enterpriſes
of Zearning, I dare make bold to craue your accustomed
patience, in turning ouer ſome of theſe fewe leaues, which
I ſhall account a greater recompence, then the wryting
thereof may deſerue.


I4 The Epiſtle.
The firme hope of your wonted gentlenes, not any good
Ayking of myne owne labour, made me thus preſumptu-
ouſly to craue your worships patronage for my poore
booke. A pretty aunſwere is reported by ſome to be made
by Appelles to King Alexander, who (in diſport) taking
zp one of his penſilles to drawe a line, and asking the
Paynters iudgment of his draught, It is doome (quoth
Apelles) like a King: meaning indeede it was drawen as
he pleaſed, but was nothing ſeſſe then good workmanshippe.
My ſelfe in like ſort, taking ºppon me, to make a draught
of Engliſh Poetry, and requeſting your wom/hyſ's cenſure
of the ſame, you wy// perhaps gyue me thys verdić, It
was doone like a Scholler, meaning, as / could, but
indeede more like to a learner, then one through grounded
In Aoetical/ workmanship.
Alexander in drazwing his Ayne, leaned ſometime too
/lard, otherwhy/e too ſoft, as neuer hauing beene appren-
fire to the Arſe: / in drawing this Poetical/ diſcourſe,
make it ſome where to ſtraight (leauing out the cheeſe col.
Joures and ornaments of Poetry) in an other place to wyde
(ſtuffing in feeces little fertinent to true Poetry) as one
neuer acquainted wyth the learned Muſes. What then 2
as he being a king, myght meddle in what Scyence him :
ſiſted, though therein hee had no skyl/; ſo I beeing a
/earner, wyll frye my cunning in ſome parts of Zéarning,
though neuer ſo ſimple,
AVozele, as for my ſaucie freſºng zºom your expedºed
fauor in crauing your iudgment, Z beſeech you ſet me
The Epiſtle. I5
make thys excuſe: that whereas true Gentilitie did
neuer withdrawe her louing affe'?ion from Zady Zearn-
ing, so I am perſwaded, that your zºorshy?e cannot
chuſe, but continue your wonted fauourable benignitie
fozºardes all the indeuourers to learning, of zwhich
corporation / doo indeede profeſſe my ſelfe one fºllie
member.
Aſor ſºth the wryfers of a/Z ages, haue ſought as an ºn-
doubted Bulwarke and stedfaſt ſauegarde the patronage
of Wobilitye, (a ſhielde as ſure as can be to learning)
wherin to /hrowde and ſafelye place their ſeueral/ inuen-
tions: why should not / ſeeke ſome harbour for my poore
frauell to reste and /faye ºppon, beeing of it ſeſſe vnable
to ſhyſt the carping cauilles and byłing ſcornes of lewde
controllers ?
And in trueth, where myght / rather chooſe a ſure
defence and readye refuge for the ſame, then where Z ſee
perfecte Gentilitye, and nobleneſe of minde, to be faſte
ſyncked with excellencie of learning and affable courteſye?
Moreouer, adde thys to the ende of myne excuſe; that Z
fende it into your ſight, not as anie wyttie feece of worke
that may deſight you: &ut being a ſleight ſomewhat com-
Ayled for recreation, in the intermyſtons of my daylie
buſineffe, (euen tºys Summer Æueninges) as a token of
that earnest and ºnquenchable deſyre Z haue to shewe my
ſelfe duefiful/ and welwylling towardes you. VVMerezmfo
I am continually enſlamed more and more, when I con-
fider eyther your fauourable freendshyffe ºſed towardes
I6 The Epiſtle.
my ſelfe, or your gentle countenaunce ſhewed to my ſimple
frauelles. The one / haue tºyed in that homely tranſla-
tion / preſented vnto you: the other / finde true in your
curteous putting to my fruſt, and dooing me ſo great
/honeſty and credite, with the charge of theſe toward
ſyoung Gentlemen your ſonnes.
Zb which pregnant ſympes of right excellent hope, 1
would / were able, or you myght haue occaſion to make
fria/Z of my louing minde: zwho shoulde zwel/?erceyue my
ſelfe to remayne whid them a faythful/ and truſty Achates,
euen ſo farre as my wealth my woe, my power or ferrill,
my penne or witte, my health or lyſe may ſerue to ſerche
myne ability.
Auge heapes of wordes / myght flyle together to trouble
you witha/Z. eyther of my ſelfe or of my dooinges, (as
ſome doo) or of your wor/hyppes commendable vertues (as
the moſſe doo) But I purpoſely chuſe rather to lef £affe
the ſºreading of that worthy fame which you haue euer
deſerued, then to runne in ſuſpicion of fawning flattery
z0/hich / euer abhorred.
Therefore once againe crauing your gentle pardon,
and patience in your ouerlooking thys rude
Apiſtle; and wyshing more happineffe then
my penne can expreſſe to you and your
whole refinewe, / rest.
(...)
Your wor/ai/pes faithful!
Seruant, WV. V.V.
29 A Preface to the noble
Poets of Englande.
Fºll Mong the innumerable ſortes of Eng-
YºMVººl lyſhe Bookes, and infinite ſardles of
printed pamphlets, wherewith thys
Countrey is peſtered, all ſhoppes
ſtuffed, and euery ſtudy furniſhed:
the greateſt part I thinke in any
one kinde, are ſuch as are either
meere Poeticall, or which tende in ſome reſpecte (as
either in matter or forme) to Poetry. Of ſuch Bookes
therfore, ſith I haue beene one, that haue had a
deſire to reade not the feweſt, and becauſe it is an
argument, which men of great learning haue no ley-
ſure to handle, or at leaſt hauing to doo with more
ſerious matters doo leaſt regarde: If I write ſomething,
concerning what I thinke of our Engliſh Poets, or ad-
uenture to ſette downe my ſimple iudgement of Engliſh
Poetrie, I truſt the learned Poets will giue me leaue,
and vouchſafe my Booke paſſage, as beeing for the
rudeneſſe thereof no preiudice to their noble ſtudies,
but euen (as my intent is) an in/lar cotis to ſtirre vppe
ſome other of meete abilitie, to beſtowe trauell in this
matter: whereby I thinke wee may not onelie get the
meanes which wee yet want, to diſcerne betweene good
writers and badde, but perhappes alſo challenge from
the rude multitude of ruſticall Rymers, who will be
called Poets, the right practiſe and orderly courſe of
true Poetry.
It is to be wondred at of all, and is lamented of
R

I8 The Preface.
manie, that where as all kinde of good learning, haue
aſpyred to royall dignitie and ſtatelie grace in our
Engliſh tongue, being not onelie founded, defended,
maintained, and enlarged, but alſo purged from faultes,
weeded of errours, and polliſhed from barbarouſnes, by
men of great authoritie and iudgement: onelie Poetrie
hath founde feweſt frends to amende it, thoſe that can,
reſeruing theyr ſkyll to themſelues, thoſe that cannot,
running headlong vppon it, thinking to garniſh it with
their deuiſes, but more corrupting it with fantaſticall
errours. VWhat ſhoulde be the cauſe, that our Engliſh
ſpeeche in ſome of the wyſeſt mens iudgements, hath
neuer attained to, anie ſufficient ripenes, nay not ful
auoided the reproch of barbarouſnes in Poetry? the
rudenes of the Countrey, or baſeneſſe of wytts: or the
courſe Dialed? of the ſpeeche P experience vtterlie diſ-
proueth it to be anie of theſe: what then P ſurelie the
canckred enmitie of curious cuſtome: which as it neuer
was great freend to any good learning, ſo in this hath
it grounded in the moſt, ſuch a negligent perſwaſion
of an impoſſibilitie in matching the beſt, that the fineſt
witts and moſt diuine heades, haue contented them-
ſelues with a baſe kinde of fingering: rather debaſing
theyr faculties, in ſetting forth theyr ſkyll in the cour-
ſeſt manner, then for breaking cuſtome, they would
labour to adorne their Countrey and aduaunce their
ſtyle with the higheſt and moſt learnedſt toppe of
true Poetry. The rudenes or vnaptneſſe of our
Countrey to be either none or no hinderaunce, if
reformation were made accordinglie, the exquiſite ex-
cellency in all kindes of good learning nowe flouriſh-
ing among vs, inferiour to none other nation, may
ſufficiently declare,
The Preface. I 9
That there be as ſharpe and quicke wittes in Eng-
land as euer were among the peereleſſe Grecians, or
renowmed Romaines, it were a note of no witte at all
in me to deny. And is our ſpeeche ſo courſe, or our
phraſe ſo harſhe, that Poetry cannot therein finde a
vayne whereby it may appeare like it ſelfe P why ſhould
we think ſo baſely of this? rather then of her ſiſter, I
meane Rhetoricall Eloquution, which as they were by
byrth Twyns, by kinde the ſame, by originall of one
deſcent: ſo no doubt, as Eloquence hath founde ſuch
fauoures, in the Engliſh tongue, as ſhe frequenteth not
any more gladly: ſo would Poetrye if there were the
like welcome and entertainment gyuen her by our
Engliſh Poets, without queſtion aſpyre to wonderfull
perfeótion, and appeare farre more gorgeous and dele&t-
able among vs. Thus much I am bolde to ſay in
behalfe of Poetrie, not that I meane to call in queſtion
the reuerend and learned workes of Poetrie, written in
Our tongue by men of rare iudgement, and moſt excel-
lent Poets: but euen as it were by way of ſupplication
to the famous and learned Lawreat Maſters of Eng-
lande, that they would but conſult one halfe howre
with their heauenly Muſe, what credite they might
winne to theyr natiue ſpeeche, what enormities they
might wipe out of Engliſh Poetry, what a fitte vaine
they might frequent, wherein to ſhewe forth their worthie
faculties: if Engliſh Poetrie were truely reformed, and
ſome perfeót platforme or Proſodia of verſifying were
by them ratifyed and ſette downe: eyther in immitation
of Greekes and Latines, or where it would ſkant abyde
the touch of theyr Rules, the like obſeruations ſelected
and eſtabliſhed by the naturall affectation of the
ſpeeche. Thus much I ſay, not to perſwade you that
2O The Preface.
are the fauourers of Engliſhe Poetry but to mooue it
to you: beeing not the firſte that haue thought vpon
this matter, but one that by conſent of others, haue
taken vppon me to lay it once again in your wayes, if
perhaps you may ſtumble vppon it, and chance to looke
fo lowe from your diuine cogitations, when your Muſe
mounteth to the ſtarres, and ranſacketh the Spheres of
heauen: whereby perhaps you may take Compaſſion of
noble Poetry, pittifullie mangled and defaced, by rude
ſmatterers and barbarous immitatours of your worthy
ſtudies. If the motion bee worthy your regard it is
enough to mooue it, if not, my wordes woulde ſimply
preuaile in perſwading you, and therefore I reſt vppon
thys onely requeſt, that of your courteſies, you wyll
graunt paſſage, vnder your fauourable correótions; for
this my ſimple cenſure of Engliſh Poetry, wherein if
you pleaſe to runne it ouer, you ſhall knowe breefely
myne opinion of the moſt part of your accuſtomed
Poets and particularly, in his place, the lyttle
ſomewhat which I haue fifted out of my
weake brayne concerning thys
reformed verſifying.
WV: VV:
(S
ºš. ſº
wº ()
gº-66 §§ e) G.
& Še
º C §§ S
} 6) Ü) º gº
2) (G. cº º
A Diſcourſe of Eng-
liſhe Poetrie.
ſº. Ntending to write ſome diſcourſe of
ºš Engliſh Poetrie, I thinke it not
amyſſe if I ſpeake ſomething gel e-
rally of Poetrie, as, what it is, whence
it had the beginning, and of what
eſtimation it hath alwayes beene
and ought to be among al ſorts of
people. Poetrie called in Greeke
troetpwo, beeing deriued from the Verbe troteo, which
ſignifieth in Latine facere, in Engliſh, to make, may
properly be defined, the arte of making: which word
as it hath alwaies beene eſpecially vſed of the beſt of
our Engliſh Poets, to expreſſe ye very faculty of
ſpeaking or wryting Poetically, ſo doth it in deede
containe moſt fitly the whole grace and property of
the ſame, ye more fullye and effectually then any other
Engliſh Verbe. That Poetry is an Arte, (or rather a
more excellent thing then can be contayned wythin
the compaſſe of Arte) though I neede not ſtande long
to prooue, both the witnes of Horace, who wrote de
arte Poetica, and of Zerence, who calleth it Arſem,
Muſicam, and the very naturall property thereof may
ſufficiently declare: The beginning of it as appeareth
by Plato, was of a vertuous and moſt deuout purpoſe,



22 A Diſcourſe of
who witneſſeth, that by occaſion of meeting of a great
Company of young men, to ſolemnize ye feaſts which
were called Panageryca, and were wont to be cele-
brated euery fift yeere, there, they that were moſt preg-
nant in wytt, and indued with great gyfts of wyſedome
and knowledge in Muſicke aboue the reſt did vſe
Commonly to make goodly verſes, meaſured according
to the ſweeteſt notes of Muſicke, containing the prayſe
of ſome noble vertue, or of immortalitie, or of ſome
ſuch thing of greateſt eſtimation: which vnto them
ſeemed, ſo heauenly and ioyous a thing, that, think-
ing ſuch men to be inſpyrde with ſome diuine inſtinct
from heauen, they called them Vafes. So when other
among them of the fineſt wits and apteſt capacities
beganne in imitation of theſe to frame ditties of lighter
matters, and tuning them to the ſtroake of ſome of the
pleaſanteſt kind of Muſicke, then began there to grow
a diſtinction and great diuerſity betweene makers and
makers. Whereby (I take it) beganne thys difference:
that they which handled in the audience of the people,
graue and neceſſary matters, were called wiſe men or
eloquent men, which they meant by 7)ates: and the
reſt which ſange of loue matters, or other lighter
deuiſes alluring vnto pleaſure and delight, were called
Aoeſae or makers. Thus it appeareth, both Eloquence
and Poetrie to haue had their beginning and originall
from theſe exerciſes, beeing framed in ſuch ſweete
meaſure of ſentences and pleaſant harmonie called
Piòuos, which is an apt compoſition of wordes or
clauſes, drawing as it were by force ye hearers eares
euen whether ſoeuer it lyſteth: that Plato affirmeth
therein to be contained Aomteia an inchauntment, as
it were to perſwade them anie thing whether they would
or no. And heerehence is ſayde, that men were firſt
withdrawne from a wylde and ſauadge kinde of life, to
ciuillity and gentlenes, and ye right knowledge of
humanity by the force of this meaſurable or tunable
ſpeaking.
This opinion ſhall you finde confirmed throughout
fingliſh Poetrie. 23
the whole workes of Plato and Ariſtotle. And that ſuch
was the eſtimation of this Poetry at thoſe times, that they
ſuppoſed all wiſedome and knowledge to be included
myſtically in that diuine inſtinction, wherewith they
thought their Z/ates to bee inſpyred. Wherevpon,
throughout the noble workes of thoſe moſt excellent
Philoſophers before named, are the authorities of Poets
very often alledged. And Cicero in his Złºſculane queſ.
tions is of that minde, that a Poet cannot expreſſe
verſes aboundantly, ſufficiently, and fully, neither his
eloquence can flowe pleaſauntly, or his wordes ſounde
well and plenteouſly, without celeſtiall inſtinction:
which Poets themſelues doo very often and gladlie
witnes of themſelues, as namely Ouid in. 6. Faſo:
Est deus in nobis Agitante ca//eſcimus iſ/o. etc. Where-
wnto I doubt not equally to adioyne the authoritye of
our late famous Engliſh Poet, who wrote the Sheep-
heards Calender, where lamenting the decay of Poetry,
at theſe dayes, ſaith moſt ſweetely to the ſame.
Then make thee winges of thine aſpyring wytt,
And whence thou cameft flye back to heauen apace, etc.
Whoſe fine poeticall witt, and moſt exquiſite learning,
as he ſhewed aboundantly in that peece of worke, in my
iudgment inferiour to the workes neither of Zheocritus
in Greeke, nor Virgill in Latine, whom hee narrowly
immitateth: ſo I nothing doubt, but if his other workes
were common abroade, which are as I thinke in ye cloſe
cuſtodie of certaine his freends, we ſhould haue of our
owne Poets, whom wee might matche in all reſpects
with the beſt. And among all other his workes what-
ſoeuer, I would wyſh to haue the fight of hys AEngliſh
Aoet, which his freend E. A. did once promiſe to
publiſhe, which whether he performed or not, I knowe
not, if he did, my happe hath not beene ſo good as
yet to ſee it.
But to returne to the eſtimation of Poetry. Beſides
ye great and profitable fruites contained in Poetry, for
24 A Diſcourſe of
the inſtruction of manners and precepts of good life
(for that was cheefly reſpected in the firſt age of Poetry)
this is alſo added to the eternall commendations of
that noble faculty: that Kinges and Princes, great and
famous men, did euer encourage, mayntaine, and reward
Poets in al ages: becauſe they were thought onely to
haue the whole power in their handes, of making men
either immortally famous for their valiaunt exploytes
and vertuous exerciſes, or perpetually infamous for
their vicious liues. Wherevppon it is ſaid of Achilles,
that this onely vantage he had of Æečāor, that it was
his fortune to be extolled and renowned by the hea-
uenly verſe 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
conſideration, howe it was his happe to be honoured
wyth ſo diuine a worke, as Homers was. Ariſtotle, a
moſt prudent and learned Philoſopher, beeing appointed
Schoolemaſter to the young Prince Alexander, thought
no worke ſo meete to be reade vnto a King, as the
worke of Homer: wherein the young Prince being by
him inſtructed throughly, found ſuch wonderfull delight
in the ſame when hee came to maturity, that hee would
not onely haue it with him in all his iourneyes, but in
his bedde alſo vnder his pyllowe, to delight him and
teache him both nights and dayes. The ſame is
reported of noble Scipio, who finding the two Bookes
of Homer in the ſpoyle of Kyng Darius, eſteemed them
as wonderfull precious Iewelles, 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 of Poetry, but ſo generally he loued the profeſ-
ſors thereof, that in his moſt ſerious affayres, and hot-
teſt warres againſt AWitmantia and Carthage he could
no whitte be without that olde Poet AEmnius in his
company. But to ſpeake of all thoſe noble and wyſe
Princes, who bare ſpeciall fauour and countenaunce to
Poets, were tedious, and would require a rehearſall of
all ſuch, in whofe time there grewe any to credite and
Engliſh Poetrie. 25
eſtimation in that faculty. Thus farre therefore may
ſuffice for the eſtimation of Poets. Nowe I thinke
moſt meete, to ſpeake ſomewhat, concerning what hath
beene the vſe of Poetry, and wherin it rightly conſiſted,
and whereof conſequently it obteyned ſuch eſtimation.
To begin therefore with the firſt that was firſt worthe-
lye memorable in the excellent gyft of Poetrye, the
beſt wryters agree that it was Orpheus, who by the
ſweete gyft of his heauenly Poetry, withdrew men from
raungyng vncertainly, and wandring brutiſhly about,
and made them gather together, and keepe Company,
made houſes, and kept fellowſhippe together, who
therefore is reported (as Horace ſayth) to aſſwage the
fierceneſſe of Tygers, and mooue the harde Flynts.
After him was Amphion, who was the firſt that cauſed
Citties to bee builded, and men therein to liue decently
and orderly according to lawe and right. Next, was
Tyrfaus, who began to practiſe warlike defences, to
keepe back enemies, and ſaue themſelues from inuaſion
of foes. In thys place I thinke were moſt conuenient
to rehearſe that auncient Poet Pyndarus: but of the
certaine time wherein he flouriſhed, I am not very
certaine: but of the place where he continued moſte,
it ſhoulde ſeeme to be the Citty of 7%ebes, by Plinie
who reporteth, that Alexander in ſacking the ſame
Cittie, woulde not ſuffer the houſe wherein he dwelt to
be ſpoyled as all the reſt were. After theſe was Homer,
who as it were in one ſumme comprehended all know-
ledge, wiſedome, learning, and pollicie, that was inci-
dent to the capacity of man. And who ſo liſte to take
viewe of hys two Bookes, one of his Iliades, the other
his Odiſsea, ſhall throughly perceiue what the right vſe
of Poetry is: which indeede is to mingle profite with
pleaſure, and ſo to delight the Reader with pleaſantnes
of hys Arte, as in ye meane time, his mind may be well
inſtructed with knowledge and wiſedome. For ſo did
that worthy Poet frame thoſe his two workes, that in
reading the firſt, that is his //iads, by declaring and
ſetting forth ſo liuely the Grecians aſſembly againſt
26 A Diſcourſe of
Troy, together with their proweſſe and fortitude againſt
their foes, a Prince ſhall learne not onely courage, and
valiantneſſe, but diſcretion alſo and pollicie to encounter
with his enemies, yea a perfect forme of wyſe conſulta-
tions, with his Captaines, and exhortations to the people,
with other infinite commodities.
Agayne, in the other part, wherein are deſcribed the
manifold and daungerous aduentures of Vlăſes, may a
man learne many noble vertues: and alſo learne to
eſcape and auoyde the ſubtyll practiſes, and perrilous
entrappinges of naughty perſons: and not onely this,
but in what ſort alſo he may deale to knowe and per-
ceiue the affections of thoſe which be neere vnto him,
and moſt familiar with him, the better to put them in
truſt with his matters of waight and importaunce.
Therefore I may boldly ſette downe thys to be the
trueſt, auncienteſt and beſt kinde of Poetry, to direct
ones endeuour alwayes to that marke, that with delight
they may euermore adioyne commoditie to theyr
Readers: which becauſe I grounde vpon Homer the
Prince of all Poets, therefore haue I alledged the order
of his worke, as an authority ſufficiently proouing this
aſſertion.
Nowe what other Poets which followed him, and
beene of greateſt fame, haue doone for the moſte
parte in their ſeuerall workes I wyll briefely, and as my
ſlender ability wyll ſerue me declare. But by my leaue,
I muſt content my ſelfe to ſpeake not of all, but of ſuch
as my ſelfe haue ſeene, and beene beſt acquainted
withall, and thoſe not all nor the moſte part of the
auncient Grecians, of whom I know not how many
there were, but theſe of the Latiniſts, which are of
greateſt fame and moſt obuious among vs.
Thus much I can ſay, that Ariſtotle reporteth none
to haue greatly flouriſhed in Greece, at leaſt wyſe not
left behynd them any notable memoriall, before the
time of Homer. And Tully ſayth as much, that there
were none wrytt woorth the reading twyce in the
Romaine tongue, before ye Poet Ennius. And ſurely
Engliſh Poetrie. - 27
as the very ſumme or cheefeſt effence of Poetry, dyd
alwayes for the moſt part conſiſt in delighting the
readers or hearers wyth pleaſure, ſo as the number of
Poets increaſed, they ſtyll inclyned thys way rather
then the other, ſo that moſt of them had ſpeciall
regarde, to the pleaſantneſſe of theyr 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 ſhoulde
reape by their works. And thus as I ſuppoſe came
it to paſſe among them, that for the moſt part of them,
they would not write one worke contayning ſome ſerious
matter: but for the ſame they wold likewiſe powrefoorth
as much of ſome wanton or laciuious inuention. Yet
ſome of the auncienteſt ſort of Grecians, as it ſeemeth
were not ſo much diſpoſed to vayne delectation: as
Ariſtotle ſayth of Empedocles, that in hys iudgment he
was onely a naturall Philoſopher, 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
verſe. After the time of Homer, there began the firſte
Comedy wryters, who compyled theyr workes in a better
ſtile which continued not long, before it was expelled
by penalty, for ſcoffing too broade at mens manners,
and the priuie reuengements which the Poets vſed
againſt their ill wyllers. Among theſe was Æupolis,
Crafinus, and Ariſtophemes, but afterward the order of
thys wryting Comedies was reformed and made more
plauſible: then wrytte Plato, Comicus, Memander, and
I knowe not who more.
There be many moſt profitable workes, of like anti-
quity, or rather before them, of the Tragedy writers:
as of Æuripides, and Sophocles, then was there Phoci-
tides and 7%eagines, with many other: which Tragedies
had their inuention by one Zheffis, and were polliſhed
and amended by Æſchilus. The profitte or diſcom-
moditie which aryſeth by the vſe of theſe Comedies and
Tragedies, which is moſt, hath beene long in contro-
uerſie, and is fore vrged among vs at theſe dayes: what
28 A Diſcourſe of
I thinke of the ſame, perhaps I ſhall breefely declare
3.110Il.
Nowe concerning the Poets which wrote in homely
manner, as they pretended, but indeede, with great
pythe and learned iudgment, ſuch as were the wryters
of Sheepeheards talke and of huſbandly precepts, who
were among the Grecians that excelled, beſides Theo-
critus and Heſiodus I know not, of whom the firſt,
what profitable workes he left to poſterity, beſides hys
Idiſlia or contentions of Goteheards, tending moſt 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 Huſbandry, but yet ſo as he myxed much wanton
ſtuffe among the reſt.
The firſt wryters of Poetry among the Latines,
ſhoulde ſeeme to be thoſe, 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 cheefeſt that we may ſee or heare tell of,
were theſe. Amnius, Cacilius, Naulus, Zicinius, Aft:-
ſius, Zºzºitius, 7%abea, Zuſcius, Plautus, and Zörens,
Of whom theſe two laſt named, haue beene euer ſince
theyr time moſt famous, and to theſe dayes are eſteemed,
as greate helpes and furtheraunces to the obtayning of
good Letters. But heere cannot I ſtaye to ſpeake of
the moſt famous, renowned and excellent, that euer
writte among the Latine Poets, P. Virgill, who per-
formed the very ſame 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
praiſe, Meſcio quid magis maſcitur ZZiade. Vnder the
perſon of Æneas he expreſſeth the valoure of a worthy
Captaine and valiaunt Gouernour, together with the
perrilous aduentures of warre, and polliticke deuiſes at
all aſſayes. And as he immitateth Homer in that worke,
ſo dooth he likewyſe followe the very ſteps of Zheo-
critus, in his moſt pythy inuentions of his Zgłogues:
and likewyſe Heſiodus in his Georgicks or bookes of
Engliſh Poetrie. 29
Huſbandry, but yet more grauely, and in a more decent
ſtyle. But notwithſtanding hys ſage grauity and won-
derfull wiſedome, dyd he not altogether reſtrayne his
vayne, but that he would haue a caſt at ſome wanton
and ſkant comely an Argument, if indeede ſuch trifles
as be fathered vppon him were his owne. There fol-
lowed after him, very many rare and excellent Poets,
whereof the moſt part writt light matters, as Epigram-
mes and Elégies, with much pleaſant dalliance, among
whom may be accounted Propertius, Złóu//us, Catu//us,
with diuers whom Ouid ſpeaketh of in diuers places of
his workes. Then are there two Hyſtoricall Poets, no
leſſe profitable then delightſome to bee read: Silius and
Mucanus: the one declaring the valiant proweſſe of two
noble Captaines, one enemie to the other, that is, Scipio
and Hamibal/: the other likewiſe, the fortitude of two
expert warriours (yet more lamentably then the other
becauſe theſe warres were ciuill) Pompey and Caeſar.
