2.1. Of Proportion Poeticall.
It is said by such as professe the Mathematicall sciences, that all things
stand by proportion, and that without it nothing could stand to be good or
beautiful. The Doctors of our Theologie to the same effect, but in other
termes, say: that God made the world by number, measure and weight: some
for weight say tune, and peraduenture better. For weight is a kind of
measure or of much conueniencie with it: and therefore in their
descriptions be alwayes coupled together (statica & metrica)
weight and measures. Hereupon it seemeth the Philosopher gathers a triple
proportion, to with, the Arithmeticall, the Geometricall, and the Musicall.
And by one of these three is euery other proportion guided of the things that
haue conueniencie by relation, as the visible by light colour and shadow: the
audible by stirres, times and accents: the odorable by smelles of sundry
temperaments: the tastible by fauours to the rate: the tangible by his
obiectes in this or that regard. Of all which we leaue to speake, returning
to our poeticall proportion, which holdeth of the Musical, because as we sayd
before Poesie is a skill to speake & write harmonically: and verses or
rime be a kind of Musicall vtterance, by reason of a certaine congruitie in
sounds pleasing the eare, though not perchance so exquisitely as the
harmonicall concents of the artificial Musicke consisting in strained tunes,
as is the vocall Musike, or that of melodious instruments, as Lutes, Harpes,
Regals, Records and such like. And this our proportion Poeticall
resteth in fiue points: Staffe, Measure, Concord, Scituation and figure all
which shall be spoken of in their places.