1.1. What poet and Poesie is, and who may be worthily sayd the most excellent Poet of our time.
A Poet is as much to say as a maker. And our English name well conformes
with the Greek word: for of poiyin to make,
they call a maker Poeta. Such as (by way of resemblance and
reuerently) we may say of God: who without any trauell to his diuine
imagination, made all the world of nought, nor also by any paterne or mould
as the Platonicks with their Ideas do phantastically suppose. Euen so the
very Poet makes and contriues out of his owne braine both the verse and
matter of his poeme, and not by any foreine copie or example, as doth the
translator, who therefore may well be sayd a versifier, but not a Poet. The
premises considered, it giueth to the name and profession no smal dignitie
and preheminence, aboue all other artificers, Scientificke or Mechanicall.
And neuerthelesse without any repugnancie at all, a Poet may in some sort
be said a follower or imitator, because he can expresse the true and liuely
of euery thing is set before him, and which he taketh in hand to describe:
and so in that respect is both a maker and a counterfaitor: and Poesie an art
not only of making, but also of imitation. And this science in his perfection,
can not grow, but by some diuine instinct, the Platonicks call it furor:
or by excellencie of nature and complexion: or by great subtiltie of the
spirits & wit or by much experience and obseruation of the world, and
course of kinde, or
peraduenture by all or most part of them. Otherwise how was it possible
that
Homer being but a poore priuate man, and as some say, in his
later age blind, should so exactly set foorth and describe, as if he had bene a
most excellent Captaine or Generall, the order and array of battels, the
conduct of whole armies, the sieges and assaults of cities and townes? or
as some great Princes maiordome and perfect Surueyour in Court, the order,
sumptuousnesse and magnificence of royal bankers, feasts, weddings, and
enteruewes? or as a Polititian very prudent, and much inured with the
priuat and publique affaires, so grauely examine the lawes and ordinances
Ciuill, or so profoundly discourse in matters of estate, and formes of all
politique regiment? Finally how could he so naturally paint out the
speeches, countenance and maners of Princely persons and priuate, to wit,
the wrath of
Achilles,, the magnanimitie of
Agamemnon, the
prudence of
Menelaus, the prowesse of
Hector, the maiestie of
king
Priamus, the grauitie of
Nestor, the pollicies and
eloquence of
Vlysses, the calamities of the distressed
Queenes, and valiance of all the Captaines and aduenturous knights in
those lamentable warres of Troy? It is therefore of Poets thus to be
conceiued, that if they be able to deuise and make all these things of them
selues, without any subiect of veritie, that they be (by maner of speech) as
creating gods. If they do it by instinct diuine or naturall, then surely much
fauoured from aboue. If by their experience, then no doubt very wise men. If
by any president or paterne layd before them, then truly the most excellent
imitators & counterfaitors of all others. But you (Madame) my most
Honored and Gracious: if I should seeme to offer you this my deuise for a
discipline and not a delight, I might well be reputed, of all others the most
arrogant and iniurious: your selfe being alreadie, of any that I know in our
time, the most excellent Poet. Forsooth by your Princely purse fauours and
countenance, making in maner what ye list, the poore man rich, the lewd
well learned, the coward couragious, and vile both noble and valiant. Then
for imitation no lesse, your person as a most cunning counterfaitor liuely
representing
Venus in countenance, in life
Diana,
Pallas
for gouernement, and
Iuno in all honour and regall magnificence.