The next in tyme (but as moſt men doo account, and
ſo did he himſelfe) the ſecond in dignity, we will ad
ioyne Ouid, a moſt learned, and exquiſite Poet. The
worke of greateſt profitte which he wrote, was his
Booke of Metamorphoſis, which though it conſiſted of
fayned Fables for the moſt part, and poeticallinuentions,
yet beeing moralized according to his meaning, and the
trueth of euery tale beeing diſcouered, it is a worke of
exceeding wyſedome and ſounde iudgment. If one
lyſt in like manner, to haue knowledge and perfect
intelligence of thoſe rytes and ceremonies which were
obſerued after the Religion of the Heathen, no more
profitable worke for that purpoſe, then his bookes
De fastis. The reſt of his dooinges, though they tende
to the vayne delights of loue and dalliaunce (except
his Zristibus wherein he bewayleth hys exile) yet ſurely
are mixed with much good counſayle and profitable
leſſons if they be wiſely and narrowly read. After his
time I know no worke of any great fame, till the time
of Horace, a Poet not of the ſmootheſt ſtyle, but in
ſharpneſſe of wytt inferiour to none, and one to whom
3o A Diſcourſe of
all the reſt both before his time and fince, are very much
beholding. About the ſame time Zuuena/Z and AEerſus,
then Martial, Seneca a moſt excellent wryter of Trage-
dies, Boetius, Zucrețius, Statius, Va/: Flaccus, Manilius,
Auſonius, Claudian, and many other, whoſe iuſt times
and ſeuerall woorkes to ſpeake of in this place, were
neither much needefull, nor altogeather tollerable,
becauſe I purpoſed an other argument. Onely I will
adde two of later times, yet not farre inferiour to the
moſt of them aforeſayde, Pallengenius, and Bap. Man-
Zuanus, and for a ſinguler gyft in a ſweete Heroicall
verſe, match with them Chr. Oclan. the Authour of
our Anglorum Praeſia. But nowe leaſt I ſtray too farre
from my purpoſe, I wyl come to our Engliſh Poets, to
whom I would I were able to yeelde theyr deſerued
Commendations: and affoorde them that cenſure, which
I know many woulde, which can better, if they were
nowe to write in my ſteede.
I know no memorable worke written by any Poet in
our Engliſh ſpeeche, vntill twenty yeeres paſt: where
although Learning was not generally decayde at anytime,
eſpecially ſince the Conqueſt of King William Duke of
Normandy, as it may appeare by many famous works
and learned bookes (though not of this kinde) wrytten
by Byſhoppes and others: yet ſurelye that Poetry was
in ſmall price among them, it is very manifeſt, 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 verſifying, which of long time
was vſed (a barbarous vſe it was) wherin they conuerted
the naturall property of the ſweete Latine verſe, to be
a balde kinde of ryming, thinking nothing to be lear-
nedly written in verſe, which fell not out in ryme, that
is, in wordes whereof the middle worde of eche verſe
ſhould ſound a like with the laſt, or of two verſes, the
ende of both ſhould fall in the like letters as thus.
O male viuenſes, verſus audite ſequentes.
Engliſh Poetrie. 3I
And thus likewyſe.
Aropfer hac et alia dogmata doćiorum
A'eor effe melius ef magis decorum:
Quiſgue ſuam habeat, et non proximorum.
This brutiſh Poetrie, though it had not the beginning
in this Countrey, yet ſo hath it beene affected heere, that
the infection thereof would neuer (nor I thinke euer
will) be rooted vppe againe: I meane this tynkerly
verſe which we call ryme: Maſter Aſcham ſayth, that
it firſt began to be followed and maintained among the
J/unmes 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 ſo to
Germany, atlaſtconueyed into England, by men indeede
of great wiſedome and learning, but not conſiderate nor
circumſpect in that behalfe. But of this I muſt intreate
more heereafter.
Aſenry the firſt King of that name in England, is
wonderfully extolled, in all auncient Recordes of me-
mory, for hys ſinguler good learning, in all kinde of
noble ſtudies, in ſo much as he was named by his ſur-
name Beaucleark, as much to ſay, as Fayreclerke
(whereof perhappes came ye name of Fayreclowe) what
knowledge hee attained in the ſkyll of Poetry, I am
not able to ſay, I report his name for proofe, that
learning in this Country was not little eſteemed of at
that rude time, and that like it is, among other ſtudies,
a King would not neglect the faculty of Poetry. The
firſt of our Engliſh Poets that I haue heard of, was John
Gozo'er, about the time of king Rychard the ſeconde, as
it ſhould ſeeme by certayne coniectures bothea Knight,
and queſtionleſſe a ſinguler well learned man: whoſe
workes I could wyſh 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 ſpeaketh of him oftentimes, in
32 A Diſcourſe Of
diuerſs] places of hys workes. Chawcer, who for that
excellent fame which hee obtayned in his Poetry, was
alwayes accounted the God of Engliſh Poets (ſuch a
tytle for honours ſake 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 ſince hys time
directed theyr ſtudies that way. Though the manner
of hys ſtile may ſeeme blunte and courſe to many fine
Engliſh eares at theſe dayes, yet in trueth, if it be equally
pondered, and with good iudgment aduiſed, and con-
firmed with the time wherein he wrote, a man ſhall
perceiue thereby euen a true picture or perfect ſhape
of a right Poet. He by his delightſome vayne, ſo
gulled the eares of men with his deuiſes, that, although
corruption bare ſuch ſway in moſt matters, that learning
and truth might ſkant bee admitted to ſhewe it ſelfe,
yet without controllment, myght hee gyrde at the vices
and abuſes of all ſtates, and gawle with very ſharpe and
eger inuentions, which he did ſo learnedly and plea-
ſantly, that none therefore would call him into queſtion.
For ſuch was his bolde ſpyrit, that what enormities he
ſaw in any, he would not ſpare to pay them home,
eyther in playne words, or els in ſome prety and pleaſant
couert, that the ſimpleſt might eſpy him.
Neere in time vnto him was Zydgate a Poet, ſurely
for good proportion of his verſe, and meetely currant
ſtyle, as the time affoorded comparable with Chawcer,
yet more occupyed in ſuperſticious and Odde matters,
then was requeſite in ſo good a wytte: which, though
he handled them commendably, yet the matters them-
ſelues beeing not ſo commendable, hys eſtimation hath
beene the leſſe. The next of our auncient Poets, that
I can tell of, I ſuppoſe to be Pierce Ploughman, who
in hys dooinges is ſomewhat harſhe and obſcure, but
indeede a very pithy wryter, and (to hys commendation
I ſpeake it) was the firſt that I haue ſeene, that obſerued
ye quantity of our verſe without the curioſity of Ryme.
Since theſe I knowe none other tyll the time of
Engliſh Poetrie. 33
Skelton, who writ in the time of Kyng Henry the eyght,
who as indeede he obtayned the Lawrell Garland, ſo
may I wyth good ryght yeelde him the title of a Poet:
hee was doubtles a pleaſant conceyted fellowe, and of
a very ſharpe wytte, exceeding bolde, and would nyppe
to the very quicke where he once ſette holde. Next
hym I thynke I may place maſter George Ga/€oyne, as
painefull a Souldier in the affayres of hys Prince and
Country, as he was a wytty Poet in his wryting: whoſe
commendations, becauſe I found in one of better
iudgment then my ſelfe, I wyl ſette downe hys wordes,
and ſuppreſſe myne owne, of hym thus wryteth E. K.
vppon the ninth Agogue of the new Poet.
Maſter George Ga/koyne a wytty Gentleman and the
very cheefe of our late rymers, who and if ſome partes
of learning wanted not (albeit is well knowne he altoge-
ther wanted not learning) no doubt would haue attayned
to the excellencye of thoſe famous Poets. For gyfts
of wytt, and naturall promptnes appeare in him aboun-
dantly. I might next ſpeake of the dyuers workes of
the olde Earle of Surrey: of the L. Vaus, of Morton,
of Briſłow, Edwardes, Zuffer, Churchyard. VVy/:
Aſunnis: Haizood: Sand: Hy//; S. Y. M. D. and
many others, but to ſpeake of their ſeuerall gyfts, and
aboundant ſkyll ſhewed forth by them in many pretty
and learned workes, would make my diſcourſe much
more tedious.
I may not omitte the deſerued commendations of
many honourable and noble Lordes, and Gentlemen, in
her Maieſties Courte, which in the rare deuiſes of
Poetry, haue beene and yet are moſt excellent ſkyl-
full, among whom, the right honourable Earle of Oxford
may challenge to him ſelfe the tytle of ye moſt excellent
among the reſt. I can no longer forget thoſe learned
Gentlemen which tooke ſuch profitable paynes in trans-
lating the Latine Poets into our Engliſh tongue, whoſe
deſertes in that behalfe are more then I can vtter.
Among theſe, I euer eſteemed, and while I lyue, in my
conceyt I ſhall account Maſter D. Phaer: without doubt
C
34 A Diſcourſe of
the beſt: who as indeede hee had the beſt peece of
Poetry whereon to ſette a moſt gallant verſe, ſo per-
formed he it accordingly, and in ſuch ſort, as in my
conſcience I thinke would ſcarcely be doone againe, if
it were to doo again. Notwithſtanding, I ſpeak it but
as myne own fancy, not preiudiciall to thoſe that liſt to
thinke otherwyſe. Hys worke whereof I ſpeake, is the
engliſhing of Æneidos of Virgill, ſo farre foorth as it
pleaſed God to ſpare him life, which was to the halfe
parte of the tenth Booke, the reſt beeing ſince wyth no
leſſe commendations finiſhed, by that worthy ſcholler
and famous Phiſition Maſter Zhomas Zºeyne.
Equally with him may I well adioyne Maſter Arthur
Golding, for hys labour in engliſhing Ouids Metamor-
phoſis, for which Gentleman, ſurely our Country hath
for many reſpects greatly to gyue God thankes: as for
him which hath taken infinite paynes without ceaſing,
trauelleth as yet indefatigably, and is addicted without
ſociety, by his continuall laboure, to profit this nation
and ſpeeche in all kind of good learning. The next,
very well deſerueth Maſter Barnabe Googe to be placed,
as a painefull furtherer of learning: hys helpe to Poetry
beſides hys owne deuiſes, as the tranſlating of Pallen-
genius. Zodiac. Abraham Flemming as in many prety
Poeſis of hys owne, ſo in tranſlating hath doone to hys
commendations. To whom I would heereadioyne one
of hys name, whom I know to haue excelled, as well
in all kinde of learning as in Poetry moſt eſpecially,
and would appeare ſo, if the dainty morſelles, and fine
poeticall inuentions of hys, were as common abroade
as I knowe they be among ſome of hys freendes. I wyl
Craue leaue of the laudable Authors of Seneca in Eng-
liſh, of the other partes of Ouid, of Horace, of Mantuan,
and diuers other, becauſe I would haſten to ende thys
rehearſall, perhappes offenſyue to ſome, whom eyther
by forgetfulnes, or want of knowledge, I muſt needes
ouer paſſe.
And once againe, I am humbly to deſire pardon of
the learned company of Gentlemen Schollers, and
Engliſh Poetrie. 35
ſtudents of the Vniuerſities, and Innes of Courte, yf I
omitte theyr ſeuerall commendations in this place,
which I knowe a great number of them haue worthely
deſerued, in many rare deuiſes, and ſinguler inuentions
of Poetrie: for neither hath it beene my good happe,
to haue ſeene all which I haue hearde of, neyther is
my abyding in ſuch place, where I can with facility get
knowledge of their workes.
One Gentleman notwithſtanding among them may I
not ouerſlyppe, ſo farre reacheth his fame, and ſo worthy
is he, if hee haue not already, to weare the Lawrell
wreathe, Maſter George VWheftone, a man ſingularly
well ſkyld in this faculty of Poetrie: To him I wyl
ioyne Anthony Munday, an earneſt traueller in this
arte, and in whoſe name I haue ſeene very excellent
workes, among which ſurely, the moſt exquiſite vaine
of a witty poeticall heade is ſhewed in the ſweete ſobs
of Sheepheardes and Nymphes: a worke well worthy
to be viewed, and to bee eſteemed as very rare Poetrie.
With theſe I may place John Graunge, Knyght, VVy/
moff, Darrell, F. C. F. K. G. B. and many other,
whoſe names come not nowe to my remembraunce.
This place haue I purpoſely reſerued for one, who
if not only, yet in my iudgement principally deſerueth
the tytle of the righteſt Engliſh Poet, that euer I read:
that is, the Author of the Sheepeheardes Kalender,
intituled to the woorthy Gentleman Maſter Phil/?
Sydney, whether it was Maſter Sp. or what rare Schol-
ler in Pembrooke Hall ſoeuer, becauſe himſelf and his
freendes, for what reſpect I knowe not, would not
reueale it, I force not greatly to ſette downe: ſorry I
am that I can not find none other with whom I might
couple him in this Catalogue, in his rare gyft of Poetry:
although one there is, though nowe long ſince, ſeriouſly
occupied in grauer ſtudies, (Maſter Gabriel/ Haruey)
yet, as he was once his moſt ſpecial freende and fellow
Poet, ſo becauſe he hath taken ſuch paynes, not onely
in his Latin Poetry (for which he enjoyed great com-
mendations of the beſt both in iudgment and dignity in
36 A Diſcourſe of
thys Realme) but alſo to reforme our Engliſh verſe, and
to beautify the ſame with braue deuiſes, of which I
thinke the cheeſe lye hidde in hatefull obſcurity: there-
fore wyll I aduenture to ſette them together, as two of
the rareſt witts, and learnedſt maſters of Poetrie in
England. Whoſe worthy and notable ſkyl in this
faculty, I would wyſh if their high dignities and ſerious
buſineſſes would permit, they would ſtyll graunt to bee
a furtheraunce to that reformed kinde of Poetry, which
Maſter Haruey did once beginne to ratify: and ſurely
in mine opinion, if hee had choſen ſome grauer matter,
and handled but with halfe that ſkyll, which I knowe
he could haue doone, and not powred it foorth at a
venture, as a thinge betweene ieſt and earneſt, it had
taken greater effect then it did.
As for the other Gentleman, if it would pleaſe him
or hys freendes to let thoſe 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 ſhoulde not onely ſtay the rude pens of my
ſelfe and others, but alſo ſatiſfye the thirſty deſires of
many which deſire nothing more, then to ſee more of
hys rare inuentions. If I ioyne to Maſter Haruey hys
two Brethren, I am aſſured, though they be both buſied
with great and waighty callinges (the one a godly and
learned Diuine, the other a famous and ſkylfull Phiſition)
yet if they lyſted to ſette to their helping handes to
Poetry, they would as much beautify and adorne it as
any others.
If I let paſſe the vncountable rabble of ryming Ballet
makers and compylers of ſenceleſſe ſonets, who be moſt
buſy, to ſtuffe euery ſtall full of groſſe deuiſes and vn-
learned Pamphlets: I truſt I ſhall with the beſt ſort be
held excuſed. Nor though many ſuch can frame an
Alehouſe ſong offiue of ſixeſcore verſes, hobbling vppon
ſome tune of a Northen lygge, or Robyn hoode, or
La lubber etc. And perhappes obſerue iuſt number of
ſillables, eyght in one line, fixe in an other, and there
Withall an A to make a iercke in the ende: yet if theſe
Engliſh Poetrie. 37
might be accounted Poets (as it is ſayde ſome of them
make meanes to be promoted to ye Lawrell) ſurely we
ſhall ſhortly haue whole ſwarmes of Poets: and euery
one that can frame a Booke in Ryme, though for want
of matter, it be but in commendations of Copper noſes
or Bottle Ale, wyll catch at the Garlande due to Poets:
whoſe potticall poeticall (I ſhould ſay) heades, I would
wyſhe, at their worſhipfull comencements might in
ſteede of Lawrell, be gorgiouſly garniſhed with fayre
greene Barley, in token of their good affection to our
Engliſhe Malt. One ſpeaketh thus homely of them, with
whoſe words I wyll content my ſelfe for thys time, be-
cauſe I woulde not bee too broade wyth them in myne
owne ſpeeche.
In regarde (he meaneth of the learned framing the
newe Poets workes which writt the Sheepheardes Calen-
der.) I ſcorne and ſpue out the rakehelly rout of our
ragged Rymers, (for ſo themſelues vſe to hunt the Let.
ter) which without learning boaſte, without iudgment
iangle, without reaſon rage and fume, as if ſome inſtinct
of poeticall ſpyrite had newlie rauiſhed them, aboue
the meaneſſe of common capacity. And beeing in
the midſt of all their brauery, ſuddainly for want of
matter or of Ryme, or hauing forgotten their former
conceyt, they ſeeme to be ſo payned and trauelled in
theyr remembraunce, as it were a woman in Chyldbyrth,
or as that ſame Pythia when the traunce came vpon
her. Os rabidum fera corda domans etc.
rººHus farre foorth haue I aduentured to ſette
|º $º downe parte of my fimple iudgement con-
cerning thoſe Poets, with whom for the
gº ſº; moſt part Ihaue beene acquainted through
* myne owne reading: which though it may



38 A Diſcourſe of
ſeeme ſomething impertinent to the tytle of my Booke,
yet I truſt the courteous Readers wyll pardon me, con-
ſidering that poetry is not of that grounde and antiquity
in our Engliſh tongue, but that ſpeaking thereof only
as it is Engliſh, would ſeeme 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 ſay concerning
our Engliſhe Poetry, firſt in the matter thereof, then in
the forme, that is, the manner of our verſe: yet ſo as
I muſt euermore haue recourſe to thoſe times and
wryters, whereon the Engliſh poetry taketh as it were
the diſcent and proprietye.
Engliſh Poetry therefore beeing conſidered accord-
ing to common cuſtome and auncient vſe, is, where
any worke is learnedly compiled in meaſurable ſpeeche,
and framed in wordes contayning number or propor-
tion of iuſt ſyllables, delighting the readers or hearers
as well by the apt and decent framing of wordes in
equall reſemblance of quantity, commonly called verſe,
as by the ſkyllfull handling of the matter whereof it is
intreated. I ſpake ſomewhat of the beginning of thys
meaſuring of wordes in iuſt number, taken out of
Plato: and indeede the regarde of true quantity in
Letters and ſyllables, ſeemeth not to haue been much
vrged before the time of Homer in Greece, as
Ariſtof/e witneſſeth.
The matters whereof verſes were firſt made, were
eyther exhortations to vertue, dehortations from vice,
or the prayſes of ſome laudable thing. From thence
they beganne to vſe them in exerciſes of immitating
ſome vertuous and wiſe man at their feaſtes: where as
ſome one ſhoulde be appointed to repreſent an other
mans perſon of high eſtimation, and he ſang fine ditties
and wittie ſentences, tunably to their Muſick notes.
Of thys ſprang the firſt kinde of Comedyes, when they
beganne to bring into theſe exerciſes, more perſons
then one, whoſe ſpeeches were deuiſed Dyalogue wiſe,
in aunſwering one another. And of ſuch like exer.
Engliſh Poetrie. 39
ciſes, or as ſome wyll needes haue it, long before the
other, began the firſt Tragedies, and were ſo called of
Tpayos, becauſe the Actor when he began to play his
part, ſlewe and offered a Goate to their Goddeſſe: but
Commedies tooke their name of kopo, (ew kav ćew
comeſsatum ire, to goe a feaſting, becauſe they vſed to
goe in proceſſion with their ſport about the Citties and
Villages, mingling much pleaſaunt myrth wyth theyr
graue Religion, and feaſting cheerefully together wyth
as great ioy as might be deuiſed. But not long after
(as one delight draweth another) they began to inuent
new perſons and newe matters for their Comedies,
ſuch as the deuiſers thought meeteſt to pleaſe the
peoples vaine: And from theſe, they beganne to pre-
ſent in ſhapes of men, the natures of vertues and
vices, and affections and quallities incident to men,
as Iuſtice, Temperance, Pouerty, Wrathe, Vengeaunce,
Sloth, Valiantnes, and ſuch like, as may appeare by
the auncient workes of Ariſſophanes. There grewe at
laſt to be a greater diuerſitye betweene Tragedy wryters
and Comedy wryters, the one expreſſing onely ſorrow-
full and lamentable Hyſtories, bringing in the perſons
of Gods and Goddeſſes, Kynges and Queenes, and
great ſtates, whoſe parts were cheefely to expreſſe moſt
miſerable calamities and dreadfull chaunces, which
increaſed worſe and worſe, tyll they came to the moſt
wofull plight that might be deuiſed.
The Comedies on the other ſide, were directed to a
contrary ende, which beginning doubtfully, drewe to
ſome trouble or turmoyle, and by ſome lucky chaunce
alwayes ended to the ioy and appeaſement of all
parties. Thys diſtinction grewe as ſome holde opinion,
by immitation of the workes of Homer: for out of his
Aliads, the Tragedy wryters founde dreadfull euents,
whereon to frame their matters, and the other out of
hys Odyſſea tooke arguments of delight, and pleaſant
ending after dangerous and troubleſome doubtes. So
that, though there be many ſortes of poeticall Wrytings,
and Poetry is not debarred from any matter, which
4O A Diſcourſe of
may be expreſſed by penne or ſpeeche, yet for the
better vnderſtanding, and breefer method of thys
diſcourſe, I may comprehende the ſame in three ſortes,
which are Comicall, Tragicall, Hiſtoriſc]all, Vnder the
firſt, may be contained all ſuch Epigrammes, Ælegies
and delectable ditties, which Poets haue deuiſed re-
ſpecting onely the delight thereof; in the ſeconde, all
dolefull complaynts, lamentable chaunces, and what
ſoeuer is poetically expreſſed in ſorrow and heauines.
In the third, we may compriſe, the reſte of all ſuch
matters, which is indifferent betweene the other two,
doo commonly occupy the pennes of Poets: ſuch, are
the poeticall compyling of Chronicles, the freendly
greetings betweene freendes, and very many ſortes
beſides, which for the better diſtinction may be refer-
red to one of theſe three kindes of Poetry. But once
againe, leaſt my diſcourſe runne too farre awry, wyll
I buckle my ſelfe more neerer to Engliſh Poetry: the
vſe wherof, becauſe it is nothing different from any
other, I thinke beſt to confirme by the teſtimony of
Aorace, a man worthy to beare authority in this
matter: whoſe very opinion is this, that the perfect
perfection of poetrie is this, to mingle delight with
profitt in ſuch wyſe, 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 ſome of hys owne
wordes. In his treatiſe de arte Poetica, thus hee ſayth.
Auf prodëffe volunt auf delečiare foeta,
Aut ſºmuſ et incunda et donea dicere Zita.
As much to ſaie: All Poets deſire either by their
works to profitt or delight men, or els toºloyne both
profitable and pleaſant leſſons together for the inſtruc-
tion of life.
And again
Engliſh Poetrie. 4 I
Omme fulit punčium qui miſcuit vfile dulci,
Mečāorum delečando paritorque mouendo.
That is, He miſſeth nothing of his marke which
3ioyneth profitt with delight, as well delighting his
Readers, as profiting them with counſell. And that
whole Epiſtle which hee wryt of his Arte of Poetrie,
among all the parts thereof, runneth cheefelie vppon
tlis, that whether the argument which the Poet hand-
leth, be of thinges doone, or fained inuentions, yet
that they ſhould beare ſuch an Image of trueth, that
as they delight they may likewiſe profitt. For theſe
are his wordes. Fić7a voluptaſis cauſa ſºnſ froxima
veris. Let thinges that are faigned for pleaſures ſake,
haue a neere reſemblance of ye truth. This precept
may you perceiue to bee moſt duelie obſerued of
Chawcer: for who could with more delight, preſcribe
ſuch wholſome counſaile and ſage aduiſe, where he
ſeemeth onelie to reſpect the profitte of his leſſons and
inſtructions? or who coulde with greater wiſedome, or
more pithie ſkill, vnfold ſuch pleaſant and delightſome
matters of mirth, as though they reſpected nothing,
but the telling of a merry tale? ſo that this is the
very grounde of right poetrie, to giue profitable coun-
ſaile, yet ſo as it muſt be mingled with delight. For
among all the auncient works of poetrie, though the
moſt of them incline much to that part of delighting
men with pleaſant matters of ſmall importaunce, yet
euen in the vaineſt trifles among them, there is not
forgotten ſome profitable counſaile, which a man may
learne, either by flatte precepts which therein are pre-
ſcribed, or by loathing ſuch vile vices, the enormities
whereof they largelie diſcouer. For ſurelie, I am of
this opinion, that the wantoneſt Poets of all, in their
moſt laciuious workes wherein they buſied themſelues,
ſought rather by that meanes to withdraw mens
mindes (eſpeciallie the beſt natures) from ſuch foule
vices, then to allure them to imbrace ſuch beaſtly
follies as they detected.
42 A Diſcourſe of
Aſorace ſpeaking of the generall dueties of Poets,
ſayth, Os Zenerum pueri balbumque poeia fugital, and
manie more wordes concerning the profitte to be hadde
Out of Poets, which becauſe I haue ſome of them com-
priſed into an Engliſh tranſlation of that learned and
famous knight, Sir Thomas Elyot, I wyll ſet downe his
wordes.
The Poet faſhioneth by ſome pleaſant meane,
The ſpeeche of children ſtable and vnſure:
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 ſicke he doth alſo 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 ſelfe,
without abuſe is not onely not vnprofitable to the liues
and ſtudies of menne, but wonderfull commendable and
of great excellencie. For nothing can be more accept-
able to men, or rather to be wiſhed, then ſweete 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
proudcations, whereof ſomevnbridled witts take occaſion
by the reading of laciuious Poemes, bee obiected: ſuch
as are Ouid's loue Bookes, and Æ/egies, Tibullus, Catul.
/us, and Martials workes, with the Comedies for the
moſt part of Plautus and Zerence: I thinke it eaſily
aunſwered. For though it may not iuſtlie be denied,
that theſe workes are indeede very Poetrie, yet that
Poetrie in them is not the eſſentiall or formall matter
or cauſe of the hurt therein might be affirmed, and
although that reaſon ſhould come ſhort, yet this might
be ſufficient, that the workes themſelues doo not cor-
rupt, but the abuſe of the vſers, who vndamaging their
Engliſh Poetrie. 43
owne diſpoſitions, by reading the diſcoueries of vices,
reſemble fooliſh folke, who comming into a Garden
without anie choiſe or circumſpection tread downe the
faireſt flowers, and wilfullie thruſt their fingers among
the nettles.
And ſurelie to ſpeake what I verelie thinke, this is
mine opinion: that one hauing ſufficient ſkyll, to reade
and vnderſtand thoſe workes, and yet no ſtaie of him
ſelfetoauoydeinconueniences, which the remembraunce
of vnlawfull things may ſtirre vppe in his minde, he, in
my iudgement, is wholy to bee reputed a laciuious diſ.
poſed perſonne, whom the recitall of fins whether it be
in a good worke or a badde, or vppon what occaſion
ſoeuer, wyll not ſtaie him but proudke him further vnto
them. Contrariwiſe, what good leſſons the warie and
ſkylful Readers ſhall picke out of the very worſt of them,
if they liſt to take anie heede, and reade them not of
an intent to bee made the worſe by them, you may ſee
by theſe fewe ſentences, which the foreſayd Sir Zhomas
Elyoff gathered as he ſayth at all aduentures, intreat-
ing of the like argument. Firſt Plautus in commenda-
tions of vertue, hath ſuch like wordes.
