1.22. In what forme of Poesie the amorous affections and allurements were uttered.
The first founder of all good affections is hones loue, as the mother of all
the vicious is hatred. It was not therefore without reason that so
commendable, yea honourable a thing as loue well meant, were it in Princely
estate or priuate, might in all ciuil common wealths be vttered in good
forme and order as other laudable things are. And because loue is of all
other humane affections the most puissant and passionate, and most
generall to all sortes and ages of men and women, so as whether it be of the
yong or old or wise or holy, or high estate or low, none euer could truly
bragge of any exemption in that case: it requireth a forme of Poesie
variable, inconstant, affected, curious and most witty of any others,
whereof the ioyes were to be vttered in one sorte, the sorrowes in an other,
and by the many formes of Poesie, the many moodes and panges of louers,
throughly to be discouered: the poore soules sometimes praying, beseeching,
sometime honouring, auancing, praising: an other while railing, reuiling, and
cursing: then sorrowing, weeping, lamenting: in the ende laughing,
reioysing & solacing the beloued againe, with a thousand delicate
deuises, odes, songs, elegies, ballads, sonets and other ditties, moouing one
way and another to great compassion.