Verely vertue doth all thinges excell,
For if liberty, health liuing or ſubſtaunce,
Our Country our parents, and children doo well,
It hapneth by vertue: ſhe 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.
7%rence, in Eunucho hath a profitable ſpeeche, in
blaſing foorth the faſhions of harlots, before the eyes
of young men. Thus ſayth Parmeno.
In thys thing I tryumphe in myne owne conceite,
That I haue found for all young men the way,
Howe they of Harlots ſhall know the deceite,
Their witts and manners: that thereby they may
Them perpetuallie hate, for ſo much as they
44 A Diſcourſe of
Out of their owne houſes be freſh and delicate,
Feeding curiouſly: at home all day
Lyuing beggerlie in moſt wretched eſtate.
And many more wordes of the ſame matter, but
which may be gathered by theſe fewe.
Ouid, in his moſt wanton Bookes of loue, and the
remedies thereof, hath very many pithie and wiſe ſen.
tences, which a heedefull Reader may marke, and choſe
out from ye other ſtuffe. This is one.
Tyme is a medicine of it ſhall profitt,
VVine gyuen out of tyme may be annoyaunce.
And man ſhall irritat vice if he prohibitt,
VWhen time is not meete vnto his vtteraunce.
Therfore if thou yet by counſayle art recuperable,
Fly thou from idlenes and euer be ſtable.
Martiall, a moſt diſſolute wryter among all other,
yet not without many graue and prudent ſpeeches, as
this is one worthy to be marked of theſe fond youthes
which intangle theyr wytts in raging loue, who ſtepping
once ouer ſhoes in theyr fancyes, neuer reſt plunging
till they be ouer head and eares in their follie.
If thou wylt eſchewe bitter aduenture,
And auoyde the annoyance of a penſifull hart,
Set in no one perſon all wholly thy pleaſure,
The leſſe maiſt thou ioy, but the leſſe ſhalt thouſmart.
Theſe are but fewe gathered out by happe, yet ſuffi-
cient to ſhewe that the wiſe and circumſpect Readers
may finde very many profitable leſſons, diſperſed in
theſe workes, neither take any harme by reading ſuch
Poemes, but good, if they wil themſelues. Neuerthe-
les, I would not be thought to hold opinion, that the
reading of them is ſo tollerable, as that there neede no
reſpect to be had in making choyſe of readers or
hearers: for if they be prohibited from the tender and
ynconſtant wits of children and young mindes, I thinke
Engliſh Poetrie. 45
it not without great reaſon: neyther am I of that
deuilliſh opinion, of which ſome there are, and haue
beene in England, who hauing charge of youth to in-
ſtruct them in learning, haue eſpecially made choyſe of
ſuch vnchildiſh ſtuffe, to reade vnto young Schollers,
as it ſhoulde ſeeme of ſome filthy purpoſe, wylfully to
corrupt theyr tender mindes, and prepare them the
more ready for theyr loathſome dyetts.
For as it is ſayd of that impudent worke of Zuciane,
a man were better to reade none of it then all of it, ſo
thinke I that theſe workes are rather to be kept alto-
gether from children, then they ſhould haue free liberty
to reade them, before they be meete either of their
owne diſcretion or by heedefull inſtruction, to make
choyſe of the good from the badde. As for our
Engliſhe Poetrie, I know no ſuch perilous peeces
(except a fewe balde ditties made ouer the Beere potts,
which are nothing leſſe then Poetry) which anie man
may vſe and reade without damage or daunger: which
indeede is leſſe to be meruailed at among vs, then
among the olde Latines and Greekes, conſidering
that Chriſtianity may be a ſtaie to ſuch illecibrous
workes and inuentions, as among them (for their Arte
ſake) myght obtaine paſſage.
Nowe will I ſpeake ſomewhat, of that princelie part
of Poetrie, wherein are diſplaied the noble actes and
valiant exploits of puiſſaunt Captaines, expert ſouldiers,
wiſe men, with the famous reportes of auncient times,
ſuch as are the Heroycall workes of Homer in Greeke,
and the heauenly verſe of Virgi's Zmeidos in Latine:
which workes, comprehending as it were the ſumme
and ground of all Poetrie, are verelie and incompar-
ably the beſt of all other. To theſe, though wee haue
no Engliſh worke aunſwerable, in reſpect of the glorious
ornaments of gallant handling: yet our auncient Chroni-
clers and reporters of our Countrey affayres, come
moſt neere them : and no doubt, if ſuch regarde of
our Engliſh ſpeeche, and curious handling of our verſe,
had beene long ſince thought Vppon, and from time to
46 A Diſcourſe of
time been polliſhed and bettered by men of learning,
iudgement, and authority, it would ere this, haue
matched them in all reſpects. A manifeſt example
thereof, may bee the great good grace and ſweete vayne,
which Eloquence hath attained in our ſpeeche, be-
cauſe it hath had the helpe of ſuch rare and ſinguler
wits, as from time to time myght ſtill adde ſome
amendment to the ſame. Among whom I thinke
there is none that will gainſay, but Maſter Zohn Zilly
hath deſerued moſte high commendations, as he which
hath ſtept one ſteppe further therein then any either
before or ſince he firſt began the wyttie diſcourſe of
his Buphues. Whoſe workes, ſurely in reſpecte of his
ſinguler eloquence and braue compoſition of apt words
and ſentences, let the learned examine and make tryall
thereof thorough all the partes of Rethoricke, in fitte
phraſes, in pithy ſentences, in gallant tropes, in flowing
ſpeeche, in plaine ſence, and ſurely in my iudgment, I
thinke he wyllyeelde him that verdict, which Quintilian
giueth of bothe the beſt Orators Demoſhenes 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 former aſſertion true (I
meane ye meetneſſe of our ſpeeche to receiue the beſt
forme of Poetry) may bee taken by conference of that
famous tranſlation of Maſter D. Phaer with the coppie
it ſelfe, who ſoeuer pleaſe with courteous iudgement but
a little to compare and marke them both together: and
weigh with himſelfe, whether the Engliſh tongue might
by little and little be brought to the verye maieſty of a
ryght Heroicall verſe. Firſt you may marke, how Virgill
alwayes fitteth his matter in hande with wordes agree-
able vnto the ſame affection, which he expreſſeth, as in
hys Tragicall exclamations, what patheticall ſpeeches
he frameth? in his comfortable conſolations, howe
ſmoothely hys verſe runnes? in his dreadfull battayles,
and dreery byckerments of warres, howe bygge and
boyſtrous his wordes ſound? and the like notes in all
partes of his worke may be obſerued. Which excellent
Engliſh Poetrie. 47
grace and comely kind of choyſe, if the tranſlatour hath
not hitte very neere in our courſe Engliſh phraſe iudge
vprightly: wee wyll conferre ſome of the places, not
picked out for the purpoſe, but ſuch as I tooke turning
ouer the Booke at randon. When the Troyans were
ſo toſt about in tempeſtious wether, cauſed by Æo/us
at Zunoes requeſt, and driuen vpon the coaſte of Affrick
with a very neere ſcape of their liues: Aºneas after hee
had gone a land and kylled plenty of victuals for his
company of Souldiours, hee deuided the ſame among
them, and thus louinglie and ſweetely he comforted
them. Æn. Lib. i.
et dictis marentia ſectora muſcet
O ſocii (négue ignari ſumus amfe malorum)
O paſsi graulora: dabit deus his quogue finem
Vos et ſcy//aam rabiem, Żenituſ/ue ſonantes,
Accestºs ſcopulos. Josef cyclopéa ſaxa
Axperti, reuocate animos, moºſłumque fimorem
Mittite, forſan et hac olim meminiſe iuntabit.
Aer varios caſus, Žer tof diſcrimina rerum
Tºmdimus in Zafium: ſedes vói ſata quietas
Osłendumſ, z//ic fas regna reſurgere froide.
Aurate, et voſmet rebus ſeruate ſecundis.
Zh/ia zoce referſ, curéſ/ue ingenſibus ager
Sºem vulta ſimulaſ, premit aſum corde dolorem.
Tranſlated thus.
And then to cheere their heauy harts with theſe words he
him bent.
O Mates (quoth he) that many a woe haue bidden and
borne ere thys,
Worſe haue we ſeene, and this alſo ſhall end when Gods
wyll is.
Through Sylla rage (ye wott) and through the roaring
rocks we paſt,
Though Cyclops ſhore was full of feare, yet came we
through at laſt.
48 A Diſcourſe of
Plucke vppe your harts, and driue from thence both
feare and care away.
To thinke on this may pleaſure be perhapps another day.
By paynes and many a daunger ſore, by ſundry chaunce
we wend,
To come to Italy, where we truſt to find our reſting ende:
And where the deſtnyes haue decreed Złoyes Kingdome
eft to ryſe
Be bold and harden now your harts, take eaſe while eaſe
applies
Thus ſpake he tho, but in his hart huge cares had him
oppreſt, -
Diſſembling hope with outward eyes full heauy was his
breſt.
Againe, marke the wounding of Dido in loue with .
Ameas, with howe choyſe wordes it is pithily deſcribed,
both by the Poet and the tranſlator in the beginning
of the fourth booke.
At Régina grazzi idm dudum ſaucia cura
7/o/mus alii Venis, et cæco carpitur igni, etc.
By this time perced ſatte the Queene ſo ſore with loues
deſire,
Her wound in euery vayne ſhe feedes, ſhe fryes in
ſecrete fire.
The manhood of the man full oft, full oft his famouslyne
She doth reuolue, and from her thought his face cannot
wntwyne.
His countnaunce deepe ſhe drawes and fixed faſt ſhe
beares in breſt,
His words alſo, nor to her carefull hart can come no reſt.
And in many places of the fourth booke is the ſame mat-
ter ſo gallantly proſecuted in ſweete wordes, as in mine
opinion the coppy it ſelfe goeth no whit beyond it.
Compare them likewiſe in the woefull and lamentable
Engliſh Poetrie. - 49
cryes of the Queene for the departure of Æneas, towards
the ende of that Booke.
Zërque quatergue manu pećius percuffa decorum
Fauentiſue abſciſa comas, proh Yupiter, ibitº
Fſic aii, et nostris in/uſerit aduema Régnis / etc.
Three times her hands ſhe bet, and three times ſtrake her
comely breſt,
Her golden hayre ſhe tare and frantiklike with moode
oppreſt, .
She cryde, O Jupiter, O God, quoth ſhe, and ſhall a goe?
Indeede? and ſhall a flowte me thus within my king-
dome ſo P
Shall notmine Armies out, andall my people them purſue?
Shall they not ſpoyle their ſhyps and burne them vp with
vengance due P -
Out people, out vppon them, follow faſt with fires and
flames,
Set ſayles aloft, make out with oares, in ſhips, in boates,
in frames.
What ſpeake IP or where am I? what furies me doo
thus inchaunt?
O Dydo, wofull wretch, now deſtnyes fell thy head
dooth haunt.
And a little after preparing to kyll her owne ſelfe.
But Dydo quaking fierce with frantike moode and
griefly hewe.
With trembling ſpotted cheekes, her huge attempting
to perſue. - *
|Beſides her ſelfe for rage, and towards death with
viſage wanne,
Her eyes about ſhe rolde, as redde as blood they
looked than.
I)
So A Diſcourſe of
At laſt ready to fall vppon Zneas ſworde.
O happy (welaway) and ouer happy had I beene,
If neuer Troian ſhyps (ahlas) my Country ſhorehad ſeene.
Thus ſayd ſhe wryde her head, and vnreuenged muſt
we die P -
But let vs boldly die (quoth ſhee) thus, thus to death
I ply. -
Nowe likewiſe for the braue warlike phraſe and bygge
ſounding kynd of thundring ſpeeche, in the hotte ſkyr-
myſhes of battels, you may confer them in any of the
laſt fiue Bookes: for examples ſake, thys is one about
the ninth Booke.
At clamor foſis per propugnacula muris,
Intendunt acries arcus, amentague torquent.
Sternitur omne folum felis, tum ſcuta caudague
APant ſomitum fictuga/ea: Žugna asper ſurgit 3 etc.
A clamarous noyſe vpmounts on fortreſſe tops and
bulwarks towres,
They ſtrike, they bend their bowes, they whirle from
ſtrings ſharp ſhoting ſhowres.
All ſtreetes with tooles are ſtrowed, than helmets,
ſkulles, with battrings marrd.
And ſhieldes diſhyuering cracke, vpriſeth roughneſſe
byckring hard
Looke how the tempeſt ſtorme when wind out wraſt-
ling blowes at ſouth, - &
Raine ratling beates the grownde, or clowdes of haile
from Winters mouth, - --
Downe daſhyng headlong driues, when God from ſkyes
with griefly ſteuen, -
His watry ſhowres outwrings, and whirlwind clowdes
downe breakes from heauen. -
And ſo foorth much more of the like effect.
Engliſh Poetrie. 51
Onely one compariſon more will I deſire you to marke
at your leyſures, which may ſerue for all the reſt, that
is, the deſcription of Fame, as it is in the 4. booke,
towardes the end, of which it followeth thus.
Monstrum horrendum ingens cui quot ſunt corpore pluma
7ht vigilos oculi etc.
Monſter gaſtly great, for euery plume her carkaſſe beares,
Like number learing eyes ſhe hath, like number
harkning eares, .
Like number tongues, and mouthes ſhe wagges, a
wondrous thing to ſpeake,
At midnight foorth ſhee flyes, and vnder ſhade her
ſound dooth ſqueake.
All night ſhe wakes, nor ſlumber ſweete doth take nor
neuer ſleepes.
By dayes on houſes tops ſhee fits or gates of Townes
ſhe keepes.
On watching Towres ſhe clymbes, and Citties great
ſhe makes agaſt,
Both trueth and falſhood forth ſhe telles, and lyes
abroade doth caſt.
But what neede I to repeate any more places? there
is not one Booke among the twelue, which wyll not
yeelde you moſt excellent pleaſure in conferring the
tranſlation with the Coppie, and marking the gallant
grace which our Engliſhe ſpeeche affoordeth. And in
trueth the like compariſons, may you chooſe out
through the whole tranſlations of the Metamorphoſis by
Maſter Golding who (conſidering both their Coppyes)
hath equally deſerued commendations for the beauti-
fying of the Engliſh ſpeeche. It would be tedious
to ſtay to rehearſe any places out of him nowe; let
the other ſuffice to prooue, that the Engliſh tongue
lacketh neyther variety nor Currantneſſe of phraſe for
any matter.
52 A Diſcourſe of
㺠Wyll nowe ſpeake a little of an other kinde
§ of poetical writing, which might notwith-
ſtanding for the variableneſſe of the argu-
ment therein vſually handled, bee com-
prehended in thoſekindes before declared:
that is, the compyling Eglogues, as much to ſay as
Goteheardes tales, becauſe they bee commonly Dia-
logues or ſpeeches framed or ſuppoſed betweene
Sheepeheardes, Neteheardes, Goteheardes, or ſuch
like ſimple men: in which kind of writing, many haue
obtained as immortall prayſe and commendation, as
in any other.
The cheefeſt of theſe is 7%eocritus in Greeke, next
him, and almoſt the very ſame, is Virgill in Latin.
After Virgy/ in like ſort writ Złtus Caſphurnius and
Baptiſta Mantuan, wyth many other both in Latine
and other languages very learnedlye. Although the
matter they take in hand ſeemeth commonlie in ap-
pearaunce rude and homely, as the vſuall talke of
ſimple clownes: yet doo they indeede vtter in the
ſame much pleaſaunt and profitable delight. For
vnder theſe perſonnes, as it were in a cloake of fimpli-
citie, they would eyther ſette foorth the prayſes of
theyr freendes, without the note of flattery, or enueigh
grieuouſly againſt abuſes, without any token of byt-
terneſſe.
Somwhat like vnto theſe works, are many peeces of
Chawcer, but yet not altogether ſo poeticall. But
nowe yet at ye laſt hath England hatched vppe one
Poet of this ſorte, in my conſcience comparable with
the beſt in any reſpect: euen Maſter Sº: Author of
the Sheepeheardes Calender, whoſe trauell in that peece
of Engliſh Poetrie, I thinke verely is ſo commendable,
as none of equall iudgment can yeelde him leſſe prayſe


Engliſh Poetrie. 53
for hys excellent ſkyll, and ſkylfull excellency ſhewed
foorth in the ſame, then they would to eyther Theo-
critus or Virgill, whom in mine opinion, if the courſe-
nes of our ſpeeche (I meane the courſe of cuſtome
which he woulde not infringe) had beene no more let
wnto him, then theyr pure natiue tongues were vnto
them, he would haue (if it might be) ſurpaſſed them.
What one thing is there in them ſo worthy admiration,
whereunto we may not adioyne ſome thing of his, of
equall deſert? Take Virgi/ and make ſome little
compariſon betweene them, and iudge as ye ſhall
ſee cauſe.
Virgill hath a gallant report of Auguſtus couertly
compryſed in the firſt A glogue: the like is in him, of
her Maieſtie, vnder the name of Eliza. Virgill maketh
a braue coloured complaint of vnſtedfaſt freendſhyppe
in the perſon of Corydon: the lyke is him in his 5
Agogue. Agayne behold the pretty Paſtorall con-
tentions of Virgill in the third Zgłogue: of him in ye
eight Æg/ogue. Finally, either in compariſon with
them, or reſpect of hys owne great learning, he may
well were the Garlande, and ſteppe before ye beſt of
all Engliſh Poets that I haue ſeene or hearde: for I
thinke no leſſe deſerueth (thus ſayth Æ, Å in hys
commendations) hys wittineſſe in deuiſing, his pithi
neſſe in vttering, his complaintes of loue ſo louely, his
diſcourſes of pleaſure ſo pleaſantly, his Paſtrall rude
nes, his Morrall wyſeneſſe, his due obſeruing of decorum
euery where, in perſonages, in ſeaſon, in matter, in
ſpeeche, and generally in all ſeemely ſimplicity, of
handling hys matter and framing hys wordes. The
occaſion of his worke is a warning to other young men,
who being intangled in loue and youthful vanities,
may learne to looke to themſelues in time, and to
auoyde inconueniences which may breede if they be
not in time preuented. Many good Morrall leſſons
are therein contained, as the reuerence which young
men owe to the aged in the ſecond Æg/ogue: the
caueate or warning to beware a ſubtill profeſſor of
54 ... A Diſcourſe of
freendſhippe in the fift Eglogue: the commendation of
good Paſtors, and ſhame and diſprayſe of idle and
ambitious Goteheardes in the ſeauenth, the looſe and
retchleſſe lyuing of Popiſh Prelates in the ninth. The
learned and ſweete complaynt of the contempt of
learning vnder the name of Poetry in the tenth.
There is alſo much matter vttered ſomewhat couertly,
eſpecially ye abuſes of ſome whom he would not be
too playne withall: in which, though it be not appar-
ant to euery one, what hys ſpeciall meaning was, yet
ſo ſkilfully is it handled, as any man may take much
delight at hys learned conueyance, and picke out
much good ſence in the moſt obſcureſt of it. Hys
notable prayſe deſerued in euery parcell of that worke,
becauſe I cannot expreſſe as I woulde and as it ſhould:
I wyll ceaſe to ſpeake any more of, the rather becauſe
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 ſome curious heades
call in queſtion: viz: the motion of ſome vnſauery
loue, ſuch as in the ſixt Bºglogue he ſeemeth to deale
withall (which ſay they) is ſkant allowable to Engliſh
eares, and might well haue beene left for the Italian
defenders of loathſome beaſtlines, of whom perhappes
he learned it: to thys obiection I haue often aunſwered
and (I thinke truely) that theyr nyce opinion ouer
ſhooteth 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
diſordered loue, or the filthy luſt of the deuilliſh
Aedera/?ice taken in the worſe ſence, but rather to
ſhewe howe the diſſolute life of young men intangled
in loue of women, doo neglect the freendſhyp and
league with their olde freendes and familiers. Why
(ſay they) yet he ſhold gyue no occaſion of ſuſpition,
nor offer to the viewe of Chriſtians, any token of ſuch
filthineſſe, howe good ſoeuer hys meaning were: where-
wnto I oppoſe the ſimple conceyte they haue of matters
which concerne learning or wytt, wylling them to gyue
Engliſh Poetrie. 55
Poets leaue to vſe theyr vayne as they ſee good: it is
their foolyſh conſtruction, not hys wryting that is
blameable. Wee muſt preſcrybe to no wryters, (much
leſſe to Poets) in what ſorte they ſhould vtter theyr
conceyts. But thys wyll be better diſcuſſed by ſome
I hope of better abillity. -
One other ſorte of Poeticall wryters remayneth yet
to bee remembred, that is, The precepts of Huſbandry,
learnedly compiled in Heroycall verſe. Such were the
workes of Heſiodus in Greeke, and Virgil's Georgickes
in Latine. What memorable worke hath beene hand-
led in immitation of theſe by any Engliſh Poet, I know
not, (ſaue onely one worke of M. Zuffer, a peece
ſurely of great wytt and experience, and wythal very
prettilye handled) And I thinke the cauſe why our
Poets haue not trauayled in that behalfe, is eſpecially,
for that there haue beene alwayes plenty of other
wryters that haue handled the ſame argument very
largely. Among whom Maſter Barnabe Googe, in
tranſlating and enlarging the moſt profitable worke of
Beresbachius, hath deſerued much commendation, as
well for hys faythfull compyling and learned increaſing
the noble worke, as for hys wytty tranſlation of a
good part of the Georgickes of Virgi/Z into Engliſh
verſe. -
Among all the tranſlations, which hath beene my
fortune to ſee, I could neuer yet finde that worke of
the Georgicks wholly performed. I remember once
Abraham Flemming in his conuerſion of the Eglogues,
promiſed to tranſlate and publiſhe it: whether he dyd
or not I knowe not, but as yet I heard not of it. I
my ſelfe wott well I beſtowed ſome time in it two or
three yeeres ſince, turning it to that ſame Engliſh verſe,
which other ſuch workes were in, though it were rudely:
howe beit, I did it onely for mine owne vſe, and vppon
certayne reſpectes towardes a Gentleman mine eſpeciall
freende, to whom I was deſirous to ſhewe ſome token
of duetifull good wyll, and not minding it ſhould goe
farre abroade, confidering howe ſlenderly I ranne it
56 A Diſcourſe of
ouer, yet ſince then, hath one gott it in keeping, who
as it is told me, eyther hath or wyll vnaduiſedly pub-
liſhe it: which iniury though he meanes to doome in
myrth, yet I hope he wyll make me ſome ſuffy.cient
recompence, or els I ſhall goe neere to watch hym the
like or a worſe turne.
But concerning the matter of our Englyſh wryters,
lett thys ſuffice: nowe ſhall ye heare my ſimple ſkyl in
what I am able to ſay concerning the forme and
manner of our Englyſhe verſe.
The moſt vſuall and frequented kind of our Engliſh
Poetry hath alwayes runne vpon, and to this day is
obſerued in ſuch equall number of ſyllables, and like-
nes of wordes, that in all places one verſe either im-
mediatly, or by mutuall interpoſition, may be aunſwer-
able to an other both in proportion of length, and
ending of lynes in the ſame Letters. Which rude
kinde of verſe, though (as I touched before) it rather
diſcrediteth our ſpeeche, as borrowed from the Bar-
barians, then furniſheth the ſame with any comely
ornament: yet beeng ſo ingraffed by cuſtome, and fre-
quented by the moſt parte, I may not vtterly diſſalowe
it, leaſt I ſhould ſeeme to call in queſtion the iudge-
ment of all our famous wryters, which haue wonne
eternall prayſe by theyr memorable workes compyled
in that verſe.
For my part therefore, I can be content to eſteeme
it as a thing, the perfection whereof is very commend-
able, yet ſo as wyth others I could wyſh it were
by men of learning and ability bettered, and made
more artificiall, according to the woorthines of our
ſpeeche.
The falling out of verſes together in one like ſounde,
is commonly called in Engliſh, Ryme, taken from the
Greeke worde Pv6pos, which ſurely in my iudgment is
verye abuſiuelye applyed to ſuch a ſence: and by thys,
the vnworthineſſe of the thing may well appeare, in
that wanting a proper name, wherby to be called, it
borroweth a word farre exceeding the dignitye of it,
Engliſh Poetrie. 57
and not appropriate to ſo rude or baſe a thing. For
Ryme is properly, the iuſt proportion of a clauſe or
ſentence, whether it be in proſe or meeter, aptly com-
priſed together: wherof there is both an naturall and
an artificiall compoſition, in any manner or kynde of
ſpeeche, eyther French, Italian, Spaniſh or Engliſh:
and is propper not onely to Poets, but alſo to Readers,
Oratours, Pleaders, or any which are to pronounce or
ſpeake any thing in publike audience.
The firſt begynning of Ryme (as we nowe terme it)
though it be ſomewhat auncient, yet nothing famous.
In Greece (they ſay) one Symias Åhodias, becauſe he
would be ſinguler in ſomthing, wryt poetically of the
Fable, contayning howe Jupiter beeing in ſhape of a
Swanne, begatte the Egge on Leda, wherof came
Caſtor, Pollux, and Helena, whereof euery verſe ended
in thys Ryme, and was called therefore dov but thys
foolyſhe attempt was ſo contemned and diſpyſed,
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 howſoeuer or whereſoeuer it beganne, certayne it
is, that in our Engliſh tongue it beareth as good grace,
or rather better, then in any other: and is a faculty
whereby many may and doo deſerue great prayſe and
commendation, though our ſpeeche be capable of a
farre more learned manner of verſifying, as I wyl partly
declare heereafter. -
There be three ſpeciall notes neceſſary to be obſerued
in the framing of our accuſtomed Engliſh Ryme: the
firſt is, that one meeter or verſe be aunſwerable to an
other, in equall number of feete or ſyllables, or pro-
portionable to the tune whereby it is to be reade or
meaſured. The ſeconde, to place the words in ſuch
ſorte, as none of them be wreſted contrary to the
naturall inclination or affectation of the ſame, or more
truely ye true quantity thereof. The thyrd, to make
them fall together mutually in Ryme, that is, in wordes
sº A Diſcourſe of
of like ſounde, but ſo as the wordes be not diſordered
for the Rymes ſake, nor the ſence hindered. Theſe
be the moſt pryncipall obſeruations, which I thinke
requiſite in an Engliſh verſe: for as for the other
ornaments which belong thereto, they be more
properly belonging to the ſeuerall gyfts of ſkylfull
Poets, then common notes to be preſcribed by me:
but ſomewhat perhaps I ſhall haue occaſion to ſpeake
heereafter.
Of the kyndes of Engliſh verſes which differ in
number of ſyllables, there are almoſt infinite ; which
euery way alter according to hys fancy, or to the
meaſure of that meeter, wherein it pleaſeth hym to
frame hys ditty. Of the beſt and moſt frequented I
wyll rehearſe ſome. The longeſt verſe in length,
which I haue ſeene vſed in Engliſh conſiſteth of ſix-
teene ſyllables, eache two verſes 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 vſed at length thus, but
is commonly deuided, eche verſe into two, whereof.
eche ſhal containe eyght ſyllables, and ryme croſſe
wyſe, the firſt to the thyrd, and the ſecond to the
fourth, in this manner.
Great wealth is but a bayted hooke.
VWhere vertue wants, and vice aboundes :
VVhich men deuoure before they looke,
So them in daungers deepe it drownes.
An other kynd next in length to thys, is, where eche
verſe hath fourteene ſyllables, which is the moſt ac-
cuſtomed of all other, and eſpecially vſed of all the
tranſlatours of the Latine Poets for the moſt part thus.
My mind with furye fierce inflamde of late I know not howe,
Doth burne Parnaſſus hyll to ſee, adornd wyth Lawrell bowe.
Which may likewyſe and ſo it often is deuyded, eche
Engliſh Poetrie. 59
verſe into two, to [ther] firſt hauing eyght fillables, the
ſecond ſixe, wherof the two fixes ſhall alwayes ryme,
and ſometimes the eyghtes, ſometimes not, according
to the wyll of the maker.
My minde with furye fierce inflamde,
Of late I knowe not howe:
Doth burne Permaſus hyll to ſee,
Adornd wyth Lawrell bowe.
There are nowe wythin this compaſſe, as many ſortes
of verſes as may be deuiſed differences of numbers:
wherof ſome conſiſt of equall proportions, ſome of long
and ſhort together, ſome of many rymes in one ſtaffe
(as they call it) ſome of croſſe ryme, ſome of counter
ryme, ſome ryming wyth one worde farre diſtant from
another, ſome ryming euery thyrd or fourth word, and
ſo likewyſe all manner of dytties applyable to euery
tune that may be ſung or ſayd, diſtinct from proſe or
continued ſpeeche. To aucyde therefore tediouſneſſe
and confuſion, I wyll repeate onely the different ſortes
of verſes out of the Sheepeheardes Calender, which
may well ſerue to beare authoritie in thys matter.
There are in that worke twelue or thirteene fundry
ſorts of verſes, which differ eyther in length, or ryme,
of deſtinction of the ſtaues: but of them which differ
in length or number of ſillables not paſt fixe or ſeauen.
The firſt of them is of tenne ſillables, or rather fiue
feete in one verſe, thus,
A Sheepheards boy no better doo him call,
When Winters waſtfull ſpight was almoſt ſpent.
This verſe he vſeth commonly in hys ſweete com-
playntes, and mornefull ditties, as very agreeable to
ſuch affections.
The ſecond ſort hath naturally but nyne ſyllables,
and is a more rough or clowniſh manner of verſe, vſed
moſt commonly of him if you mark him in hys
6o A Diſcourſe of
ſatyricall reprehenſions, and his Sheepeheardes home-
lyeſt talke, ſuch as the ſecond Æglogue is.
Ah for pitty wyll rancke Winters rage,
Theſe bytter blaſts neuer gynne to aſſwage.
The number of nine ſillables in thys verſe is very often
altered, and ſo it may without any diſgrace to the
ſame, eſpecially where the ſpeeche ſhould be moſt
clowniſh and ſimple, which is much obſerued of hym.
The third kynd is a pretty rounde verſe, running
Currantly together, commonly ſeauen ſillables or ſome-
time eyght in one verſe, as many in the next, both
ryming together: euery two hauing one the like verſe
after them, but of rounder wordes, and two of them
likewyſe ryming mutually. That verſe expreſſeth
notably, light and youthfull talke, ſuch as is the
thyrde Ag/ogue betweene two Sheepheardes boys
concerning loue.
Thomalin why fitten we ſo *
As weren ouerwent with woe a),S.
Vpon ſo fayre a morrower o
The ioyous time now nigheth faſt
That wyll allāy this bitter blaſt
And ſlake the Winter ſorrow.
1-7
The fourth ſort containeth in eche ſtaffe manie
wnequall verſes, but moſt ſweetelie falling together.
which the Poet calleth the tune of the waters fall.
Therein is his ſong ln prayſe of Eliza.
Ye daintie Nymphes which in this bleſſed brooke
doo bathe your breſt,
Forſake your watrie bowres and hether looke,
at my requeſt.
And eke yee Virgins that on Parmaſs dwell,
Whence floweth Helicon the learned Well,
helpe me to blaze
her woorthy praiſe
That in her ſex doth all excell. etc.
Engliſh Poetrie. 61
The fift, is a deuided verſe of twelue ſillables into
two verſes, whereof I ſpake before, and ſeemeth moſt
meete for ye handling of a Morrall matter, ſuch as is
the praiſe of good Paſtors, and the diſpraiſe of ill in
the ſeauenth Ag/ogue.
The fixt kinde, is called a round, beeing mutuallie
ſung betweene two: one ſingeth one verſe, the other
the next, eche rymeth with himſelfe.
#3er. It fell vppon a holie eue
Gäyl. Hey ho holliday
#er. When holie fathers wont to ſhrieue,
ūgl. Thus ginneth our Rondelay, etc.
The ſeauenth ſorte is a verie tragicall mournefull
meaſure, wherein he bewayleth the death of ſome
freend vnder the perſon of Dydo.
Vp then Melpomene the mournfulſt Muſe of nyne,
ſuch cauſe of mourning neuer hadſt afore:
Vp griefly ghoſtes, and vp my mournfull ryme:
matter of myrth now ſhalt thou haue no more.
AXydo my deere alas is dead,
Dead and lyeth wrapt in leade:
O heauie hearſe
Let ſtreaming teares be powred out in ſtore
O carefull vearſe.
– Theſe ſortes of verſes for breuities ſake haue I choſen
foorth of him, whereby I ſhall auoide the tedious re-
hearſall of all the kindes which are vſed: which I
thinke would haue beene vnpoſſible, ſeeing they may
be altered to as manie formes as the Poets pleaſe:
neither is there anie tune or ſtroke which may be ſung
or plaide on inſtruments, which hath not ſome poetical
ditties framed according to the numbers thereof: ſome
to Rogero, ſome to Trenchmore, to downe right Squire,
to Galliardes, to Pauines, to Iygges, to Brawles, to all
manner of tunes which euerie Fidler knowes better
then my ſelfe, and therefore I will let them paſſe.
62 A Diſcourſe of
Againe, the diuerſities of the ſtaues (which are the
number of verſes contained with the diuiſions or
partitions of a ditty) doo often times make great
differences in theſe verſes. As when one ſtaffe con-
taineth but two verſes, or (if they bee deuided) foure:
the firſt or the firſt couple hauing twelue ſillables, the
other fourteene, which verſifyers call Powlters mea-
ſure, becauſe ſo they tallſile their wares by dozens. Alſo,
when one ſtaffe hath manie verſes, whereof eche one
rimeth to the next, or mutuallie croſſe, or diſtant by
three, or by foure, or ended contrarye to the begin-
ning, and a hundred ſortes, whereof to ſhewe ſeuerall
examples, would bee too troubleſome: nowe for the
ſecond point.
The naturall courſe of moſt Engliſh verſes ſeemeth
to run vppon the olde Iambicke ſtroake, and I may
well thinke by all likelihoode, it had the beginning
thereof. For if you marke the right quantitie of our
vſuall verſes, ye ſhall perceiue them to containe in
ſound ye very propertie of Iambick feete, as thus.
U – U - U - U - U - U - U -
I that my ſlender oaten pipe in verſe was wont to ſounde:
For tranſpoſe anie of thoſe feete in pronouncing, and
make ſhort either the two, foure, fixe, eight, tenne,
twelue fillable, and it will (doo what you can) fall out
very abſurdly.
Againe, though our wordes can not well bee forced
to abyde the touch of Poſition and other rules of AEro-
ſodia, yet is there ſuch a naturall force or quantity in
eche worde, that it will not abide anie place but one,
without ſome foule diſgrace: as for example try anie
verſe, as thys,
U sº-º. O gº U - U * U - U - U -
Of ſhapes tranſformdetobodies ſtrange I purpoſeto intreate.
Make the firſt ſillable long, or the third, or the fift and
ſo ſoorth: or contrariwiſe make the other fillables to
admitte the ſhortneſſe of one of them places, and ſee
Engliſh Poetrie. 63
what a wonderfull defacing it wil be to the wordes, as
thus.
tº --> U - U - Q
Ofſtrangebodies tranſformd to ſhapes purpoſeltointreat.
So that this is one eſpeciall thing to be taken heede of
in making a good Engliſh verſe, that by diſplacing no
worde bee wreſted againſt his naturall propriety, where-
wnto you ſhal perceyue eche worde to be affected, and
may eaſilie diſcerne it in wordes of two ſillables or aboue,
though ſome there be of indifferencie, that wyll ſtand
in any place. Againe, in chouching the whole ſentence,
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 neceſſitie of Ryme
may oftentimes vrge. For though it be tollerable in
a verſe to ſette wordes ſo extraordinarily as other
ſpeeche will not admitt, yet heede is to be taken, leaſt
by too much affecting that manner, we make both the
verſe vnpleaſant and the ſence obſcure. And ſure it is
a wonder to ſee the folly of manie in this reſpect, that
vſe not onely too much of thys ouerthwart placing, or
rather diſplacing of wordes, in theyr Poemes and verſes,
but alſo in theyr proſe or continued writings: where
they thinke to role moſt ſmoothlie, and flow moſt
eloquently, there by this means, come foorth theyr
ſentences dragging at one Authors tayle as they were
tyde together with poynts, where often you ſhall tarrie
(ſcratching your heade) a good ſpace before you ſhall
heare hys principall verbe or ſpeciall word, leaſte hys
ſinging grace, which in his ſentence is contained ſhould
be leſſe, and his ſpeeche ſeeme nothing poeticall.
The thyrd obſeruation is, the Ryme or like ending
of verſes: which though it is of leaſt importance, yet
hath won ſuch credite among vs, that of all other it is
moſt regarded of the greateſt part of Readers. And
ſurely as I am perſwaded, the regarde of wryters to this,
hath beene the greateſt decay of that good order of
verſifying, which might ere this haue beene eſtabliſhed
64 A Diſcourſe of
in our ſpeeche. In my iudgment, if there be any orna-
ment in the ſame, it is rather to be attributed to the
plentifull fulneſſe of our ſpeeche, which can affoorde
ryming words ſufficient for the handling of any matter,
then to the thing it ſelfe for any beautifying it bringeth
to a worke: which might bee adorned with farre more
excellent collours then ryming is. Notwithſtanding I
cannot but yeelde vnto it (as cuſtome requireth) the
deſerued prayſes, eſpecially where it is with good iudge-
ment ordered. And I thinke them right worthy of
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 ſencible ryme,
vppon ſome vnacquainted matter. -
The ready ſkyll of framing anie thing in verſe, beſides
the naturall promptneſſe which many haue therevnto,
is much helped by Arte, and exerciſe of the memory:
for as I remember, I reade once among Gaskoynes
workes, a little inſtruction to verſifying, where is pre-
ſcribed as I thinke thys courſe of learning to verſifye
in Ryme.
When ye haue one verſe well ſetled, and decently
ordered which you may diſpoſe at your pleaſure, to
ende it with what word you wyll: then what ſoeuer the
word is, you may ſpeedilie runne ouer the other wordes
which are aunſwerable therevnto, (for more readines
through all the letters Alphabetically) whereof you may
chooſe that which wyll beſt fitte the ſence of your matter
in that place: as for example: if your laſt worde ende
in Booke, you may ſtraightwayes in your minde runne
them ouer thus. Brooke, Cooke, Crooke, hooke, looke,
nooke, pooke, rooke, forſooke, tooke, awooke etc.
Nowe it is twenty to one, but alwayes one of theſe ſhall
iumpe with your former worde and matter in good
ſence. If not, then alter the firſt.
And indeede I thinke, that next to the Arte of
memory, thys is the readyeſt way to attaine to the
faculty of ryming well Extempore, eſpecially if it be
helped with thus much paynes. Gather together all
Engliſh Poetrie. 65
manner of wordes eſpecially Monaſ/lables, and place
them Alphabetically in ſome note, and either haue
them meetely perfectly by hart (which is no verye
labourſome matter) or but looke them dilligently ouer
at ſome time, practiſing to ryme indifferent often,
whereby I am perſwaded it wil ſoone be learned, ſo as
the party haue withall any reaſonable gyft of knowledge
and learning, whereby hee want not bothe matter and
wordes altogether. -
What the other circumſtaunces of Ryming are, as
what wordes may tollerably be placed in Ryme, and
what not: what words doo beſt become a Ryme, and
what not, how many ſortes of Ryme there is: and ſuch
like I wyll not ſtay nowe to intreate. There be many
more obſeruations and notes to be preſcribed, to the
exacte knowledge of verſifying, which I truſt wilbe
better and larger laide forth by others, to whom I de-
ferre manie conſiderations in this treatiſe: hoping that
ſome of greater ſkill will ſhortlie handle this matter in
better ſorte.
Nowe the ſundry kindes of rare deuiſes, and pretty
inuentions which come from ye fine poeticall vaine of
manie in ſtrange and vnacuſtomed manner, if I could
report them, it were worthie my trauell: ſuch are the
turning of verſes: the infolding of wordes: the fine
repititions: the clarklie conueying of contraries, and
manie ſuch like. Whereof though I coulde ſette downe
manie: yet becauſe I want bothe manie and the beſt
kindes of them, I will ouerpaſſe: onelie pointing you
to one or two which may ſuffice for example.
Looke vppon the rufull ſong of Colin ſung by
Cuddie in the Sheep/heardes Calender, where you ſhall
ſee a ſinguler rare deuiſe of a dittie framed vpon theſe
ſixe wordes VVoe, founde, cryes, £adº, ſleep, augment,
which are moſt prettilie turned and wounde vppe
mutually together, expreſſing wonderfully the doleful-
neſſe of the ſong. A deuiſe not much vnlike vnto the
ſame, is vſed by ſome, who taking the laſt wordes of a
certaine number of verſes, as it were by the rebound
E
66 A Diſcourſe of
of an Echo, ſhall make them fall out in ſome prettie
ſence. -
Of this ſorte there are ſome deuiſed by John Graunge,
which becauſe they be not long I wyll rehearſe one.
If feare oppreſſe howe then may hope me ſhielder
Denyall ſayes, vayne hope hath pleaſed well,
But as ſuch hope thou wouldeſt not be thine,
So would I not the like to rule my hart.
For if thou loueſt it bidds thee graunt forthwith
Which is the ioy whereof Iliue in hope.
Here if you take the laſt worde of euerie verſe, and
place them orderlie together, you ſhall haue this ſen-
tence: Shielde well thyme harf zeith hope. But of
theſe Echoes I knowe indeede verie daintie peeces of
worke, among ſome of the fineſt Poets this day in Lon-
don: who for the rareneſſe of them keepe them priuelie
to themſelues, and wil not let them come abroad.
A like inuention to the laſt rehearſed, or rather a
better, haue I ſeene often practiſed in framing a whole
dittie to the Letters of ones name, or to the wordes of
ſome two or three verſes which is very witty, as for
example this is one of W. Hunnis, which for the
ſhortnes I rather chuſde then ſome yat are better.
If thou deſire to liue in quiet reſt,
Gyue eare and ſee, but ſay the beſt.
Theſe two verſes are nowe as it were reſolued into
dyuers other, euery two wordes or ſillables being the
beginning of an other like verſe, in this ſort. #
If thou delight in quietnes of life,
AXſire to ſhunne from brawles, debate and ſtrife:
Zb /Zue in loue with G O D, with freend and foe,
J7, 7-es; ſhalt ſleepe when other cannot ſo.
Gyue eare (to all, yet doo not all beleeue,
And ſee ) the end and then thy ſentence gyue:
But ſay For trueth of happy liues aſſignde
The best \hath he that quiet is in minde.
Engliſh Poetrie. 67
Thus are there infinite ſortes of fine conueiances (as
they may be termed) to be vſed, and are much fre-
quented by verſifyers, as well in compoſition of their
verſe, as the wittines of their matter: which all I will
referre to the conſideration of euerie pleaſant headded
Poet in their proper gifts: onelie I ſett downe theſe
fewe ſortes of their formes of verſifying, which may
ſtand in ſteede to declare what manie others may be
deuiſed in like ſorte.
But nowe to proceede to the reformed kind of Eng-
liſh verſe which manie haue before this, attempted to
put in practiſe, and to eſtabliſh for an accuſtomed right
among Engliſh Poets, you ſhall heare in like manner
my ſimple iudgment concerning the ſame.
I am fully and certainlie perſwaded, that if the true
kind of verſifying in immitation of Greekes and Latines,
had beene practiſed in the Engliſh tongue, and put in
vre from time to tyme by our Poets, who might haue
continually beene mending and pollyſhing the ſame,
euery one according to their ſeuerall giftes: it would
long ere this haue aſpyred to as full perfection, as in
anie other tongue whatſoeuer. For why may I not
, thinke ſo of our Engliſh, ſeeing that among the
Romaines a long time, yea euen till the dayes of
Tully, they eſteemed not the Latine Poetrie almoſt
worth any thing, in reſpecte of the Greeke, as appear-
eth in the Oration pro Archia Poeta : yet afterwardes
it increaſed in credite more and more, and that in
ſhort ſpace: ſo that in Virgilles time, wherein were
they not comparable with the Greekes? So likewiſe,
now it ſeemeth not currant for an Engliſh verſe to runne
vpon true quantity, and thoſe feete which the Latines
vſe, becauſe it is ſtraunge, and the other barbarous
cuſtome, beeing within compaſſe of euery baſe witt,
hath worne it out of credite or eſtimation. But if our
wryters, beeing of learning and iudgment, would rather
infringe thys curious cuſtome, then omitte the occaſion
of inlarging the credite of their natiue ſpeeche, and
theyr owne prayſes, by practiſing that commendable
68 A Diſcourſe Of
kind of wryting in true verſe: then no doubt, as in
other partes of learning, ſo in Poetry, ſhoulde not
ſtoupe to the beſt of them all in all maner of orna-
ment and comlineſſe. But ſome obiect that our
wordes are nothing reſemblaunt in nature to theirs,
and therefore not poſſible to bee framed with any good
grace after their vſe: but cannot we then as well as the
Latines did, alter the cannon of the rule according to
the quality of our worde, and where our wordes and
theyrs wyll agree, there to iumpe with them, where
they will not agree, there to eſtabliſh a rule of our
owne to be directed by ? Likewiſe, for ye tenor of
the verſe might we not (as Horace dyd in the Latine)
alter their proportions to what ſortes we liſted, and to
what we ſawe wold beſt become the nature of the
thing handled, or the quallity of the words P Surely
it is to be thought that if any one, of ſound iudgment
and learning, ſhoulde putt foorth ſome famous worke,
contayning dyuers formes of true verſes, fitting the
meaſures, according to the matter: it would of it ſelfe
be a ſufficient authority without any preſcription of
rules, to the moſt part of Poets, for them to follow and
by cuſtome to ratify. For ſure it is, that the rules and
principles of Poetry, were not preciſely followed and
obſerued of the firſt beginners and wryters of Poetry,
but were ſelected and gathered ſeuerally out of theyr
workes, for the direction and behoofe of their followers.
And indeede, he that ſhall with heedefull iudgment
make tryall of the Engliſh wordes, ſhall not finde them
ſo groſſe or vnapt, but that they wyll become any one
of ye moſt accuſtomed ſortes of Latine or Greeke
verſes meetely, and run thereon ſomewhat currantly.
I my ſelfe, with ſimple ſkyll I confeſſe, and farre
vnable iudgment, haue ventured on a fewe, which not-
withſtanding the rudenes of them may ſerue to ſhewe
what better might bee brought into our ſpeeche, if thoſe
which are of meete abilitye woulde beſtowe ſome trauell
and endeuour thereuppon. But before I ſette them
downe, I wyll ſpeake ſomewhat of ſuch obſeruations as
Bngliſh Poetrie. 69
I could gather neceſſary to the knowledge of theſe
kinde of verſes, leaſt I ſhould ſeeme to runne vpon
them raſhly, without regarde either of example or
authority.
The ſpeciall poyntes of a true verſe, are the due
obſeruations of the feete, and place of the feete.
The foote of a verſe, is a meaſure of two ſillables, or
of three, diſtinguiſhed by time which is eyther long or
ſhort. A foote of two ſillables, is eyther ſimple or
mixt, that is, of like time or of diuers. A ſimple foote of
two ſillables is likewiſe twofolde, eyther of two long
ſillables called Sºondaus, as — — goodneffe, or of two
ſhort called Pyrrichius as o o hyther. A myxt foote of
2. ſillables, is eyther of one ſhort and one long called
Zambus as o – dying: or of one long and one ſhort,
called Choreus as – o gladly. A foote of 3. ſillables
in like ſorte is either ſimple or myxt. The ſimple is
eyther Moloſſus, that is of three long, as — — — forgiue.
nes: or 7% ochaeus, that is of 3. ſhort, as o o o mery/le.
The mixt is of 6. diuers ſortes, I. ZXady/us, of one long,
and two ſhort, as – o o happily. 2. Anafaetus, of two
ſhorte, and one long, as o o – #|rlauelers. 3. Bacchius,
of one ſhort, and two long, as o – — remembrers.
4. Paſimbachius, of two long and one ſhort, as — — o
accorded. 5. Creticus of a long, a ſhort, and a long,
– o – daungerous. 6. Amphibrachus, of a ſhort, a long,
and a ſhort, as o – U reloyced.
Many more deuiſions of feete are vſed by ſome, but
theſe doo more artificially comprehende all quantities
neceſſary to the ſkanning of any verſe, according to
Zal/aeus in hys Rethorique. The place of the feete is
the diſpoſing of them in theyr propper roomes, whereby
may be diſcerned the difference of eche verſe which is
the right numbring of the ſame. Now as for the quan-
tity of our wordes, therein lyeth great difficultye, and the
cheefeſt matter in this faculty. For in truth there being
ſuch diuerſity betwixt our words and the Latine, it
cannot ſtande indeede with great reaſon that they
ſhoulde frame, wee beeing onelie directed by ſuch rules
7o A Diſcourſe of
as ſerue for onely Latine words, yet notwithſtanding
one may well perceiue by theſe fewe, that theſe kinde
of verſes would well become the ſpeeche, if ſo bee there
were ſuch Rules preſcribed, as woulde admitt the plac-
ing of your apteſt and fulleſt wordes together. For
indeede excepting a fewe, of our Monaſyllables, which
naturally ſhoulde moſt of them belong, we hāue almoſt
none, that wyll ſtande fitlie in a ſhort foote: and ther-
fore if ſome exception were made againſt the preciſe
obſeruation of Aoſition, and certaine other of the rules,
then might we haue as great plenty and choyſe of good
woordes to furniſh and ſette foorth a verſe, as in any
other tongue. * .
Likewiſe if there were ſome derection in ſuch wordes,
as fall not within the compaſſe of Greeke or Latine
rules, it were a great helpe, and therefore I had great
miſſe in theſe few which I made. Such as is the laſt
ſillable in theſe wordes, abſe, noble, or poſſible and
ſuch 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 Conſonantes, and
many other. I for my part, though (I muſt needes
confeſſe) many faultes eſcaped me in theſe fewe, yet
tooke I as good heede as I coulde, and in trueth did
rather alwaies omitt the beſt wordes and ſuch as would
naturally become the ſpeech beſt, then I wolde com-
mitte any thing, which ſhoulde notoriouſly impugne the
Latine rules, which herein I had onely for my direction.
Indeede moſt of our Monaſyllables I am forced to make-
ſhort, to ſupply the want of many ſhort wordes requiſite
in theſe verſes. The Participle A, being but the Eng-
liſh article adioyned to Nownes, I alwayes make ſhort,
both alone and in compoſition, and likewiſe the wordes
of one ſillable ending in AE, as the, when it is an article,
/*e, ſhe, ye, etc. we I thinke ſhould needes be alwayes
long becauſe we pronounce continually VVe. Z, beeing
alone ſtanding for the Pronowne Ego, in my iudgment
might well be vſed common: but becauſe I neuer ſawe
it vſed but ſhort I ſo obſerued it. Words ending in y
Engliſh Poetrie. 71
I make ſhort without doubt, ſauing that I haue marked
in others one difference which they vſe in the ſame,
that is to make it ſhort in the ende o of an Aduerb, as
gladly, and long in the ende – of an Adiectiue as good/y:
but the reaſon is as I take it, becauſe the Adiectiue is
or ſhould be moſt commonly written thus good/ie.
O, beeing an Aduerbe is naturally long: in the ende of
wordes both Monaſyllables and other I thinke it may
be vſed common. The firſt of Polliſ/lables I directed
according to the nature of the worde, as I thought moſt
aunſwerable to Latine examples, ſauing that ſomewhere
I am conſtrayned to ſtraine curteſy with the prepoſition
of a worde compounded or ſuch like, which breaketh
no great ſquare: as in defence or depart, etc. The .
myddle ſillables which are not very many, come for the
moſt part vnder the precinct of Poſition, whereof ſome
of them will not poſſibly abide the touch, and therfore
muſt needes be a little wreſted: ſuch are commonly ye
Aduerbs of three ſillables, as mournfully, ſºygátfully
and ſuch like words, deriued of this Adiectiue, ſu/Z:
and therfore if there be great occaſion to vſe them, they
muſt be reformed by detracting onely (/) and then they
ſtand meetely currant, as mournfuly. The laſt ſillables
I wholly directed ſo neere as I could to the touch of
common rules.
The moſt famous verſe of all the reſt, is called Hexa-
metrum Epicum, which conſiſteth of fixe feete, wherof
the firſt foure are indifferently either Spondaei or Dačyli,
the fift is euermore a dactyl, aud the ſixt a Spondae, as
thus.
Zyterus happily thou liest fumbling vnder a beefchtree.
Thys kinde of verſe I haue onely ſeene to be practiſed
in our Engliſh ſpeeche: and indeede wyll ſtand ſome-
what more orderlye therein then any of the other
kindes, vntill we haue ſome tolleration of wordes made
by ſpeciall rule. The firſt that attempted to practiſe
thys verſe in Engliſh, ſhould ſeeme to be the Earle of
Surry, who tranſlated ſome part of Virgill into verſe
72 A Diſcourſe of
indeede, but without regard of true quantity of fillables.
There is one famous ZXiſtichon, which is common in the
mouthes of all men, that was made by one Maſter VVat-
ſon, fellowe of S. Johns Colledge in Cambrydge about
40. yeeres paſt, which for the ſweetnes and gallantnes
therof in all reſpects doth match and ſurpaſſe the
Latine coppy of Horace, which he made out of Homers
wordes, qui mores homimum etc.
- U C — — — U U — - – U U - -
A// trauellers doo gladlie report great praiſe to Z//iffes
Aorthat heknewemaniemens maners, and ſavvmany cities.
Which two verſes if they be examined throughout all
the rules and obſeruations of the beſt verſifying, ſhall
bee founde to attaine the very perfection of them all.
There be two other not much inferiour to theſe, which
I found in ye Gloſſe of E. K. vppon the fift Agogue
of the newe Poet: which Tully tranſlated out of Greeke
into Latine, Haec habuè qua ed; etc.
A/Z that ſeaſe did / doy and all that I greedilie gorged.
*=º º * * =sº * * - U - -
U) U –– U.
As for thoſe manie good/ie matters left 9 for offers.
Which though they wyll not abide the touch of
Synalapha in one or two places, yet perhappes ſome
Engliſh rule which might wyth good reaſon be eſtab-
liſhed, would make them currant enough, and auoyde
that inconuenience which is very obuious in our
wordes. The great company of famous verſes of thys
ſort, which Maſter Haruey made, is not vnknowne to
any and are to be viewed at all times. I for my part, ſo
farre as thoſe examples would leade me, and mine
owne ſmall ſkyll affoorde me, haue blundered vppon
theſe fewe, whereinto I haue tranſlated the two firſt
AEglogues of Virgill: becauſe I thought no matter of
mine owne inuention, nor any other of antiquitye
more fitte for tryal of thys thyng, before there were
ſome more ſpeciall direction, which might leade to a
leſſe troubleſome manner of wryting.
Engliſh Poetrie. 73.
The Argument of the firſt
232 g/ogue.
Vnder the perſonne of Złłyrus Vyrgill beeng figured him-
ſelfe, declareth to Melibeus an nother Neateheard, the great
benefittes he receyued at Auguſtus hand, who in the ſpoyle
of Mantua gaue him hys goods and ſubſtaunce againe.
ſilelibaeug. Çſitytug.
Jºyrus, happi/ie thou Myste fumbling vnder a beech free,
All in a fine oate pipe theſe ſweete ſongs /ustille chaunting:
V We, poore ſoules goe to wracke, and from theſe coastes beremooued,
And fro our pastures ſuveeſe: thou Złtyr, at eaſe in a shade/ſoft
Maksi thicke groues to reſound voith ſonges of braue Amarillis.
&ſity rug.
O Melibaeus, he wayas no man but a God zvho releaude me:
Buer he sha/be my God: from this ſame Sheepcot his aſters
Meuer, a tender Zambe /a//wvant, with blood to bedevv them.
This good gift did he giue, to my steeres thus freelie to zvander,
And to myſelfe (thou ſeest) on Aife to reſound vu/at A /i/ied.

74 A Diſcourſe of
ſåelibaeng.
Grutch thee ſure / doo not, but this f/ling makes me to zvonder,
VWhence comes all this adoo: wwith grieeuous paine not a little
Can I remooue my Goates: here, Tityre skant get / forwyard
Poore olde crone, twoo twwyns at a clapſe ith boy/ferous haſtles
Aleft /he behind, best hope i' my flock ſaid hard on a bare stone.
Aſad not a luckleſſe lotte poffest our mindes, / remember
VVarnings off fro the blaſt burnt oake vve ſavv to be ſent vs.
Oft did a left hand crowv forefell theſe thinges in her hull free,
But this God lef vs heaze what he wwas, good Złłyre tel/ me.
Qſitytug.
That ſame Cittie ſo braue zwhich Rome vvas wwont to be called,
Foole did / thinke, to be like this of ours, wwhere vue to the pastures
VVonted were to remooue from dammes our young prettie Catte/Z.
Thus did 9 thinke young ww.helpes, and Kids to be like to the
mothers,
Thus did / wwont compare manie great thinges vuith many little.
Auf this aboue al/ towwnes as Zoftily mounteſ/, /her high head,
As by the lowve baſe shrubbes ta/Z Cypreſſe shooteth aboue them.
füelibaeng.
And wwhat did thee mooué that needes thou must goe to ſee Rome?
Qſitytug.
Freedome: wwhich though late, yet once lookt backe to my pore
ſtate,
After time wwhen haires from my beard did ginne to be vzhitish:
Yet lookſ back at /a/ and found me out after a long time.
VWhen Amarill wwas once obtainde, Galatea departed:
For (for Z vil/ conſeſe) whilst as Galatea did hold mee,
Aſope did / not for freedome, and care had / none to my caſtell.
Though manieſaire young beastes our foldefor the auſters aforded
Engliſh Poetrie. 75
And mamie cheeſes good fro my preffe wwere ſent to the Cittie:
Seldome times did / bring anie store of £ence fro the markett.
ſåelibaeug.
O Amarill, wwherefore, to thy Gods (very much did / meruaule)
Aſeauiſie thou did/? praie: ripe fruites vngathered all still:
Złłyrus is not at home: theſe Pyne frees Złtyre miſ; thee.
Aountaines longd for thee: theſe hedgrovves vyis/it ſhy return
/home
Öſitytug.
VWhat wwas then to bedoome? from bondage could not % vuind out:
Meither / could haue found ſuch gentle God's any vºwhere els.
There did / ſee (Melibate) that youth wwhoſe hestes / by courſe
stil/.
Fortnights whole to obſerue on the Alters ſure will / not faiſe.
Thus did he gentſie graunt to my ſuffe when first / demaunded.
Aeëpe your heardes poore ſlaues as erst, Zef bulles to the makes
stiž/.
£ielibaeng.
Pſappy olde man, then thou /half haue thy farme to remaine still,
Alarge and large to thy ſelfe, others nought but stonie grauel/.
And foule ſ!ymie rush wherewith their lees be beſprinkled.
Aſere no vnzwoonted foode /hall grieue young theaues who be
Maded,
Mor the inſections foule of neighbours flocke ſhall annoie them.
Pſappie olde man. In ſhaddowy bankes and coole prettie places,
Aſeere by the quainted floodes and ſprings most holie remaining.
Aſere, theſe quickſets freſh which lands ſeuer out fro thy
neighbors
And greene willozy rowes which Hiblaº bees doo reioice in,
Oft fine whistring noiſe, /ha/Z bring ſweete ſleeſe to thy ſendes.
Vnder a Rock ſide here will froyner chaunt marrie ditties.
Meither on highe Eſme frees, thy beloude Doues loftilie ſitting,
Mor prettie Zurtles trim, vvill ceaſe to crooke with a good cheere.
76 A Diſcourſe of
&ſitytug.
First, therefore ſwift buckes shal/ſlie for foode to the skies ward,
And from fish with drawn broade ſeas themſelues shal auoid
Aence:
First, (both borders broke) Araris /a/ run to the Parthames,
And likewiſe Zygris shal/ againe runne backe to the Germanes:
Aºre his countnaunceſveeſe shal/ſlippe once out from my hartroote.
ſūelibaeug.
7/7/e poore ſoules, muſt ſome to the land cald Affrica packe hence.
Some to the farre Scythia, and ſome must to the ſwiftſ!ood Oaxis.
Some to Britannia coaſtes quite parted farre fro the whole world.
Oh theſe paſtures pure shal/ / mere more chance to behold yee ?
And our cottage poore with warme Čurues couerd about trim.
Oh theſe trim tilde landes, ſhal/ a rech/effe ſouldier haue them?
And ſhal/ a Barbarian haue this croppe? ſee what a miſchieſe
AX ſcord vile hath araiſde? for whom was our labour all tooke 2
Movz, Melibaee ingraft pearie stocks, ſette vines in an order.
Mow goe (my braue ſocke once that were) O now goe my
Aid/ings.
Meuer againe /a/ I now in a greene bowre ſweetelle repoſed
See ye in queachie briers farre a looſe clambring on a high hill.
Mow ſhal/ /ſºng no ſygges, nor whilst / doo fall to my iunkets.
Shall ye my Goates, cropping ſweete flowres and leaves ſt
about me.
Uſitytug.
Yet ſhou maist farrie heere, and keepe me companie this might,
A/Z on a leaude couch: good Apſes ripe / doo not lacke,
Chestnuts ſweete good store, and plentie of curdales will / ſet thee.
Marke i' the Zbzºme how chimmie tops doo beginne to be ſmoaking.
And fro the Mozºntaines high ſhow ſhaddozees grow to be larger.
Engliſh Poetrie. 77
- ºf e
*5. 3& Q
ºt Cy **N.
§§ =º S}=sº w
ſº : - & t ſº
The ſeconde AEglogue called
Alexis.
The Argument.
Virgill in the perſonne of Corydon as ſome thinke, com-
playneth that he is not ſo gratious with Auguſtus as he
would bee: or els it is to be referred to a youth Alexander,
which was giuen him of Aſinius Pol/io, whom he blameth
for the vnſtedfaſtnes of his witt and wandering appetite, in
refuſing the freendly counſayle which he vſed to giue him.
Hat Sheepheard Corydon did burne in loue with Alexis,
All his maſters deare: and nought had he whereby to hope
Onely in beechen groues, and doleſome ſhaddowy places. [for.
Dailie reſorted he there theſe rude diſordered outcryes,
Hylles and deſert woodes throughout thus mournfully tuned.
O hard harted Alex, haſt thou no regard to my ſweete ſong?
Pyttieſt me not a whitt: yea makft me now that I ſhall dye.
Yet doo the beaſtes find out fine ſhades and trim pretty
coole plottes,
And fro the ſun beames ſafe lie lyzardes vnder a buſhtufte:
And for workmen toughe with boyling heate ſo beparched,
Garlick ſauery ſweete and coole hearbes plenty be dreſſed.
But, by the ſcorcht banke ſydes i' thy foote ſteppes ſtil I goe
plodding.




78 A Diſcourſe of
Hedgeroweshottaooreſound with Graſhops mournfully ſqueak-
O had I not ben better abyd Amarillis her anger? [ing,
And her proude diſdaine? yea better abyde my Menalcas P
What though brown did he ſeeme? yea what though thou be
ſo gallant
O thou fine chery cheekt child truſt not t'much to thy beauty.
Black violetts are tooke when dayſes white be refuſed.
Me thou doſt deſpiſe vnknowne to thy ſelfe yet Alexis:
What be my riches greate in neate, in milke what aboundance.
In Sicillhylles be my Lambes of which there wander a thouſand.
All times, colde and hote yet freſh milke neuer I wanted.
Such be my Muſicke notes, as (when his flockes he recalling)
Amphion of Dirce did vſe on ſhore Aracynthus.
Much miſhapt I am not, for late in a bancke I behelde me,
WWhen ſtill ſeas were calme, to thy Daphnis neede not I giut
place
No, though thou be the iudge, if pićtures haue any credite.
O were thou content to remaine with me by the downes heere,
In theſe lodgings ſmall, and helpe me proppes to put vnder,
And trym kydling flocke with me to driue to the greenefieldes:
Pan in ſinging ſweete with me ſhouldſt brauely reſemble:
Pan, was firſt the inuenter, pypes to adioyne in an order:
Pan, poore flockes and Sheepheardes to moſt duly regardeth.
Thoſe fine lipsthouneedſt not feare to bruſewith a ſweete pype:
VWhat dyd Amynt forſake i'this excerciſe to be cunning?
One pype with ſeauene fundry ſtops matcht ſweetly together.
Haue I myſelfe, Damaetas which ats death he bequeathd me,
And ſayd, heere, thou art now theſecond which euer hath ought
So ſayd Damaetas: but Amyntas ſpightfully ſcornde it. [it.
Alſo, two pretty ſmall wyld kyddes, moſt goodlie beſpotted
Haue I, that heere i' the dales doo runne skant ſafe I doo
feare me.
Twyce in a day two teates theyſuck: for thee will I keepe them:
Wondrous faine to haue had them both was Theſtylis of late.
And ſo ſhe ſhall: for I ſee thou ſcornſt whatſo-euer I giue thee.
Come hyther O thou ſweete faceboy: ſee ſee, to thy ſelfe heere
How fayre Nymphes in baskets full doo bring manie Lillies:
White violets ſweete Nais plucks and bloomes fro the Poppies,
Narcyſs, and dyll flowres moſt ſweete that ſauoureth alſo.
Engliſh Poetrie. 79
Cafia, broademary Goldes, with pancyes, and Hyacinthus.
And I my ſelfe rype peaches ſoft as ſilke will I gather.
And ſuch Cheſnutts as Amarill was wont to reioyce at.
Ploms wyll I bring likewiſe: that fruite ſhall be honored alſo.
And ye O Lawrell twygges that I croppe, and myrte thy
ſelfe next.
For ye be wont, (bound both in a bunch) moſt ſweetely to
ſauour.
Thou art but a Clowne Corydon: theſe gifts.eſteemesnotAlexis:
Nor by thy gifts to obtaine art meete to incounter Iolas.
VWretch (ahlas) whats this that I wiſh? ſouth blaſts to the
yong flowers
Orcleerecryſtallſtreames with loathſome fwyne to be troubled.
Ahmad boy from whom dooſt runne? why Gods ithe woods
dwelt:
And Paris erſt of Troy: Pallas moſt gladly reioyſeth,
In theſe bowres: and in trym groues we all chiefely delight
VS.
Grym Lyoneſſe doth courſe curſt woolues, ſo wolues doo
the kydlinges.
And theſe wanton Kyddes likewiſe theſe faire Cytiſus
flowers.
Thee Corydon (O Alex) ſome pleaſure euery wight pulles.
See theſe yoked ſteeres fro the plough nowe ſeeme to be
lett looſe.
And theſe ſhadowes large doo declare thys ſun to depart
hence
Styll I doo burne in loue. What meane in loue to be lookt
for P
Ah Corydon Corydon, what raging fury dooth haunt thee,
Halfe cropt downe be thy vynes and broade brauncht elmes
ouerhang them.
Rather about ſome needefull worke now buſy thy felfe well,
Either on Oſyers tuffe or bulruſh weaue pretty basketts.
And if Alexis ſcorne thee ſtill, mayſt hope for another.
F I N I S.
8o A Diſcourſe of
I durſt not enterpryſe to goe any further with this
rude tranſlation: beeing for the reſpects aforeſayd a
troubleſome and vnpleaſant peece of labour: And
therefore theſe ſhall ſuffice till further occaſion ſhall
ſerue to imploy ſome profitable paynes in this behalfe.
The next verſe in dignity to the Hexameters, is ye
Carmen Elegiacum which conſiſteth of foure feete and
two od ſillables: viz: the two firſt feete, eyther Dačāyā
or Sfondai indifferent, the one long ſillable: next two
JDačyli and an other long ſillable — — — o o – – o o –
o o – ſome doo meaſure it in this ſorte (and more truely
yet not ſo readily to all) accounting firſt two indiffer-
ently either Dacty/i or Spondai, then one Spondai,
and two Anafaeſi. But it commeth all to one reckon-
ing. Thys verſe is alwayes vnſeperably adioyned
wnto the Hexameter, and ſerueth eſpecially to the
handling of loue and dalliances, whereof it taketh
the name. It will not frame altogether ſo currantlye
in our Engliſh as the other, becauſe the ſhortneſſe
of the ſeconde Penthimimer will hardly be framed
to fall together in good ſence, after the Latine rules.
I haue not ſeene very many of them made by any,
and therefore one or two for example ſake ſhall
be ſufficient.
This Diſichon out of Ouid.
Ingenium quondam ſucrat prefioſius auro,
At nunc barbaries grandis habere nihil.
May thus be tranſlated.
Learning once was thought to be better then any goldwas,
Now he that hath not wealth is but a barbarian.
And thys
Omnia ſunt hominum tenui žendentia ſilo:
At ſubito caſu quae valuere rulant.
Tis but a ſlender thread, which all mens ſtates do de
pend on :
And moſt goodly thinges quickly doo fall to decay.
Engliſh Poetrie. 8I
As for the verſes Fhalocium and Zambicum, I haue
not as yet made any tryall in them : but the Sapphic I
aſſure you, in my iudgment wyl doo very pretty, if ye
wants which I ſpeake were once ſupplied. For tryall
of which I haue turned the new Poets ſweete ſong of
Aliza into ſuch homely Sapphick as I coulde.
Thys verſe conſiſteth of theſe fiue feete, one Chore,
one ſºonda, one daćy/, and two Chorels, with this
addition, that after euery third verſe be ſette one
Adonium verſe, which conſiſteth of a daćy/ and a
ſºonda. It is more troubleſome and tedious to frame
in our ſpeeche by reaſon they runne without difference,
euery verſe being a like in quantity throughout, yet in
my iudgement ſtandeth meetely well in the ſame. I
pray looke the Coppy which I haue tranſlated in the
fourth Zgłogue of the Sheepheardes Calender: ye ſong
of Colins making which Hobbinoll ſingeth in prayſe
of the Queenes maieſty, vnder the name of Eliza.
E dainty Nymphes that in this bleſſed brooke,
doo bathe your breſt:
Forſake your watry bowres and hether looke,
at my requeſt:
And onely you Virgins that on Parmaſs dwell.
Whence floweth Helicon the learned well,
helpe me to blaſe
her worthy praiſe
That in her ſex doth all excell.
Offayre Eliza be your ſiluer ſong
that bleſſed wight:
The flowre of Virgins, may ſhe flouriſh long,
in princely plight.
For ſhe is Syrinx daughter without ſpott,
Which Pan the Sheepheards God on her begot:
ſo ſprang her grace,
of heauenly race,
No mortall blemiſh may her blott.
See where ſhe ſittes, etc.
F
82 A Diſcourſe of
The Saphicſ verſe.
- U - - -— U U — U – —
— U — — — U U — U — —
ye Nymphes moſt fine who reſort to this brooke,
For to bathe there your pretty breaſts at all times:
Leaue the watriſh bowres, hyther and to me come
at my requeſt nowe.
And ye Virgins trymme who reſort to Parmaſs,
Whence the learned well Helicon beginneth:
Helpe to blaſe her worthy deſerts, that all els
mounteth aboue farre.
Nowe the ſiluer ſonges of Eliza ſing yee,
Princely wight whoſe peere not among the virgins
Can be found : that long ſhe may remaine among vs.
now let vs all pray.
For Syrinx daughter ſhe is, of her begotten
Of the great God Pam, thus of heauen aryſeth,
All her exlent race : any mortall harde happe
cannot aproche her.
See, ſhe ſittes moſt ſeemely in a graſſy greene plott,
Clothed in weedes meete for a princely mayden,
Boſte with Ermines white, in a goodly ſcarlett
brauely beſeeming,
Decked is that crowne that vpon her head ſtandes
With the red Roſe and many Daffadillies,
Bayes, the Primroſe and violetts, be ſette by : how
ioyfull a ſight iſt.
Say, behold did ye euer her Angelike face,
Like to Phoebe fayre P or her heauenly hauour
And the princelike grace that in her remaineth?
haue yee the like ſeene P
Medled iſt red roſe with a white together
Which in either cheeke do depeinct a trymme cheere,
Her maieſtie and eye to behold ſo comely, her
like who remembreth?
Engliſh Poetrie. 83
Ahoebus once peept foorth with a goodly guilt hewe,
For to gaze; but when he ſawe the bright beames
Spread abroade fro’ her face with a glorious grace,
it did amaze him.
When another ſunne he behelde belowe heere,
Bluſht he red for ſhame, nor againe he durſt looke:
Wouldhedurſtbrightbeames of his ownewith hers match,
for to be vanquiſht.
Shew thy ſelfe now Cynthia with thy cleere rayes,
And behold her: neuer abaſht be thou ſo: [beauty, how
When ſhe ſpreades thoſe beames of her heauenly
thou art in a dump daſht?
But I will take heede that I match not her grace,
With the Zaton ſeede, AViobe that once did,
Nowe ſhe doth therefore in a ſtone repent: to all
other a warning.
Pan he may well boaſte that he did begit her
Such a noble wight, to Syrinx is it ioy,
That ſhe found ſuch lott with a bellibone trym
for to be loaden.
When my younglinges firſt to the dammes doo bleat out,
Shall a milke white Lambeto my Lady be offred: [grome.
For my Goddeſſe ſhee is yea I my ſelfe her Heard.
though but a rude Clowne
Vnto that place Caſiope dooth high her,
Where my Goddeſſe ſhines: to the ſame the Muſer
After her with ſweete Violines about them
cheerefully tracing
Is not it Bay braunche that aloft in handes they haue,
Eune to giue them ſure to my Lädy Æliza:
O ſo ſweete they play—and to the ſame doo ſing too
heaunly to heare iſt.
See, the Graces trym to the ſtroake doo foote it,
Deftly damncing, and meriment doo make them,
Sing to the inſtruments to reioyce the more, but
wants not a fourth grace?
84 A Diſcourſe of
Then the daunce wyll be eune, to my Lady therefore
Shalbe geune that place, for a grace ſhe ſhall be
For to fill that place that among them in heaune, ſhe
may be receiued.
Thys beuy of bright Nymphes, whetheriſt goe they now?
Raunged all thus fine in a rowe together?
They be Ladies all i' the Lake behight ſoe?
they thether all goe.
One that is there chiefe that among the reſt goes,
Called is Chores of Olyues ſhe beares a
Goodly Crownett, meete for a Prince that in peace
euer abideth.
Allye Sheepheardes maides that about the greenedwell,
Speede ye there to her grace, but among ye take heede
All be Virgins pure that aproche to deck her,
duetie requireth.
When ye ſhall preſent ye before her in place,
See ye not your ſelues doo demeane too rudely:
Bynd the fillets: and to be fine the waſte gyrt
faſt with a tawdryne
Bring the Pinckes therewith many Gelliflowres ſweete,
And the Cullambynes: let vs haue the Wyneſops,
With the Cornation that among the loue laddes
wontes to be worne much.
Daffadowndillies all a long the ground ſtrowe,
And the Cowſlyppe with a prety paunce let heere lye.
Kyngcuppe and Lillies ſo beloude of all men
And the deluce flowre.
One verſe there remaineth vntranſlated as yet, with
ſome other of this ſorte, which I meant to haue finiſhed,
but by reaſon of ſome let which I had, I am con-
ſtrained to defer to ſome other time, when I hope to
gratify the Readers with more and better verſes of this
ſort: for in trueth I am perſwaded a little paine taking
might furniſh our ſpeeche with as much pleaſaunt
delight in this kinde of verſe, as any other whatſoeuer.
85
Heere followe the Cannons or gene-
rall cautions of Poetry, preſcribed by Horace,
firſt gathered by Georgius Fabricius Cremni-
cenſis : which I thought good to annex to
thys Treatiſe, as very neceſſary obſeruations
to be marked of all Poets.
In his /2/g//e ad Piſones
de arte Poetica.
ºſrſt let the inuention be meete for the
ºf s : matter, not differing, or ſtraunge,
or monſtrous. For a womans head,
a horſe necke, the bodie of a
dyuers coloured Byrd, and many
members of fundry creatures com-
pact together, whoſe legges ending
like a Fyſhes tayle: this in a picture
is a wonderful deformitie: but if there be ſuch
diuerſitye in the frame of a ſpeeche, what can be
more vncomely or ilfauoured?
2. The ornaments or colours muſt not bee too many,
nor raſhly aduentured on, neither muſt they be vſed
euery where and thruſt into euery place.
3. The proprietie of ſpeeche muſt bee duely obſerued
that wayghty and great matters be not ſpoken ſlenderly,
or matters of length too briefly: for it belongeth much
both to the comlineſſe and nature of a matter: that


86 A Diſcourſe of
in big matters there be lykewiſe vſed boyſterous
wordes.
4. In Poeticall deſcriptions, the ſpeeche muſt not
exceede all credite, nor any thing fainedlie brought in,
againſt all courſe of nature.
5. The diſpoſing of the worke muſt be ſuch, that
there be no offence committed, as it were by too ex-
quiſite dilligence: for many thinges may be oft com-
mitted, and ſome thing by too curious handling be
made offenciue. Neyther is it in one part to be well
furniſhed, and in another to be neglected. Which is
prooued by example of a Caruer, who expreſſed very
artificially the heade and vpper part of a body, but the
reſt hee could not make an ende of Againe, it is
prooued thus, that a body ſhould not be in other
partes beautifull, and yet bee deformed in the crooked
noſe: for all the members in a well ſhapen bodie muſt
be aunſwerable, ſound, and well proportioned.
6. He that taketh in hande to write any thing muſt
firſt take heede that he be ſufficient for the ſame: for
often vnwary fooles through their raſhnes are ouertooke
with great want of ability
7. The ornament of a worke conſiſteth in wordes,
and in the manner of the wordes, are either ſimple or
mixt, newe or olde, propper or tranſlated. In them
all good iudgment muſt be vſed and ready wytt. The
chiefeſt grace is in the moſt frequented wordes, for the
ſame reaſon holdeth in wordes, as doth in coynes, that
the moſt vſed and tried are beſt eſteemed.
8. The kinde of verſe is to be conſidered and aptly
applied to the argument, in what meaſure is moſt meete
for euery ſort. The moſt vſuall kindes are foure, the
Aeroic, Ælegiac, Zambick, and Zyric.
9. One muſt vſe one kynde of ſpeeche alike in all
wrytings. Sometime the Zyric ryſeth aloft, ſometime
the comicall. To the Tragicall wryters belong properly
the bygge and boyſterous wordes. Examples muſt be
interplaced according fitly to the time and place.
Io. Regarde is to be had of affections: one thing
Engliſh Poetrie. 87
becommeth pleaſant perſons, an other ſadde, an other
wrathfull, an other gentle, which muſt all be heedefully
reſpected, Three thinges therefore are requiſite in
verſes, beauty, ſweetnes, and the affection. Zheo-
phraſius ſayth that this beauty or delectableneſſe is a
deceyt, and Ariſtotle calleth it rvpavvia oxyokpoviov, a
momentany tyrany. Sweetneſſe retayneth a Reader,
affection moueth him.
II. Euery perſon muſt be fitted accordingly, and the
ſpeeche well ordered: wherein are to be conſidered the
dignity, age, ſex, fortune, condition, place, Country, etc.
of eche perſon. -
I2. The perſonnes are eyther to be fayned by the
Poets them ſelues, or borrowed of others, if he borrow
them, then muſt hee obſerue to Öplotov, that is, that
he folow that Author exactly whom he purpoſeth to
immitate, and whereout he bringeth his examples.
But if he fayne newe perſonnes, then muſt he keepe
his to Öpa)\óv, that is equallie: ſo bringing them in eche
place, that it be alwayes agreeable, and the laſt like
wnto the firſt, and not make one perſon nowe a bolde
boaſter, and the ſame ſtraightwaies a wiſe warie man,
for that is paſſing abſurd. Againe, euery one muſt
obſerue to Öppoortov, which is interpreted conuénientiam,
fitneſſe: as it is meete and agreeable euery where, a
man to be ſtoute, a woman fearefull, a ſeruant crafty,
a young man gentle.
I3. Matters which are common may be handled by a
Poet as they may be thought propper to himſelfe alone.
All matters of themſelues are open to be intreated of
by any man: but if a thing be handled of ſome one in
ſuch ſort, as he thereby obtaine great prayſe, he maketh
it his owne or propper to himſelfe, as many did write
of the Troiane war, but yet Homer made matter which
was common to all, propper to himſelfe.
I4. Where many thinges are to be taken out of
auncienter tongues, as the Latines tooke much out of
the Greekes, the wordes are not ſo preciſelie to be fol-
lowed, but that they bee altered according to the iudg-
88 A Diſcourſe of
ment and will of the Immitator, which precept is bor-
rowed of Tully, Mon verbum verbo neceſse est reddere.
I5. The beginning muſt not be fooliſhly handled,
that is, ſtraungly or too long.
I6. The propoſition or narration let it not be far
fetched or vnlikely, and in the ſame forget not the dif-
ferences of ages and perſons.
I7. In a Comedie it is needfull to exhibite all the
actions openlie, as ſuch as are cruell, vnhoneſt, or ougly,
but ſuch thinges may betterbee declared by ſome meete
and handſome wordes, after what ſorte they are ſup-
poſed to bee doone. -
I8. If a Commedye haue more Actes then fiue, it is
tedious, if fewer, it is not ſufficient.
It fytteth not to bring in the perſonnes of Gods, but
in verie great matters. Cicero ſayth, when the Tra-
gedy wryters cannot bring theyr matters to good paſſe,
they runne to God. Let not more perſonnes ſpeake
together then foure for auoyding confuſion.
The Chori muſt be well garniſhed and ſette foorth:
wherein eyther menne are admoniſhed, or reprehended,
or counſayled vnto vertue. Such matter muſt bee
choſen for the Chorus, as may bee meete and agreeable
to that which is in hand. As for inſtruments and ſing-
ing, they are Reliques of olde ſimplicitye. For the
Muſicke commonlye vſed at Theaters and the licen-
ciouſneſſe of theyr ſonges, which together wyth theyr
wealth increaſed among the Romaines, is hurtfull to
diſcipline and good manners.
I9. In a Satyr the clowniſh company and rurall Gods,
are brought in to temperate the Heauineſſe of Trage-
dies, wyth ſome myrth and paſtyme. In ieſting it muſt
be obſerued that it bee not lacyuious or Rybaldlike, or
ſlaunderous, which precept holdeth generallie in all
ſortes of wrytynges.
In a Satyr greate heede is to be taken, of the place,
of the day, and of the perſonnes: as of Bacchus, Silenus,
or the Satyres. Againe of the vnmeetneſſe or incon-
uenience of the matter, and of the wordes that they be
Engliſh Poetrie. 89
fitted according to the perſons: of Decorum, that he
which repreſented ſome noble perſonage in the Trage-
die, bee not ſome buſy foole in the Satyr: finallie of
the hearers, leaſt they bee offended by myxing filthy
matters with ieſtes, wanton toyes wyth vnhoneſt, or
noyſome with merry thinges.
20. The feete are to be applied propper to euery
kinde of verſe, and therin a Poet muſt not vſe too
much licence or boldnes. The auncient writers in
Jambick verſes vſed at firſt pure Zambicks: Afterwards
Sºondaus was admitted into Zocos impares, but at laſt
ſuch was the licentious cuſtome, that they woulde
both Spondaus where they liſted, and other feete
without regarde.
2I. In compyling of verſes great care and circum-
ſpection muſt be vſed.
Thoſe verſes which be made Extempore, are of no
great eſtimation: thoſe which are vnartificiall, are
vtterly repelled as too fooliſh. Though many doo
lightlie regard our verſes, yet ought the Careleſneſſe of
the hearers to bee no cauſe in vs of errour and negli-
gence. Who deſireth to make any thing worthy to be
heard of learned eares, let hym reade Greeke Authors
heedefullie and continually.
22. Artes haue their increaſinges euen as other
things, beeing naturall, ſo haue Tragedies which were
firſt rudely inuented by Theſpis, at laſt were much
adorned by Æſchylus: at the firſt they were practiſed
in Villages of the Countrey, afterwardes brought to
ſtages in great Citties.
23. Some Artes doo increaſe, ſome doo decay by a
certayne naturall courſe. The olde manner of Com-
medies decayde, by reaſon of ſlaundering which therein
they vſed againſt many, for which there was a penaltie
appointed, leaſt their bitternes ſhould proceede too
farre: In place of which among the Latines came the
Satyres.
The auncient Authors of Comedies, were Æupolis,
Cratinus, and Ariſtophanes, of the middle ſorte Plato
90 A Diſcourſe of
Comicus, of the laſt kinde Menander, which continued
and was accounted the moſt famous.
24. A Poet ſhould not content himſelfe onely with
others inuentions, but himſelfe alſo by ye example of
old wryters ſholde bring ſomething of his owne in-
duſtry, which may bee laudable. So did they which
writte among the Latines the Comedies called Togata,
whoſe arguments were taken from ye Greekes, and the
other which wrytt the Pretextata, whereof the argu-
ments were Latine. -
25. Heedefulneſſe and good compoſition maketh a
perfecte verſe, and that which is not ſo may be
reprehended. The faculty of a goode witte exceedeth
Arte.
26. A Poet that he may be perfect, hath neede to
haue knowledge of that part of Philoſophy which
informeth ye life to good manners. The other which
pertaineth to naturall thinges, is leſſe plauſible, hath
fewer ornaments, and is not ſo profitable.
27. A Poet to the knowledge of Philoſophie ſhoulde
alſo adde greater experience, that he may know the
faſhions of men and diſpoſitions of people. Thys
profit is gott by trauelling, that whatſoeuer he wryteth
he may ſo expreſſe and order it, that hys narration .
may be formable.
28. The ende of Poetry is to wryte pleaſant thinges,
and profitable. Pleaſant it is which delighteth by
beeng not too long, or vneaſy to be kept in memory,
and which is ſomewhat likelie, and not altogether
forged. Profitable it is, which ſtyrreth vppe the
mindes to learning and wiſedome.
29. Certaine eſcapes are to be pardoned in ſome
Poets, ſpecially in great workes. A faulte may bee
committed either in reſpect of hys propper Arte, or
in ſome other Arte: that a Poet ſhoulde erre in pre-
cepts of hys owne arte, is a ſhamefull thing, to Com-
mitte a faulte in another Arte is to be borne withal: as
in Virgil, who ſayneth that Æneas comming into
Affrica ſlew with hys darte certaine Stagges, whereas
Engliſh Poetrie. 9I
indeede Affrica hath in it none of thoſe beaſtes. Such
errours doo happen eyther by vnheedefulnes, when
one eſcapeth them by negligence: or by the Common
fragility of man, becauſe none there is which can
know all thinges. Therefore this laſt kinde of errour
is not to be ſtucke vppon.
30. A good Poet ſhould haue reſpect to thys, how
to retaine hys Reader or hearer. In a picture ſome
thing delighteth beeing ſette farre of, ſomething nearer,
but a Poet ſhould delight in all places as well in funne
as ſhaddowe.
3I. In a Poet is no meane to be admitted, which if
hee bee not he of all is the worſt of all.
32. A Poeme if it runne not ſweetely and ſmoothly
is odious: which is proued by a ſimile of the two
ſenſes, hearing and taſting, as in ſweete and pleaſaunt
meates. And the Poem muſt bee of that ſorte, that
for the ſweeteneſſe of it may bee acceptable and con.
tinue like it ſelfe vnto the ende, leaſt it wearye O
driue away a Reader.
33. He that would wryte any thing worthy the poſ-
teritye, let him not enterpriſe any thing wherevnto his
natureis not agreeable. Mercury is not made of wood (as
they ſay) neyther doth Minerua fauour all ſtudies in
euery one. In all Artes nature is the beſt helpe, and
learned men vſe commonly to ſay that A Poet is as well
borne as made a Poet. -
34. Let no man eſteeme himſelfe ſo learned, but that
he may ſubmytte hys wrytinges to the iudgments of
others, and correct and throughly amend the ſame
himſelfe.
35. The profitte of Poetry ſprang thus, for that the
auncient wyſe men ſet downe the beſt things that per-
tained to mans life, manners, or felicity, and examining
and proouing the ſame by long experience of time,
when they are aged they publiſhed them in wrytinges.
The vſe of Poetry what it was at the firſt, is manifeſt
by the examples of the moſte learned men: as of
Orpheus who firſt builded houſes: of Amphion who
92 A Diſcourſe of
made Citties, of Zyrtaeus who firſt made warre: of
Homer, who wryt moſt wyſely.
36. In an artificiall Poet three thinges are requiſite,
nature, Arte, and dilligence.
37. A wryter muſt learne of the learned, and he
muſt not ſticke to confeſſe when he erreth: that the
worſe he may learne to auoyde, and knowe howe to
follow the better.
The confeſſion of an errour betoken a noble and a
gentle minde. Celſus and Quinti//ian doo report of
Aſippocrates, that leaſt he ſhould deceiue his poſterity,
he confeſſed certayne errours, as it well became an
excellent minded man, and one of great credite. For
(as ſayth Celſus) light witts becauſe they haue nothing,
wyll haue nothing taken from them.
38. In making choiſe of ſuch freendes as ſhould tell
vs the trueth, and correct our wrytinges, heedefull
iudgment muſt bee vſed: leaſt eyther we chooſe vn-
ſkylfull folke, or flatterers, or diſſemblers. The vnſkil.
full know not how to iudge, flatterers feare to offende,
diſſemblers in not prayfing doo ſeeme to commende.
39. Let no man deceiue himſelfe, or ſuffer himſelfe
to be deceiued, but take ſome graue learned man to be
iudge of his dooing, and let him according to hys
counſayle change and put out what hee thinketh good.
40. He which will not flatter and is of ability to
iudge, let him endeuour to nothing ſo much, as to the
correction of that which is wrytten, and that let be
doone with earneſt and exquiſite iudgment. He which
dooth not thus, but offendeth wilfully in breaking his
credite too raſhly, may be counted for a madde, furious,
and franticke foole.
41. The faultes commonly in verſes are ſeauen, as
either they be deſtitute of Arte, of facility, or ornament:
or els, they be ſuperfluous, obſcure, ambicious, or
needeleſſe.
Engliſh Poetrie. 93
$8. CŞö - & º ºn:
: (E s §
㺠§
§§º
Out of the Eóiſtles ad Mecanaſem,
Azgºſéume, e& F/orum.
42. An immitation ſhould not be too ſeruile or ſuper-
ſtitious, as though one durſt not varry one iotte from
the example: neyther ſhould it be ſo fenceleſſe or vn-
ſkilfull, as to immitate thinges which are abſurde, and
not to be followed. -
43. One ſhould not altogether treade in the ſteppes
of others, but ſometime he may enter into ſuch wayes
as haue not beene haunted or vſed of others. Horace
borrowed ye Zambick verſe of Archilocus, expreſſing
fully his numbers and elegant[l]y, but his vnſeemely
wordes and pratling tauntes hee moſtewyſhlye ſhunned.
44. In our verſes we ſhould not gape after the phraſes
of the ſimpler ſorte, but ſtriue to haue our writings
allowable in the iudgments of learned menne.
45. The common peoples iudgments of Poets is
ſeldome true, and therefore not to be ſought after.
The vulgar ſort in Rome iudged Pacuuious to be very
learned, Accius to bee a graue wryter, that Affranius
followed Menander, Plautus, Epicharmus: that Zerence
excelled in Arte Cacilius in grauity: but the learned
ſorte were not of this opinion. There is extant in
Macrobius (I knowe not whether Angellius) the like
verdite concerning them which wryt Epigrammes.
That Catullus and Caluus wrytt fewe thinges that were
good, AWauius obſcure, Horſenſus vincomely, Cynna
wnpleaſant, and Memmius rough.
46. The olde wryters are ſo farre to be commended,
as nothing be taken from the newe: neyther may we
thinke but that the way lyeth open ſtyll to others to

94 A Diſcourſe of
attaine to as great matters. Full well ſayd Sidonius to
Eucherius, I reuerence the olde wryters, yet not ſo as
though I leſſe eſteemed the vertues and deſertes of the
wryters in this age.
47. Newnes is gratefull if it be learned: for certaine
it is, Artes are not bothe begunne and perfected at
once, but are increaſed by time and ſtudie. which
notwithſtanding when they are at the full perfection,
doo debate and decreaſe againe.
Cic. de orai. There is nothing in the world which
burſteth out all at once, and commeth to light all
wholly together.
48. No man ſhould dare to practiſe an Arte that is
daungerous, eſpecially before he haue learned the
ſame perfectly: ſo doo guyders of Shyppes: ſo doo
Phiſitions: but ſo did not manie Romaine Poets (yea
ſo doo not too many Engliſh wryters) who in a certaine
Corragious heate gaped after glory by wryting verſes,
but fewe of them obtayned it.
49. A Poet ſhould be no leſſe ſkylfull in dealing
with the affectes of the mynde, then a tumbler or a
Iuggler ſhoulde bee ready in his Arte. And with ſuch
pyth ſhoulde he ſette foorth hys matters, that a Reader .
ſhoulde ſeeme not onely to heare the thing, but to ſee
and be preſent at the dooing thereof. Which faculty
Arabius calleth intoTao-lv and A7 iſofle Tpo oppotov 6eoruv
ºff Tolmorup.
50. Poets are either ſuch as deſire to be liked of on
ſtages, as Commedie and Tragedie wryters: or ſuch as
woulde bee regeſtred in Libraries. Thoſe on ſtages
haue ſpeciall reſpect to the motions of the minde, that
they may ſtirre bothe the eyes and eares of their
beholders. But the other which ſeeke to pleaſe
priuately within] the walles, take good aduiſement in
their workes, that they may ſatiſfy the exact iudgments
of learned men in their ſtudies.
5.I. A Poet ſhoulde not bee too importunate, as to
offende in vnſeaſonable ſpeeches: or vngentle, as to
contemne the admonitions of others: or ambicious, as
Engliſh Poetrie. 95
to thinke too well of his owne dooinges: Or too way-
ward, as to thinke, reward enough cannot be gyuen him
for his deſerte, or finally too proude, as to defyre to
be honoured aboue meaſure.
52. The emendations of Poemes be very neceſſary,
that in the obſcure poyntes many thinges may be
enlightned, in the baſer partes many thinges may be
throughly garniſhed. Hee may take away and put
out all vnpropper and vnſeemely words, he may with
diſcretion immitate the auncient wryters, he may
abridge thinges that are too lofty, mittigate thynges
that are too rough, and may vſe all remedies of ſpeeche
throughout the whole worke. The thinges which are
ſcarce ſeemely, he may amende by Arte and methode.
53. Let a Poet firſt take vppon him, as though he
were to play but an Actors part, as he may bee
eſteemed like one which wryteth without regarde,
neyther let him ſo polliſh his works, but that euery
one for the baſeneſſe thereof, may think to make as
good. Hee may likewyſe exerciſe the part of geſturer,
as though he ſeemed to meddle in rude and common
matters, and yet not ſo deale in them, as it were for
variety ſake, nor as though he had laboured them
thoroughly but tryfled with them, nor as though he
had ſweat for them, but practiſed a little. For ſo to
hyde ones cunning, that nothing ſhould ſeeme to bee
laborſome or exquiſite, when notwithſtanding, euery
part is polliſhed with care and ſtudie, is a ſpeciall gyft
which Ariſtotle calleth Kpfiyºv.
54. It is onely a poynt of wyſedome, to vſe many
and choyſe elegant words, but to vnderſtand alſo and
to ſet foorth thinges which pertaine to the happy ende
of mans life. Wherevppon the Poet Horace, calleth
the Arte poeticall, without the knowledge of learning
and philoſophy, a frating vanity. Therfore a good
and allowable Poet, muſt be adorned with wordes,
plentious in ſentences, and if not equall to an Orator,
yet very neere him, and a ſpecial louer of learned men.
F I N I S. wºn . . .
i -
{ }
\{
96 24 Diſcourſe of Engliſh Poetrie.
*ś
Affilogus.
|His ſmall trauell (courteous Reader)
| I deſire thee take in good worth:
which I haue compyled, not as an
exquiſite cenſure concerning this
matter, but (as thou mayſt well per-
ceiue, and) in trueth to that onely
ende that it might be an occaſion,
to haue the ſame throughly and
with greater diſcretion, taken in hande and laboured
by ſome other of greater abilitie: of whom I knowe
there be manie among the famous Poets in Lon-
don, who bothe for learning and leyſure, may
handle this Argument far more pythilie then my
ſelfe. Which if any of them wyll vouchſafe to doo, I
truſt wee ſhall haue Engliſhe Poetry at a higher price
in ſhort ſpace: and the rabble of balde Rymes ſhall
be turned to famous workes, comparable (I ſuppoſe)
with the beſt workes of Poetry in other tongues. In
the meane time, if my poore ſkill, can ſette the ſame
any thing forwarde, I wyll not ceaſe to pračtiſe the
ſame towardes the framing of ſome apt Engliſh Proſodia:
ſtyll hoping, and hartelie wiſhing to enjoy firſt
the benefitte of ſome others iudgment,
whoſe authority maybeare greater
credite, and whoſe learn-
ing can better per-
forme it.
(...)
Edinburgh : T. and A. Constable, Printers to Her Majesty.


A List of WORKS
Bdited by
Professor EDWARD ARBER
P.S.A. : Fellow of King's College, London ; Hon. Member of the Virginia.
and Wisconsin. Historical Societies; late English Examiner at the
London University ; and also at the Victoria University, Man-
chester; Emeritus Pro/essor of English Language and
Literature, M/ason College, Birmingham,
An English Garner
English Reprints
The War Library
The English Scholar's Library
The first Three English Books on America
The first English New Testament, 1526
The Paston Letters, 1422–1509. Edited
by JAMES GAIRDNER. 3 vols.
A List of 837 London Publishers, 1553–
I64O
All the Works in this Catalogue are published at net prices.
ARCHIBALD CONSTABLE AND CO.,
14, PARLIAMENT ST., WESTMINSTER,
NOTE
THE ENGLISH GARNER, THE ENGLISH REPRINTs, and THE
ENGLISH SCHOLAR's LIBRARY are now issued in a 7tew style
of binding. A few copies in the old style are still to be had,
and will be supplied if specially ordered, as long as the stock
lasts. Some of Professor Arber’s Publications can still be suff-
Alied on Large Pafter. Prices on afélication to the Booksellers
or from the Publishers.
ARCHIBALD CONSTABLE & CO.
An English Garner
INGATHERINGS FROM OUR HISTORY AND LITERATURE.
*** Abridged Lists of the Texts ; many of which are very
rare, and not obtainable in any other form.
VOL. I.
Large Crown 8vo, cloth, 53. met.
English Political, Naval, and Military History,
etc., etc.
1. The Expedition to Scotland in May, 1543.
2. R. PEEKE's fight at Xerez with a quarter-staff against three
Spaniards at once, armed with poniards and daggers; when he
killed one and put the other two to flight. 1625.
3. The Capture of Cris, in Galatia, by Captain QUAILE and 35
men. I626.
4. Ranks in the British Army, about 1630.
5. The Return of CHARLES II. to Whitehall, 1660.
6. The Retaking of St. Helena, 1673.
English Voyages, Travels, Commerce, etc., etc.
7. The Beginnings of English Trade with the Levant, 15II-I570.
8. The Voyage from Lisbon to Goa of the first Englishman
(THOMAS STEvens, a Jesuit) known to have reached India by the
Cape of Good Hope. 1572.
9. The extraordinary captivity, for nineteen years, of Captain
RoBERT KNOx in Ceylon ; with his singular deliverance, 1660–
I679.
English Life and Progress.
Io. The Benefits of observing Fish Days. I 594.
II. The Great Frost. Cold doings in London. 1608.
12. The Carriers of London, and the Inns they stopped at, in
I637.
13. A Narrative of the Draining of the Fens. 1661.
English Literature, Literary History, and
Biography.
14. Sir HENRY SIDNEY. A Letter to his son PHILIP, when at
Shrewsbury School.
English Poetry.
15. Love Posies. Collected about 1590.
16. Sir PHILIP SIDNEY: ASTROPHEL and STELLA [Sonnets]
1591. With the story of his affection for Lady PENELoPE DEveR-
EUx, afterwards RICH.
17. EDMUND SPENSER and others. ASTROPHEL, A Pastoral
Elegy on Sir PHILIP SIDNEY. 1591.
18. JoHN DENNIS. The Secrets of Angling [i.e. Trout Fishing].
1613. Forty years before WALTON's Angler.
19. Many other single Poems by various Authors.
2 An English Garner.
VOL. II.
Large Crown 8vo, cloth, 5s, met.
English Political, Naval, and Military History,
etc., etc.
I. The Triumph at Calais and Boulogne of HENRY VIII. [with
ANNE BOLEYN] and FRANCIS I. November, 1532.
2. The Coronation Procession of Queen ANNE [BoLEYN] from
the Tower through London to Westminster. June, 1533.
3. English Army Rations in 1591.
4. Rev. T. PRINCE. A History of New England in the form of
Annals, from 1602 to 1633. Published at Boston, N.E., in 1736–
1755. This is the most exact condensed account in existence of the
foundation of our first Colonies in America.
English Voyages, Travels, Commerce, etc., etc.
5. Captain T. SANDERS. The unfortunate voyage of the Jesus
to Tripoli, where the crew were made slaves. 1584–1585.
6. N. H. The Third Circumnavigation of the Globe, by THOMAS
CAVENDISH, in the Desire. 1586–1588,
7. The famous fight of the Dolphin against Five Turkish Men-
of-War off Cagliari. 1617.
English Life and Progress.
8. Dr. J. DEE. The Petty Navy Royal. [Fisheries]. 1577.
9. Captain HITCHCOCK. A Political Plat [Scheme], etc. [Her-
ring Fisheries.]
Io. D. DEFOE. The Education of Women, 1692.
English Literature, Literary History, and
Biography.
II. F. MEREs. A Sketch of English Literature, etc., up to
September, 1598. This is the most important contemporary
account of SHAKESPEARE's Works to this date ; including some
that have apparently perished.
12. J. WRIGHT. The Second Generation of English Actors,
1625–1670. This includes some valuable information respecting
Ilondon Theatres during this period.
English Poetry.
13. Sir P. SIDNEY. Sonnets and Poetical Translations. Before
1587.
14. H. ConSTABLE, and others. DIANA. [Sonnet.] 1594.
15. Madrigals, Elegies, and Poems, by various other Poets.
An English Garner. 3
VOL. III.
Marge Crozºme 820, cloth, 53. net.
English Political, Naval, and Military
History, etc., etc.
I. W. PATTEN. The Expedition into Scotland : with the Battle
of Pinkie Cleugh or Musselburgh, 1547. This was the “Rough
Wooing of MARY, Queen of Scots,” whom the English wanted to
marry EDwARD VI.
English Voyages, Travels, Commerce,
etc., etc.
2. J. H. VAN LINSCHOTEN. Voyage to Goa and back, in
Portuguese carracks. I583–1592.
This work showed the way to the East, and led to the formation
of the Dutch and the English East India Companies. For nearly
three years this Dutchman, returning in charge of a cargo of
pepper, spices, etc., was pinned up in the Azores by the English
ships; of whose daring deeds he gives an account.
3. E. WRIGHT. The voyage of the Earl of CUMBERLAND to
the Azores in 1589. This is a part of LINSCHOTEN’s story re-told
more fully from an English point of view.
4. The first Englishmen—John NEwBERY and RALPH FITCH
—that ever reached India overland, vić Aleppo and the Persian
Gulf, in 1583–1589. They met with LINSCHOTEN there; and
also T. Stevens, the Jesuit, see vol. i. p. 130.
- English Life and Progress.
5. J. CAIUS, M.D. Of English Dogs. I536. Translated from
the Latin by A. FLEMING in 1576.
6. Britain's Buss. A Computation of the Cost and Profit of a
Herring Buss or Ship. 1615. .
English Literature, Literary History, and
Biography.
7. T. ELLwooD. Relations with J. MILTON. This young
Quaker rendered many services to the Poet; amongst which was
the suggestion of Paradise Regained.
8. J. DRYDEN. . Of Dramatic Poesy. An Essay. This charm-
ing piece of English Prose was written in 1665 and published in
#668. With it is given the entire Controversy between DRYDEN
and Sir R. HOWARD on this subject.
English Poetry.
9, S. DANIEL, DELIA. [Sonnets.] I594.
Io. T. CAMPION, M.D. Songs and Poems. I601–1613.
II. Lyrics, Elegies, etc., by other Poets.
4 An English Garner.
VOL IV.
Large Crown 8vo, cloth, 53. net,
English Political, Naval, and Military History,
etc., etc.
I. E. UNDERHILL, “the Hot Gospeller,” Imprisonment in 1553,
with Anecdotes of Queen MARY'S Coronation Procession, WYATT's
Rebellion, the Marriage of PHILIP and MARY, etc. .
2. J. Fox. The Imprisonment of the Princess ELIZABETH.
I554-I555. - tº - º e
3. Texts relating to the Winning of Calais and Guisnes by the
French ...; I556.
4. The Coronation Procession of Queen ELIZABETH. January,
I559.
s: Sir THOMAS OVERBURY. Observations of Holland, Flanders,
and France, in 1609. A most Sagacious Political Study.
6. JAMES I. The Book of Sports. 1618,
7. Abp. G. ABBOTT. Narrative of his Sequestration from Office
in 1627 by CHARLES I., at the instigation of BUCKINGHAM and
LAUD.
8. Major-General Sir T. MoRGAN. Progress [i.e. March] in
France and Flanders, with the 6,000 “Red Coats” at the taking of
Dunkirk, etc., in 1657–8.
English Voyages, Travels, Commerce, etc., etc.
9. The first Britons who ever reached the city of Mexico : T.
BLAKE, a Scotchman, before 1536; and J. FIELD and R. ToMSON,
I556.
Io. The wonderful recovery of the Exchange from forty-five
Turkish pirates of Algiers by J. RAWLINS and twenty-four other
slaves. February, 1622.
- English Life and Progress.
11. T. GENTLEMAN, , England's Way to Win Wealth. [Fish-
eries.] The Dutch obtained more wealth from their Herring
Fishery along the English shores than the Spaniards did from their
American gold mines.
English Poetry.
12. PT. OCCLEVE. The Letter of CUPID. 1402.
13. L. SHEPPARD. JoHN BON and Mastſer] PARSON. [A Satire
on the Mass.] 1551.
14. Rev. T. BRICE. A Register of the Tormented and Cruelly
Burned within England. I555–1558. These verses give the names
of most of the Marian Martyrs.
15. J. C. ALCILIA ; PHILOPARTHEN's loving folly [Love
Poems...] I595.
16. G. WITHER. Fair VIRTUE, the Mistress of PHIL'ARETE.
1622. This is WITHER's masterpiece. Over 6,ooo lines of verse
in many metrical forms.
17. The Songs that JoHN Dowland, the famous Lutenist, set
to music.
An English Garner. 5
VOL. V.
Large Crown 8vo, cloth, 5s. net.
English Political, Naval, and Military History,
etc., etc.
*W. SAVILE, King JAMEs's entertainment at Theobalds, and
his Welcome to London. I603.
2. G. DuGDALE. The Time Triumphant. King JAMEs's Coro-
nation at Westminster, 25 July, 1603; and Coronation Procession
[delayed by the Plague], 15 March, 1604.
English Voyages, Travels, Commerce,
etc., etc.
3. The Voyages to Brazil of WILLIAM HAWKINS, Governor of
Plymouth and father of Sir John, about 1539.
. Sir J. HAWKINS, First Voyage to the West Indies, 1562–
1563. This was the beginning of the English Slave Trade.
5. R. BoDENHAM. A Trip to Mexico. 1564–1565.
6. Sir J. HAWKINs. Second Voyage to the West Indies. 1564–
I565.
7. Sir J. HAwKINS, . Third and disastrous Voyage to the West
Indies, 1567–1569; with the base treachery of the Spaniards at San
Juan de Ulna, near Vera Cruz; and the extraordinary adventures
of Three of the Survivors. This was DRAKE's 2nd Voyage to the West
Indies; and the first in which he commanded a ship, the Judith.
8. Sir F. DRAKE's 3rd º°; 4th (1571), and 5th (1572–73),
Voyages to the West Indies. specially the 5th, known as The
Voyage to Nombre de Dios: in which, on II February, 1573, he
first saw the Pacific Ocean; and then besought GOD to give him
life to sail once in an English ship on that sea. [See opposite page.]
English Life and Progress.
9. B. FRANKLIN. “Poor Richard ' improved. . . Proverbs of
Thrift and to discourage useless expense. Philadelphia, 1757,
English Poetry.
Io. B. BARNES. PARTHENOPHIL and PARTHENOPHE. Sonnets,
Madrigals, Elegies and Odes. 1593. [A perfect Storehouse of
Versification, including the only treble Sestine in the language.]
II. ZEPHERIA, [Canzons.] I 594.
12. Sir J. DAVIES. Orchestra or a Poem on Dancing. ... 1596.
13. B. GRIFFIN. FIDESSA, more chaste than kind. [Sonnets.]
I ROO,
s: Sir J. DAVIES. Mosce teipsum. / In two Elegies: (1) Of
Human Knowledge, (2) Of the Soul of Man and the Immortality
thereof. I599.
15, Sir J. Davies. Hymns of ASTRAEA [i.e. Queen ELIZABETH].
In acrostic verse. I599.
*
6 An English Garner.
vol. v.I.
Alarge Crown 8vo, cloth, 53. net.
English Political, Naval, and Military
History, etc., etc.
I. The Examination, at Saltwood Castle, Kent, of WILLIAM of
THORPE, by Abp. T. ARUNDELL, 7 August, 1407. Edited by W.
TYNDALE, I530. This is the best account of Lollardism from the
i.given by one who was the leader of the second generation of
Olia.T.C.S. --
English Voyages, Travels, Commerce,
etc., etc.
2. J. CHILTON. Travels in Mexico. 1568–1575.
3. J. BION. An Account of the Torments, etc. 1708.
English Life and Progress. .
4. The most dangerous Adventure of R. FERRIs, A. HILL, and
W. THOMAS; who went in a boat by sea from London to Bristol.
I590.
º Leather. A Discourse to Parliament. I629.
6. H. PEACHAM. The Worth of a Penny, or a Caution to keep
Money, 1641. With all the variations of the later Editions.
Sir W. PETTY. ... Political Arithmetic. . [Written in 1677.]
1690. One of the earliest and best books on the Science of Wealth.
English Literature, Literary History, and
Biography.
8. ISAAC BICKERSTAFF, Esq. [Dean J. Swift.] Predictions for
the year 1708. . [One of these was the death of J. PARTRIDGE, the
Almanack Maker, on 29 March, 1708.] Other tracts of this
laughable controversy follow.
9. [J. GAY.] The Present State of Wit. 3 May, 1711.' [A
Survey of our Periodical Literature at this date; including the
Aceview, Z'atler, and jºr!
Io. [Dr. J. ARBUTHNOT.] Law [i.e. War] is a Bottomless Pit,
exemplified in the Case of the Lord STRUTT [the Kings of Spain],
JoHN BULL (England] the Clothier, NICHOLAS FRöG_{Aolland]
the Linendraper, and LEWIS BABOON [LOUIS XIV. of Bourbon=
Aſrance]. In four parts. I712. -
This famous Political Satire on the War of the Spanish Succes-
sion was designed to prepare the English public for the Peace of
Utrecht, signed on II April, 1713. In part I., on 28 February,
1712, first appeared in our Literature, the character of JOHN BULL,
for an Englishman.
II. T. TICKELL. The liſe of ADDISON. 1721.
12. Sir R. STEELE. Epistle to W. Congreve [in reply]. 1722.
English Poetry.
13. The first printed Robin Hood Ballad. Printed about 1510.
14. W. PERCY. COELIA. [Sonnets.] 1594.
15. G. WITHER. FIDELIA. [This is WITHER's second master-
An English Garner. 7
iece. The Lament of a Woman thinking that she is forsaken in
ove..] 1615.
16. M. DRAYTON. IDEA... [Sonnets.] 1619.
17. The Interpreter. [A Political Satire interpreting the mean-
ing of the Protestant, The Puritan, The Papist.] 1622.
VOL. VII.
Marge Crown 8vo, cloth, 53. met.
English Political, Naval, and Military
History, etc., etc.
1. Sir F. VERE, General of the English troops in the Dutch ser-
vice. Commentaries of his Services: at (1) the Storming of Cadiz
in 1596, (2) the Action at Turnhout in 1597, (3) The Battle of Nieu-
port in 16oo; but especially (4) the Siege of Ostend, of which place
he was Governor from 11 June, 1601, to 7 June, 1602.
2. The retaking of The Friends' Adventure from the French by
R. LYDE and a boy. 1693.
English Voyages, Travels, Commerce,
etc., etc.
3. H. PITMAN. Relation, etc. For doing noble Red Cross
work at the Battle of Sedgemoor this surgeon was sent as a White
Slave to Barbadoes, etc. 1689.
English Life and Progress.
4. W. KEMP's [SHAKESPEARE's fellow Actor] Nine Days'
Wonder ; performed in a Morris Dance from London to Norwich.
April, 1600.
5. A series of Texts on the indignities offered to the Established
Clergy, and especially the Private Chaplains, in the Restoration Age,
by the Royalist laity; including
Dr. J. EACHARD’s witty 'Grounds of the Contempt of the
Clergy and Religion.’ 1670.
English Literature, Literary History and
Biography.
6. Another Series of Tracts, in prose and verse, illustrating the
great Public Services rendered by D. DEFOE, up to the death of
Queen Anne ; including :
DEFOE. An Appeal to Honour and Justice, etc. 1715.
DEFOE. The True Born Englishman. 17or.
. DEFOE. The History of Åentish Petition. I701.
. DEFOE. LEGION'S Memorial. 1701.
DEFOE. The Shortest Way with the Dissenters, etc. 1702.
. DEFOE. A. Hymn to the Pillory. 1703.
. DEFOE. Prefaces to the Review. 1704–17Io.
English Poetry.
7. T. DELONEY. Three Ballads on the Armada fight. August,
1588.
8. R. L. (1) DIELLA [Sonnets]; (2) The Love of DOM DIEGo
and GYNEURA. I 596. $
i
8 An English Garner.
9. AN. Sc. DAIPHHANTUS, or the Passions of Love. 1604.
See also above.
D. DEFoE. The True Born Englishman. 1701.
D. DEFOE. A. Hymn to the Pillory. 1703.
VOL. VIII.
Large Crown 8vo, cloth, 5s. net.
This Index Volume will, if possible, contain the following:—
English Political, Naval, and Military
History, etc., etc.
I. J. PRoctoR. The History of WYATT's Rebellion. 1554.
2. The burning of Paul’s Church, London. 1568.
3. G. GASCOIGNE the Poet. The Spanish Fury at Antwerp.
I577.
% J. LINGHAM. English Captains in the Low Countries.
I584. - ..
s: The Burial of MARY QUEEN of Scots at Peterborough Cathe-
dral. I August, I587.
6. T. M. The Entertainment of JAMES I. from Edinburgh to
London. I603.
7. Bp. W. BARLow. The Hampton Court Conference. 1604.
8. The speeches in the Star Chamber at the Censure of BAST-
wick, BARTON, and PRYNNE. 1637.
9. N. N. The Expedition of the Prince of ORANGE. 1688.
English Voyages, Travels, Commerce,
etc., etc.
Io. The strange things that happened to R. HASLETON in his ten
years' Travels. I585–1595.
II. E. PELLHAM. The miraculous Deliverance of eight English-
men left in Greenland, anno 1630, nine months and twelve days,
English Life and Progress.
I2. J. MAY. The Estate of Clothing [the manufacture of woollen
Cloths] now in England. I613.
English Poetry.
13. A translation [? by Sir E. DYER] of Six of the Idyllia of
THEOCRITUS. I588.
14. Verses penned by D. Gwin, eleven years a slave in the
Spanish galleys, and presented by him to Queen ELIZABETH on 18
August, I588.
15. W. SMITH. CHLORES... [Sonnets.] I596.
I6. T. STORER. The Life and Death of Cardinal WOLSEY.
I599.
sº E. W. Thameseidos. In 3 Cantos. 1600.
18. Some Collections of Posies. 1624–1679.
Chronological List of Works included in
the Series. -
Index.
Englisb Reprints.
Mo.
:.
. Milton
. Latimer
Text, *~. s, d.
GOSSOn
Sidney
. E. Webbe
Selden
Ascham
. Addison
. Lyly
. Williers
. Gascoigne
Earle
. Latimer
. More
. Puttenham
. Howell
. Udall
. Mk. Of Eves.
. James I.
. Naunton
. Watson
. Habington
. ASCham
. Tottel’s
. Lever
. W. Webbe
. LOrd BaCOn
. ROy, etc.
. Raleigh, etc.
. GOOge
Areopagitica º º tº I644 1
The Ploughers . ſº tº I549 1
Zhe School of Aðuse . tº I579 1
An Apology for Poetry ... ? 158o 1
7%razye/s . e tº ſe 1590 1
Zable Zală . tº º . 1634–54 1
Toxophºlus . e & º I544 1
Criticism on Paradise Lost , 17 II-12 1
0 °
0
0 v.
O
O
O
0 vº
O
A, UPH UES * tº . 1579–80 4 0%
7%e Acehearsal . º g 1671 1
Zhe Stee/ Glass, etc. . tº 1576 1
Micro-cosmographie . tº I628 1
7 Sermons before ÆDWARD VI. 1549 1
Otopia * º tº . I516–57 1
The Art of English Poesy . 1589 2
Instructions for Foreign Travel 1642 1
A'ozster Dozster . g . I553–66 1
The A’ezelation, etc. , II86–14 Io 1
A Counterblast to Tobacco, etc. 1604 1
Afragmenta A'egalia . tº 1653 1
Aoems * e Q . I 582–93 1
CASTARA . * © * I64o 1
The Schoolmaster tº * I570 1
Miscel/any [Songs and Sonnets] 1557 2
Sermons . g gº tº I55o 1
A Discourse of Ænglish Poetry 1586 1
A Harmony of the AEssays 1597–1626 5
A'ead me, and be not wroth / 1528 1
Zast Fight of the ‘A’evenge’ I59 I 1
A glogues, Æðitaphs, and Sonnels 1563 1
6 &
0
0 Y
6 vº
0
0
0 vº
6
0
0 vº
41
(For full titles, etc., see pp. 10–19.)
6
I O English Reprints.
1. JOHN MILTON.
A reopagitica. 1644.
(a) AREoPAGITICA : A Speech of Mr. JoHN MILTON For the
Eiberty of Unlicenc'd Printing, Zo the Parliament of England.
(b) A Decree of Starre-Chamber, concerning Printing, made the eleuenth
of July last past, 1637.
(c) An Order of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament for the
Regulating of Printing, &c. 1643.
LORD MACAULAY. He attacked the licensing system in that sublime
treatise which every statesman should wear as a sign upon his hand, and as
frontlets between his eyes.—Edinburgh Review, Z. 344, August, 1825.
H. HALLAM. Many passages in this famous tract are admirably elo-
quent : an intense love of liberty and truth flows through it; the majestic
soul of MILTON breathes such high thoughts as had not been uttered before.
—Introduction to the Literature of Europe, iii. 660. Ed. 1839.
. H. PRESCOTT. The most splendid argument perhaps the world had
then witnessed on, behalf of intellectual liberty.—History of FERDINAND
an & ISABELLA, iii. 391. Ed. 1845.
2. H U G H LATIME R.
Ex-Bishop of Worcester.
The Ploughers. 1549.
A notable Sermon of ye reuerende Father Master HUGHE
LATIMER, whiche he preached in ye Shrouds at paules churche
in Zondon on the xzizi aaye of /anztarye.
SIR R. MoRISON. Did there ever any one (I say not in England only,
but among other nations) flourish since the time of the Apostles, who
preached the gospel more sincerely, purely, and honestly, than HUGH
LATIMER, Bishop of Worcester?—Azºomza arus Calumeniarum; . . quibus
JoANNES.COCLEUS &c., f: 78. Ed. 1537. we
. It was in this Sermon, that LATIMER (himself an “...º.º.
his generation by saying that the Devil was the most diligent Prelate and
Preacher in all England. “Ye shal neuer fynde him idle I warraunte
y Jº .*.*.
3 STEPHEN GOSSON.
Stud. Oron.
The School of Abuse. 1579.
(a) The Schoole of Abuse. Conteining a pleasaunt inuective
against Poets, Pipers, Plazers, Jesters, and such like Caterpillers
of a Commonwealth ; Setting up the Flagge of Defiance to their
mischieuous exercise and ouerthrowing their Bulwarkes, by Pro-
Ahame Writers, Maturall reason and common experience. I579.
(b) An Apologie of the Schoole of Abuse, against Poets, Pipers,
Ælayers, and their Excusers. [Dec.] 1579.
‘." This attack is thought to have occasioned SIR PHILIP SIDNEY's writ-
ing of the following Azºologie for Poesie.
Gosson, was, in succession, Poet, Actor, Dramatist, Satirist, and a
Puritan Clergyman.
English Reprints. - I I
4. Sir PHILIP SIDNEY.
An Apology for Poetry. [? 1580.]
An Apologie for Poetrie. Written by the right noble, zertuous,
and learned Sir PHILIP SIDNEY, Knight. 1595.
. H. W. Longfellow. The defence of Poetry is a work of rare merit. It
is a golden little volume, which the scholar may lay beneath his pillow, as
CHRYSOSTOM did the works of ARIstoph ANES.—North American Rezniew,
A. 57. Janzéary, 1832.
The Work thus divides itself:—
The Etymology of Poetry.
The Anatomy of the Effects of Poetry.
The Anatomy of the Parts of Poetry.
Oöjections to Poetry answered.
Criticism of the existing English Poetry.
5. EDWARD WEBBE,
A Chief Master Guarter.
Travels. I 590.
The rare and most vuonderful thinges which EDwARD WEBBE
an Englishman borne, hath seene and passed in his troublesome
trazzailes, in the Cºtties of Jerusalem, Damasko, Bethelem and
Galely : and in all the landes of Jewrie, Egipt, Grecia, Russia,
and ºn the Zand of Prester /ohn.
Wherein is set foorth his extreame slatterie sustained many
yeres together, in the Gallies and zwars of the great Turk against
the Zandes of Persia, Zartaria, Spaine, and Portugall, with the
manner of his releasement and coming to England. [I590.]
6. JOHN SELDEN.
Table Talk. [1634–1654.]
Table Zalk : being the Discourses of JOHN SELDEN, Esq., or
his Sence of various Matters of weight and high consequence,
relating especially to Religion and State. I689.
S. T. Coleri DGE. There is more weighty bullion sense in this book than
I ever found in the same number of pages of any uninspired writer. . . .
O 1 to have been with SELDEN over his glass of wine, making every accident
an outlet and a vehicle of wisdom.—Literazy Remains, iii. 361–2. Ed.
1836.
H. HALLAM. This very short and small volume gives, perhaps, a more
exalted notion of SELDEN's natural talents than any of his learned writings.
—Introduction to the Literature of Europe, iii. 347. Ed. 1836.
Aðoze all things, Liberty.
I 2 English Reprints.
7. ROGER ASCHAM.
Toxophilus. I544.
7oxophilus, the Schole of Shootinge, conteyned in two bookes.
To all Gentlemen and yomen of Englande, pleasaunte for theyr
pasſime to rede, and profitable for theyr use to follow both in war
and peace.
In a dialogue between TO YOPHILUS and PHILOLOGUS, Asch AM not
only gives us one of the very best books on Archery in our language : but
as he tells King Henry VIII., in his Dedication, “this litle treatise was
purposed, begon, and ended of me, onelie for this intent, that Labour,
Honest pastime, and Vertu might recouer againe that place and right, that
Idlenesse, Unthriftie Gaming, and Vice hath put them fro.”
8. JOSEPH ADDISON.
Criticism on Paradise Lost. 1711–1712.
From the Séectator, being its Saturday issues between 31 December, 1711,
and 3 May, 1712. In these papers, which constitute a #: to Paradise
Alost, ADDISON first made known, and interpreted to the general English
public, the great Epic poem, which had then been published nearly half a
century.
After a general discussion of the Fable, the Characters, the Sentiºnents,
the Language, and the Defects of Milton's Great Poem; the Critic devotes
a Paper to the considerat ion of the Beauties of each of its Twelve Books.
9. John LYLY,
Novelist, Wit, Poet, and Dramatist.
Euphues. I579–1580.
EUPHVEs, the Anatomy af Wit. Very pleasant for all
Gentlemen to reade, and most necessary to remember.
VWherein are conteined the delights that Wit followeth in his
Jouth, by the pleasantnesse of loue, and the happinesse he reapeth
in age by the perfectnesse of Wisedome. I579.
EUPHUES and his England. Containing his voyage and
aduentures, myxed with sundry pretie discourses of honest Loue,
the description of the countrey, the Court, and the manners of
that Isle. 1580.
Of great importance in our Literary History.
English Reprints. I 3
IO. GEORGE VILLIERS,
Second Duke of BUCKINGHAM.
The Rehearsal. 1671.
The Rehearsal, as it was Acted at the Theatre Royal.
Many of the passages of anterior plays that were parodied in this famous
Dramatic Satire on DRYDEN in the character of BA YES, are placed on
§. pages to the text. BRIAN FAIRFAx's remarkable life of this Duke
of BuckINGHAM is also prefixed to the play.
The Heroic Plays, first introduced by Sir W. D'AvenANT, and afterwards
greatly developed by DRYDEN, are the object of this laughable attack. LACY,
who acted the part of BA YES, imitated the dress and gesticulation of DRY-
DEN.
The Poet repaid this compliment to the Duke of BuckINGHAM, in 1681,
by introducing him in the character of ZIMRA in his ABSOLOM and
4CHITOPHEL.
II. GEORGE GASCOIGNE,
Soldiez and Poet.
The Steel Glass, &c. 1576.
(a) A Remembrance of the wel imployed life, and godly end, of
GEORGE GASKOIGNE, Esquire, who deceassed at Stalmford in
Lincoln shire, the 7 of October, 1577. The reporte of GEOR.
WHETstons, Gent. I 577.
There is only one copy of this metrical Life. It is in the Bodleian Library.
(b) Certayne notes of instruction concerning the making of
zerse or zyme in English. I 575.
This is our First printed piece of Poetical Criticism.
(c) The Steele Glas.
Written in blank verse.
Probably the fourth printed English Satire: those by BARCLAY, Roy, and
Sir T. WYAtt being the three earlier ones.
(d) The complaymt of PHILOMENE. An Elegie. 1576.
12. JOHN EARLE,
Afterwards Bishop of SALISBURY.
Microcosmographie. 1628.
Micro-cosmographie, or a Peece of the World discovered ; in
Essays and Characters.
This celebrated book of Characters is graphically descriptive of the Eng-
lish social life of the time, as it presented itself to a young Fellow of Merton
College, Oxford ; including A She precise Hypocrite, A Sceptic in Religion,
24 good old man, etc.
This Work is a notable specimen of a considerable class of books in our
Literature, full of interest ; and which help Posterity much better to under-
stand the Times in which they were written.
I4. English Reprints.
13. HUGH LATIMER,
JEx-Bishop of Worces TER.
Seven Sermons before Edward VI. 1549.
The fyrste [–seuenth] Sermon of Mayster HUGHE LATIMER,
whiche he preached before the Kynges Mažestie wythin his graces
falayce at Westminster on each Friday in Zent. I549.
Sir JAMES MACKINTosh. LATIMER, . . . brave, sincere, honest, in-
flexible, not distinguished as a writer or a scholar, but exercising his power
over men's minds by a fervid eloquence flowing from the deep conviction
which animated his P. pithy, and free-spoken Sermons.—History of
England, ii. 291. Ed. 1831.
14. Sir THOMAS MORE.
Translation of Utopia. 1516–1557.
A frutefull and pleasaunt worke of the best state of a publique
zveale, and of the new yle called Utopia : VVritten in Latine by
Sir THOMAS MORE, Anyght, and translated into Englyshe by
RALPH ROBYNSON.
LORD CAMPBELL. Since the time of PLATo there had been no composi-
tion given to the world which, for imagination, for philosophical discrimina-
tion, for a familiarity with the principles of government, for a knowledge of
the springs of human action, for a keen observation of men and manners, and
for felicity of expression, could be compared to the Utopia.—Lives of the
Lord Chancellors (Life of Sir. T. More), i. 583. Ed. 1845.
In the imaginary country of Utopia, MoRE endeavours to sketch out
a State based upon two principles—(1) community of goods, no private
property; and consequently (2) no use for money.
15. GEORGE PUTTENHAM,
A Gentlemtan Pensioner to Queen ELIZABETH.
The Art of English Poesy. I 589.
The Arte of English Poesie.
Contriued into three Bookes : The first of POETS and PoESIE,
the second of PROPORTION, the third of ORNAMENT.
W. OLDys. It contains many pretty observations, examples, characters,
and fragments of poetry for those times, now nowhere else to be met with.—
Sir WALTER RALEIGH, liv. Ed. 1736.
O. Gilchrist. On many accounts one of the most curious and entertain-
ing, and intrinsically one of the most valuable books of the age of QUEEN
ElizaBETH. The copious intermixture of contemporary anecdote, tradition,
manners, opinions, and the numerous specimens of coeval poetry nowhere else
preserved, contribute to form a volume of infinite amusement, curiosity, and
value.--Censura Literaria, i. 339. Ed. 1805.
This is still also an important book on Rhetoric and the Figures of Speech,
English Reprints. I-5
16. JAMES HOWELL,
Clerk of the Council to CHARLES I. : afterwards Historiographer to
s CHARLES II.
Instructions for Foreign Travel. 1642.
Instructions for forreine travelle. Shewing by what cours, and
in what compasse of time, one may take an exact Survey of the
Åingdomes and States of Christendome, and arrive to the practical
Ánowledge of the Zanguages, to good purpose.
The MURRA P, BAEDEKER, and Practical Guide to the Grand Tour
of Europe, which, at that time, was considered the finishing touch to the
complete education of an English Gentleman.
, The route sketched out by this delightfully quaint Writer, is France,
Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands, and Holland. The
time allowed is 3 years and 4 months : the months to be spent in travelling,
the years in residence at the different cities.
17. NICHOLAS UDALL,
Master, first of Eton College, then of Westminster School.
Roister Doister. [1553–1566.]
This is believed to be the first true English Comedy that ever came to the
press. . . . . • *
From the unique copy, which wants a title-page, now at Eton College;
and which is thought to have been printed in 1566.
- ... . AXraºrtatis Persona.
RALPH. Roister DorsTER.
MATTHEw MERRYCREEk.
Gawin Goodluck, affianced to Damte CUSTANCE.
TRISTRAM TRUSTY, his friend.
Dobinet Doug HTY, “boy” to Roister DoistER.
ToM TRUEPENNY, servant to Dame CUSTANCE.
SIM SURESBY, servant to GooDLUck.
Scrivener. - -
Płazºax.
Dame CHRISTIAN CUSTANCE, a widow.
*:::::::: MUMBLECRUST, her nurse.
TIBET TALKAPACE e;
ANNOT ALYFACE } her maidens.
18. A. Monk of Evesham,
The Revelation, &c. I 186ſ–14 Iol. 1485.
T Aere begymnyth a marvellous reuelacion that was schewyd
of almighty god by sent Mycholas to a monke of Euyshamme yn
the days of Kynge Richard the ſyrst. And the yere of owne lord,
M. C. A.3.xxxvi.
One of the rarest of English books printed by one of the earliest of English
printers, WILLIAM DE MACLINIA ; who printed this text about 1485, in the
Jifetime of C.A.YTON.
The essence of the story is as old as it professes to be ; but contains later
additions, the orthography, being of about 1410. It is very devoutly written,
and contains a curious Vision of Purgatory.
The writer is a prototype of BUNYAN ; and his description of the Gate in
the Crystal Wall of Heaven, and of the solemn and marvellously sweet
Peal of the Bells of Heaven that came to him through it, is very
beautiful.
I6 English Reprints.
19. JAMES I.
A Counterblast to Tobacco. 1604.
(a) The Essays of a Prentise, in the Diuine Art of Poesie.
Printed while JAMES VI. of Scotland, at Edinburgh in 1585; and includes
Ane Short treatise, conteining some Reulis and Cautelis to be obseruit and
escheavit in Scottis Poesie, which is another very early piece of printed
Poetical Criticism.
(b) A Counterblaste to Tobacco. 1604.
To this text has been added a full account of the Introduction and Early
wse of Tobacco in England. The herb first came into use in Europe as a
medicinal leaf for poultices: smoking it was afterwards learnt from the
American Indians.
Our Royal Author thus sums up his opinion :-
“A custome lothsome to the eye, hateful to the nose, harmefull to the
braine, dangerous to the lungs, and in the blacke stinking fume thereof,
nearest resembling the horrible Stigian smoke of the pit that is bottomless.”
20. Sir ROBERT NAUNTON,
Master of the Court of Wards.
Fragmenta Regalia. 1653.
Fragmenta Regalia : or Observations on the late Queen
ELIZABETH, her Times and Favourites. [1630.]
Naunton writes :-
“And thus I have delivered up this my poor Essay; a little Draught of
this great Princess, and her Times, with the Servants of her State and
favour.”
21. THOMAS WATSON,
Londoner, Student-at-Law.
Poems. 1582–1593.
(a) The Ekaroutraffia or Passionate Centurie of Zoue.
Divided into two parts : whereof, the first expresseth the
Author's sufferance in Zoue: the latter, his long farwell to Loue
and all his tyrannie. 1582.
(b) MELIBCEUs, Sive Ecloga in obitum Honoratissimi Viri
Domini FRANCISCI WALSINGHAMI. 1590.
(c) The same translated into English, by the Author. 1590.
(d) The Tears of Fancie, or Zoue disdained. 1593.
From the unique copy, wanting Sonnets 9–16, in the possession of S.
CHRISTIR MILLER, Esq., of Britwell. S
English Reprints. I7
22. WILLIAM HABINGTON,
Castara. 1640.
CASTARA. The third Edition. Corrected and augmented.
CASTARA was Lady Lucy HERBERT, the youngest child of the first
Lord Powis; and these Poems were chiefly marks of affection during a pure
courtship followed by a happy marriage. With these, are also Songs of
Friendship, especially those referring to the Hon. GEORGE TALBOT.
In addition to these Poems, there are four prose Characters; on 4
Mistress, A Wife, A Friend, and The Aſo'y Man.
23. ROGER ASCHAM,
The Schoolmaster. 1570.
The Scholemaster, or plane and perſite way of teachyng
children to understand, write, and speake, in Latin tong, but
specially purposed for the priuate brynging up of youth in Zentle-
man and Noble men's houses, &c.
This celebrated Work contains the story of Lady JANE GREY's delight
in reading PLATO, an attack on the Italianated Englishman of the time,
and much other information not specified in the above title.
In it, Ascham gives us very fully his plan of studying Languages, which
may be described as the double translation of a model book.
24. HENRY HOWARD,
Earl of SURREP.
Sir THOMAS WYATT.
NICHOLAS GRIMALD.
Lord VAUX.
Tottel's Miscellany. 5 June, 1557.
Songes and Sonettes, vvritten by the right honourable Lorde
Henry HowARD late Earle of SURREY, and other.
With 39 additional Poems from the second edition by the same printer,
Rich ARD Tottel, of 31 July, 1557:
This celebrated Collection is the First of our Poetical Miscellanies, and
s: the first appearance in print of any considerable number of English
OnnetS.
Tottel in his Address to the Reader, says: —
“That to haue wel written in verse, yea and in small parcelles, deserueth
great praise, the workes of diuers Latines, Italians, and other, doe proue
sufficiently. That our tong is able in that kynde to do as praiseworthely as
ye rest, the honorable stile of the noble earle of Surrey, and the weightinesse
of the depewitted Sir Thomas Wyat the elders verse, with seuerall graces in
sondry good Englishe writers, doe show abundantly.”
18 English Reprints.
25. Rev. THOMAS LEVER,
Fellow and Preacher of St. john's College, Cambridge.
Sermons. I550.
(a) A fruitfull Sermon in Paules church at Zondom ºn the
.Shroudes.
(b) A Sermon preached the fourth Sunday in Lent before the
A3/mages Mažestie, and his honourable Counsell.
(c) A Sermon preached at Pauls Crosse. I550.
These Sermons are reprinted from the original editions, which are of
extreme rarity. They throw much light on the communistic theories of the
Norfolk rebels; and the one at Paul's Cross contains a curious account
of Cambridge University life in the reign of EDwARD VI.
26. WILLIAM W.E.B.B.E,
Graduate.
A Discourse of English Poetry. 1586.
A Discourse of English Poetrie. Zogether with the Authors
zudgement, touching the reformation of our Anglish Verse.
Another of the early pieces of Poetical Criticism, written in the year in
which SHAKESPEARE is supposed to have left Stratford for London.
Only two copies of this Work are known, one of these was sold for £64.
This Work should be read with STANYii URST's Translation of Æneid,
I.-IV., 1582, see p. 64. WEBBE was an advocate of English Hexameters;
and here translates VIRGIL's first two Eglogues into them. He also trans-
lates into Sapphics Colin's Song in the Fourth Eglogue of SPENSER's
.Shepherd's Calendar.
27. FRANCIS BACON.
afterwards Lord VERULAM Viscount ST, ALBANS.
A Harmony of the Essays, &c. 1597–1626.
And after any manner, I alter ever, when I add. So that nothing is
finished, till all be finished.—Sir FRANCIS BAcon, 27 Feb., 1610—[11].
(a) Essays, Religious Meditations, and Places of Żerswasion
and disszvasion. I597.
(3) The Writings of Sir FRANCIS BAcon Knight the Kinges
..Sollicitor General Zit AMoralitie, Policie, Historie.
(c) 2%e Essaies of Sir FRANCIS BACON Xnight, the Kings
Jolliciter Generall.
(d) The Essayes or Counsells, Civill and Morall of FRANCIs
Zord VERULAM, Viscount ST. ALBAN. 1625.
English Reprints. I9
28. WILLIAM ROY, JEROME BARLOW.
Aºranciscazz Friars.
Read me, and be not wroth. I [I528.]
(a) Rede ºne and be mott wrothe,
For I saye no thynge but trothe.
I will ascende 77takynge 77ty state so hye,
That my pompous honoure shall never dye.
O Caytyſe when thore thymkest least of all,
With conſºrsion thoze shalf haze a ſall. º re
This is the famous satire on Cardinal Wolsey, and is the First English
Protestant book ever printed, not being a portion of Holy Scripture. See
A. 22 for the Fifth such book. &
. The next two pieces form one book, printed by HANS Luft, at Marburg,
In 1530.
(b) A proper dyaloge, betwene a Gentz//maze and a husband.
man, eche complaymynge to other their miserable calamzte, through
the ambicion of the clergye.
(c) A compendious old treatyse, shewynge, how that we ought
to have the scripture in Englysshe.
29. Sir WALTER RALEIGH. GERVASE
MARKHAM. J. H. VAN LINSCHOTEN.
The Last Fight of the “Revenge.” 1591.
(a) A Report of the truth of the fight about the Iles of Acores,
this last la Sommer. Betwixt the REUENGE, one of her
Maiesties Shippes, and an ARMADA of the King of Spaine.
[By Sir W. RALEIGH.]
(b) 7%e most honorable Z%ragedie of Sir RICHARD GRINUILE,
A night. I 595.
[By GERVASE MARKHAM.]
(c) [The Fight and Cyclone at the Azores.
[By JAv HUYCHEN van LINscHoten.]
Several accounts are here given of one of the most extraordinary Sea
fights in our Naval History.
3O. BARNABE GOOGE.
Eglogues, Epitaphs, and Sonnets. 1563.
AEglogs, EAytaphes, and Sonettes Mewly written by BARNABE
GOOGE.
Three copies only known. Reprinted from the Huth copy.
In the prefatory Motes of the Life and Writings of B. GoogF, will be
found an account of the trouble he had in winning MARY DARELL for his
wife.
A new, Literature generally begins with imitations and translations.
When this book first appeared, Translations were all the rage among the
“young England", of the day. This Collection of original Occasional
Verse is therefore the more noticeable. The Introduction gives a glimpse
of the principal Writers of the time, such as the Authors of the Mirror for
Magistrates, the Translators of SENECA's Tragedies, etc., and including
such names as BALDw1N, BAVANDE, BLUNDESTON, NEVILLE, North,
Norton, Sackville, and YELverton.
20 Works in the Old Spelling.
The English Scholar's Library.
16 Parts are now published, in Cloth Boards, £2 1s.
Any part may be obtained separately.
The general character of this Series will be gathered
from the following pages:—21-26.
i
1. WILLIAM CAxTON. Reynard the Fox.
2. JoHN KNox. The First Blast of the
Trumpet . e © e o º
3. CLEMENT ROBINSON and others. A
handful of Pleasant Delights .. 1
4. [SIMON FISH.] A Supplication for
the Beggars & e º . 1
5. [Rev. JoHN UDALL.] Diotrephes. . 1
6. [?] The Return from Parnassus .. 1
7, THOMAS DECKER. The Seven Deadly
Sins of London * º •
8. EDWARD ARBER. An Introductory
Sketch to the “Martin Marpre-
late” Controversy, 1588–1590 .. 3
9. [Rev. JoHN UDALL.] A Demonstra-
tion of Discipline . º º
Io. RICHARD STANIHURST. “AEneid I.-
IV.” in English hexameters.
11, “The Epistle " . e
12. RoberT GREEN. Menaphon e
13. GEORGE Joy. An Apology to William
Tyndale . º e o
14. RICHARD BARNFIELD. Poems e
15. Bp. THOMAS COOPER. An Admonition
to the People of England . ... 3
16. Captain JoHN SMITH. Works. I 120
pages. Six Facsimile Maps. 2 Vols. 12
;
:60
º
.
The English Scholar's Library. 21
1. William Caxton,
our first Printer. -
Translation of REYNARD THE FOX. I48I.
[COLOPHON.] I haue not added ne mynusshed but haue
folowed as myghe as I can my copye which was in dutchel and by
me WILLIAM CAxTON translated in to this rude and symple
englyssh in thſe] abbey of westºnestre.
Interesting for its own sake; but especially as being translated as well as
printed by CAxton, who finished the printing on 6 June, 1481.
The Story is the History of the Three fraudulent Escapes of the Fox
from punishment, the record of the Defeat of Justice by flattering lips and
dishonourable deeds. It also shows the struggle between the power of
Words and the power of Blows, a conflict between Mind and Matter. It
was necessary for the physically weak to have Eloquence : the blame of
REYNARD is in the frightful misuse he makes of it.
The author says, “There is in the world much seed left of the Fox,
tº: now over all groweth and cometh sore up, though they have no red
eards.”
2. John Knox,
the Scotch Reformer.
THE FIRST BLAST 3. THE TRUMPET, &C.
I55ö.
(a) The First Blast of a Zºrumpet against the monstrous
Aegiment of Women.
(b) The Propositions to be entreated in the Second BLAST.
S This work was wrung out of the heart of John KNOx, while, at Dieppe,
he heard of the martyr fires of England, and was anguished thereby. At
that moment the liberties of Great Britain, and therein the hopes of the
whole World, lay in the laps of four women—MARY of Loraine, the Regent
of Scotland ; her daughter MARY (the Queen of Scots); Queen MARY
TUDoR ; and the Princess ELIZABETH.
The Volume was printed at Geneva.
(c) KNOX's apologetical Defence of his FIRST BLAST, &c., to
Queen ELIZABETH. I559.
3. Clement Robinson,
and divers others.
A HANDFUL OF Rºasant DELIGHTS.
I5ö4.
A Handeful of pleasant delites, Containing sundrie new Somets
and delectable Aſistories, in diuers kindes of Meeter. Mewly
deuised to the newest tunes that are now Żn zse, to be sung :
exterie Sonet orderly pointed to his proper Tune. With new
additions of certain Songs, to zerie late deuzsed Motes, not
commonly knowen, nor vsed heretofore.
OPHELLA quotes from A Wosegaie, &c., in this Poetical Miscellany; of
which only one copy is now known.
It also contains the earliest text extant of the Ladie Greensleeves, which
first appeared four years previously.
This is the Third printed Poetical Miscellamy in our language,
22 The English Scholar’s Ziórary.
4. [Simon Fish,
of Gray's Inn.]
A SUPPLICATION FOR THE BEGGARs.
[? I529.] sº
A Supplicacyon for the Beggars.
Stated by J. Fox to have been distributed in the streets of London on
Candlemas Day [2 Feb., 1529].
This is the Fifth Protestant book (not being a portion of Holy Scripture
that was printed in the English Language.
The authorship of this anonymous tract, is fixed by a passage in Sir T.
MoRE's Apology, of 1533, quoted in the Introduction.
5. [Rev. John Udall,
Minister at Kingston on Thamees.]
DIOTREPHES. [I588.]
The state of the Church of Englande, laid open in a conference
betweene DIOTREPHES a Byshopp, TERTULLUS a Papiste, DE-
METRIUS an zyszerer, PANDOCHUS an Annekeeper, and PAULE a
preacher of the word of God.
This is the forerunning tract of the MARTIN MAR PRELA 7E Contro-
versy. For the production of it, Robert WALDEGRAVE, the printer, was
ruined ; and so became available for the printing of the Martinist invectives.
The scene of the Dialogue is in PANDocłłUS's Inn, which is in a posting-
town on the high road from London to Edinburgh. .
6. L 2 |
THE RETURN FROM PARNASSUS.
[Acted 16O2.] I606.
7%e Returne from Pernassus : or 7%e Scounge of Simony.
Publiquely acted by the Students in Saint Johns Colledge in
Cambridge.
This play, written by a University man in December, 16or, brings
...tº. KEMP and RICHARD BURBAGE on to the Stage, and makes them
speak thus:
“KEMP. Few of the vniuersity pen plaies well, they smell too much of
that writer Oneid and that writer Metamoréhosis, and talke too much of
Proseráina and ſuppiter. Why herees our fellow Shakespeare puts them
all downe, I [Ay] and Ben Jonson too. O that Ben Jonson is a pestilent
fellow, he brought vp Horace giuing the Poets a pill, but our fellow Shake-
speare hath given him a purge that made him beray his credit:
“BURBAGE. It’s a shrewd fellow indeed : ”
What this controversy between SHAKESPEARE and Jonson was, has not
yet been cleared up. It was evidently recent, when (in Dec., 16or) this
play was written.
The English Scholar's Library 23
7. Thomas Decker,
The Dražntatist.
THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS OF
LONDON, &c. 1606.
The seuen deadly Sinnes of London : drawn in seuen setterall
Coaches, through the seuen seuerall Gates of the Citie, bringing
the Plague with them.
A prose Allegorical Satire, giving a most vivid picture of London life, in
October, 1606.
The seven sins are—
FRAUDULENT BANKRUPTcy.
LYING.
CANDLELIGHT (Deeds of Darkness).
SLOTH. -
APISHNess (Changes of Fashion).
SHAVING (Cheating), and CRUElty.
Their chariots, drivers, pages, attendants, and followers, are all allegori-
cally described. * - *
8. ZThe AEaſzłoż.
AN INTRODUCTORY SKETCH TO THE
MARTIN MARPºgº. CONTROVERSY.
I588–1590.
(a) The general Episcopal Administration, Censorship, &c.
(b) The Origin of the Controversy.
(c) Depositions grea. Examinations.
(d) State Documents.
(e) The Brief held by Sir John PUCKERING, against the
Al/artinists. -
The REv. J. UDALL (who was, however, not a Martinist); Mrs. CRANE,
of Molesey, Rev. J. PENRY, Sir R. KNIGHTLEy, of Fawsley, near North-
ampton; HUMPHREY_NEWMAN, the London cobbler; John HALEs, Esq., of
Coventry; Mr. and Mrs. WEEKSTon, of Wolston : JoB THRockMorton,
Esq.; HENRY SHARPE, bookbinder of Northampton, and the four printers.
(f) ‘Miscellaneous Information.
(g) Who were the Writers who wrote under the name of MAR-
TIN MARPRELATE P

9. [Rev. John Udall,
Minister at Kingston on Thames.]
A DEMONSTRATION OF DISCIPLINE. 1588.
A Demonstration of the trueth of that discipline which
CHRISTE hath prescribed in his worde for the gouernement of his
Chºrch, in all times and places, zºntil the ende of the worlde.
Printed with the secret Martinist press, at East Molesey, near Hampton
Court, in July, 1588; and secretly distributed with the Epitone in the
following November.
For this Work, UDALL lingered to death in prison.
It is perhaps the most complete argument, in our language, for Presby-
terian Puritanism, as it was then understood. Its author asserted for it, the
infallibility of a Divine. Logic ; but two generations had not passed away,
before (under the teachings of Experience) much of this Church Polity had
been discarded.
24 The English Scholar's Library.
IO. Richard Stanyhurst,
the Irish Historian.
7%ranslation of AE N EID I -I W ſº I 582.
Thee first fovre Bookes of VIRGIL his AEneis translated intoo
Ænglish heroical [i.e., hexameter] verse by RICHARD STANY-
HURST, wyth oother Poétical diuises theretoo annexed.
Zmprinted at Zeiden in Holland by IoHN PATEs, Amno
M. D. ZXXXYZ.
This is one of the oddest and most grotesque books in the English
language ; and having been printed in Flanders, the original Edition is of
eart?"emte rarity. * *.
The present text is, by the kindness of Lord ASHBURNHAM and S.
CHRISTIE-MILLER, Esq., reprinted from the only two copies known, neither
of which is #. perfect. e
GABRIEl HARVEY desired to be epitaphed, The Inventor of the English
Aerameter; and STANyHURST, in imitating him, went further than any
one else in maltreating English words to suit the exigencies of Classical feet.
11. Martin Mar/relate.
THE EPISTLE. I588.
Oh read ouer D. JoHN BRIDGES, for it is a worthy worke :
Or an epitome of the fyrste Booke of that right worshipful! vol-
ume, written against the Puritanes, in the defence of the noble
cleargie, by as worshipfull a prieste, JOHN BRIDGES, Presbyter,
Ariest or Ælder, doctor of Dzuz//itie, and ZXeane of Sarum.
The Epitome [p. 26] is not yet published, but it shall be, when
the Byshops are at convenient leysure to view the same. In the
meane time, let them be content with this learned Epistle.
Printed oversea, in Europe, within two furlongs of a Boun-
sing Priest, at the cost and charges of M. MARPRELATE, gentle-
7/2(Z%.
12. Robert Greene, M.A.
MENAPHON. I589.
MENAPHON. CAMILLAS alarum to slumbering EUPHUES,
in his melancholie Cell at Silexedra. VWherein are deciphered
the variable effects of Fortune, the wonders of Zoue, the triumphes
of inconstant Time. Displaying in sundrie conceipted passions
(figured in a continuate Historie) the Trophees that Vertue
carrieth triumphant, maugre the wrath of Enuie, or the resolu-
tion of Fortune.
One of GREENE's novels with ToM NASH's Preface, so important in refer-
ence to the earlier HAMLE 7, before SHAKESPEARE's tragedy.
GREENE’s “love pamphlets” were the most popular Works of Fiction in
England, up to the appearance of Sir P. SIDNEY's Arcadia in 1590.
The Anglish Scholar's Ziórazy. 25
& 13. George Joy,
an early Protestant Reformer.
AN APOLOGY TO TINDALE. I535.
An Apologye made by GEORGE JOYE to satisfye (if it may be)
W. T.INDALE : to pounge and defende himself ageinst so many
sclaunderouse Ayes faymed zipon him in TINDAL's zºn.charitable
and unsober Pystle so well worthye to be prefixed for the Reader to
induce him into the understanding of hys new Testament dili-
gently corrected and printed in the yeare of our Lorde, 1534, in
Nouember [Antwerp, 27 Feb., I535. ---
This almost lost book is our only authority in respect to the surreptitious
editions of the English New Testament, which were printed for the English
market with very many errors, by Antwerp printers who knew not English,
in the interval between TINDALE's first editions in 1526, and his revised Text
(above referred to) in 1534.
I4. Richard Barnfield.
of Darlaston, Staffordshire.
POEMS. I 594–1598,
The affectionate Shepherd. Containing the Complaint of
DAPHNIS for the Loue of GANYMEDE.
In the following Work, BARNFIELD states that this is “an imitation of
Virgill, in the second Eglogue of Alexis.”
CYNTHIA. With Certaine Sonnets, and the Legend of CAS-
SANDRA. I 595.
The Author thus concludes his, Preface : “Thus, hoping, you will beare
with my rude conceit of Cynthia (if for no other cause, yet, for that it is the
First Imitation of the verse of that excellent Poet, Maister Søencer, in his
Fayrie Queene), I leaue you to the reading of that, which I so much desire
may breed your delight.”
The Encomion of Lady PECUNIA : or, The Praise of Money.
- I598.
Two of the Poems in this Text have been wrongly attributed to SHAKE-
SPEARE. The disproof is given in the Introduction.
15. Thomas] Cooper].
[Bishop of WINCHESTER.]
ADMONITION TO THE PEOPLE OF
ENGLAND.
An admonition to the people of England VWherein are an-
szzered, not onley the slaunderous vntruethes, reprochfully zºttered
by MARTIN the Libeller, but also many other Crimes by some of
his broode, objected generally against all Bishops, and the chiefe of
the Cleargie, purposely to deface and discredit the present state of
the Church. [Jan. I589].
This is the official reply on the part of the Hierarchy, to MARTIN MAR-
PRELATE's Epistle of [Nov.] I508: see No. 11. on A. 24.
It was published between the appearance of the Epistle and that of the
Epitome.
26 The English Scholar's Library.
16. Captain John Smith,
President of Virginia, and Admiral of New England.
WORKS.–1608–1631, 2 vols. 12s. 6d.
A complete edition, with six facsimile plates.
Occasion was taken, in the preparation of this Edition, dispas-
sionately to test the Author's statements. The result is perfectly
Satisfactory. The Lincolnshire Captain is to be implicitly believed
in all that he relates of his own personal knowledge. -
The following are the chief Texts in this Volume :-
( : A true Relation of Occurrences in Virginia. 1608.
2.) A Map of Virginia. 1612.
3.) A Description of New England. 1616.
4.) New England's Trials. I62o and 1622. -
5.) The History of Virginia, New England, and Bermuda.
6
º An Accidence for young Seamen, 1626.
7.) His true Travels, Adventures, and Observations. 1630.
(8.) Advertisements for Planters in New England, or any-
where. 1631. .
The first Three English Books on
America. [? I 5.1 IIHI 555.
This work is a perfect Encyclopædia respecting the earliest
Spanish and English Voyages to America.
Small Paper Edition, 456 pp., in One Volume, Demy 4to,
AI Is. .
Zarge Paper Edition in One Volume, Royal 4to, 43.3s.
The Three Books are— .
(1.) Of the new landes, etc. Printed at Antwerp about 15II.
This is the first English book in which the word America ; 6.
Armonica] occurs. -
(2.) A Treatise of the new India, etc. Translated by
RICHARD EDEN from SEBASTIAN MUENSTER’s Cosmography:
and printed in 1553. The Second English Book on America.
3.) The Decades of the New World, etc., by PIETRO MARTIRE
[PETRUS MARTYR), translated by RICHARD EDEN, and printed in
I555. The Third English Book on America. SHAKESPEARE
obtained the character of CALIBAN from this Work.
A List of 837 London Publishers,
I 553–I64O. -
This Master Key to English Bibliography for the period also
gives the approximate period that each Publisher was in busi-
IlêSS.
Aemy 4to, 32 pp., Ios. 6d. meet.
,” * - 27
Fcap. 4to, Cloth, Gilt, Ios. 6d. met.
THE ONLY KNOWN FRAGMENT OF
The First printed
English New Testament, in Quarto.
By W. T.INDALE AND W. R.O.Y.
Sixty photo-lithographed pages ; preceded by a critical PREFACE.
BRIEFLY told, the story of this profoundly interesting work is as
follows:–
In 1524 TINDALE went from London to Hamburgh ; where
remaining for about a year, he journeyed on to Cologne; and
there, assisted by WILLIAM ROY, subsequently the author of the
satire on WOLSEY, Rede me and be mott wrothe [see p. 19], he began
this first edition in 4to, with glosses, of the English New Testament.
A virulent enemy of the Reformation, COCHLAEUS, at that time an
exile in Cologne, learnt, through giving wine to the printer's men,
that P. QUENTAL the printer had in hand a secret edition of three
thousand copies of the English New Testament. In great alarm, he
informed HERMAN RINCK, a Senator of the city, who moved the
Senate to stop the printing ; but CoCHLAEUS could neither obtain a
sight of the Translators, nor a sheet of the impression.
TINDALE and Roy fled with the printed sheets up the Rhine to
Worms ; and there completing this edition, produced also another
in 8vo, without glosses. Both editions were probably in England by
March, 1526.
Of the six thousand copies of which they together were com-
posed, there remain but this fragment of the First commenced
edition, in 4to ; and of the Second Edition, in 8vo, one-complete
copy in the Library of the Baptist College at Bristol, and an
imperfect one in that of St. Paul's Cathedral, London.
In the Preface, the original documents are given intact, in
connection with
Ævidence connected with the first Two Editions of the English
Mezo Testament, viz., in Quarto, and Octavo—
I. WILLIAM TINDALE's antecedent career.
II. The Printing at Cologne.
III. The Printing at Worms.
IV. WILLIAM ROy's connection with these Editions.
V. The landing and distribution in England.
VI. The persecution in England.
Typographical and Literary Evidence connected with the present
Fragment——
I. It was printed for TINDALE by PETER QUENTAL at
Cologne, before 1526.
II. It is not a portion of the separate Gospel of Matthew printed
• previous to that year.
III. It is therefore certainly a fragment of the Quarto.
Is the Quarto a translation of LUTHER’s German Version 2
Text. The prologge. Inner Marginal References. Outer
Marginal Glosses.
*** For a continuation of this Story see G. Joy's Apology at p. 25.
28 THE WAR LIBRARY,
captain Willian siboswe.
The Waterloo Campaign. 1815.
4th Ed. Crown 8vo. 832 pages. 13 Medallion Portraits of
Generals. I5 Maps and Plans.
Bound in Red Cloth, uncut edges. Five SHILLINGs, Net.
The Work is universally regarded to be the best general Account
in the English language of the Twenty Days' War: including the
Battles of Quatre Bras, Ligny, Waterloo, and Wavre; and the
subsequent daring March on Paris. It is as fair to the French as
it is to the Allies.
WILLIAM BEATTY, M.D., Surgeon of H.M.S. Victory,
An Authentic Narrative of -
the Death of Lord Nelson.
21st October, 1805.
2nd Ed. Crown 8vo. 96 pages. Two Illustrations:
(1) of Lord NELSON in the dress he wore when
he received his mortal wound.
(2) Of the Bullet that killed him.
Bound in Blue Cloth, uncut edges. HALF-A-CRowN, Net,
29
The Paston Letters.
I4.22—I 509.
A NEW EDITION, containing upwards of 400 letters,
etc., hitherto unpublished.
EDITED BY
JAMES GAIRDNER,
Of the Public Record Office.
3 Vols. Feap. 8vo, Cloth extra, 15s. met.
“The Paston Letters are an important testimony to the progressive con-
dition of Society, and come in as a precious link in the chain of moral history
of England, which they alone in this period supply. They stand, indeed,
singly, as far as I know, in Europe ; for though it is highly probable that
in the archives of Italian families, if not in France or Germany, a series of
merely private letters equally ancient may be concealed ; I do not recollect
that any have been published. They are all written in the reigns of HENRY
VI. and Edward IV., except a few that extend as far as HENRY VII., by
different members of a wealthy and respectable, but not noble, family; and
are, therefore, pictures of the life of the English gentry of that age."—
HENRY HALLAM, Introduction to the Literature of Europe, i. 228,
Ad. 1837.
These Letters are the genuine correspondence of a family in Nor-
folk during the Wars of the Roses. As such, they are altogether
unique in character; yet the language is not so antiquated as to
present any serious difficulty to the modern reader. The topics of
the letters relate partly to the private affairs of the family, and
partly to the stirring events of the time : and the correspondence
includes State papers, love letters, bailiff's accounts, sentimental
poems, jocular epistles, etc.
Besides the public news of the day, such as the Loss of Nor-
mandy by the English ; the indictment, and subsequent murder at
sea of the Duke of SUFFOLK ; and all the fluctuations of the great
struggle of York and LANCASTER ; we have the story of John
PASTON'S first introduction to his wife ; incidental notices of severe
domestic discipline, in which his sister frequently had her head
broken ; letters from Dame ELIZABETH BREWS, a match-making
Mamma, who reminds the youngest JoHN PASTON that Friday is
“Saint Valentine's Day,” and invites him to come and visit her
family from the Thursday evening till the Monday, etc., etc.
Every Letter has been exhaustively annotated ; and a Chrono-
logical Table, with most copious Indices, conclude the Work.
THE “white HALL EDITION"
OF THE WORKS OF
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.
Edited from the Original Texts by H. ARTHUR DoubleDAY,
with the assistance of T. GREGORY FOSTER and ROBERT ELSON.
In 12 volumes, imperial 16mo.
The special features to which the publishers would call atten-
tion are the TYPE, which is large enough to be read with com-
fort by all; the NUMBERING of the LINES, for convenience of
reference ; the ARRANGEMENT of the PLAYS in chronological
order ; and the GLOSSARY which is given at the end of each
play. The text has been carefully edited from the original
editions, and follows as nearly as possible that of the Folio of
1623. A few notes recording the emendations of modern
Editors which have been adopted are printed at the end of each
play.
The volumes are handsomely bound in buckram and in cloth,
5s. per volume. Also in half-parchment, gilt top, 6s. per
volume. -
SOME PRESS OPINIONS OF “THE WH/TEAEA LIL
SAHA KAESPEAR E.”
“The print is clear, the paper good, the margin sufficient, and the volume
not too cumbersome.”— Times.
“The text gives every evidence of being edited with care and scholarship.
. . . On the whole, The Whitehall Shakespeare promises to be one of
the most generally attractive among the many editions of the bard which
compete for public favour.”—Scotsman.
“The general effect is excellent . . . it deserves a great success.”—
1 neg gr
National Observer.
“The Whitehall Shakespeare commends itself by its convenient form,
and its clear and handsome type, as well as by some special features, among
which is the alphabetical index to all the characters in the plays in each
volume.”—Daily News.
“It combines, as far as possible, the requirements of a library and popular
edition.”—Literary World.
“There is certainly no edition of Shakespeare in the market which is
more prettily got up or better printed. . . . . One of the best editions for
the general reader that have ever appeared in this country.”—Scottish
Leader.
“Paper, print, and binding leave little to be desired.”—Standard.
WESTMINSTER : ARCHIBALD CONSTABLE & CO.,
14, PARLIAMENT STREET.
Hºc º: -- ------ - ºrºgº;
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