[Sidenote:  Merismus, or the Distributer.] Then haue ye a figure very meete for Orators or eloquent perswaders such as our maker or Poet must in some cases shew him selfe to be, and is when we may coueniently vtter a matter in one entier speach or proportion and will rather do it peecemeale and by distrbution of euery part for amplification sake, as for example he that might say, a house was outragiously plucked downe:  will not be satisfied so to say, but rather will speake it in this sort:  they first vndermined the groundsills, they beate downe the walles, they vnfloored the loftes, they vntiled it and pulled downe the roofe.  For so in deede is a house pulled downe by circumstances, which this figure of distribution doth set forth euery one apart, and therefore I name him the distributor according to his originall, as wrate the Tuscane Poet in a Sonet which Sir Thomas Wyat translated with very good grace, thus.
  Set me whereas the sunne doth parch the greene,
  Or where his beames do not dissolue the yce: 
  In temperate heate where he is felt and seene,
  In presence prest of people mad or wise: 
  Set me in hye or yet in low degree,
  In longest night or in the shortest day: 
  In clearest skie, or where clouds thickest bee,
  In lustie youth or when my heares are gray: 
  Set me in heauen, in earth or els in hell,
  In hill or dale or in the foaming flood: 
  Thrall or at large, aliue where so I dwell,
  Sicke or in health, in euill fame or good: 
  Hers will I be, and onely with this thought,
  Content my selfe, although my chaunce be naught.

All which might haue been said in these two verses.
  Set me wherefoeuer ye will
  I am and wilbe yours still.

The zealous Poet writing in prayse of the maiden Queene would not seeme to
wrap vp all her most excellent parts in a few words them entierly
comprehending, but did it by a distributor or merismus in the negatiue
for the better grace, thus.
  Not your bewtie, most gracious soueraine,
  Nor maidenly lookes, mainteind with maiestie: 
  Your stately port, which doth not match but staine,
  For your presence, your pallace and your traine,
  All Princes Courts, mine eye could euer see: 
  Not of your quicke wits, your sober gouernaunce: 
  Your cleare forsight, your faithfull memorie,
  So sweete features, in so staid countenaunce: 
  Nor languages, with plentuous utterance,
  So able to discourse, and entertaine: 
  Not noble race, farre beyond Caesars raigne,
  Runne in right line, and bloud of nointed kings: 
  Not large empire, armies, treasurs, domaine,
  Lustie liueries, of fortunes dearst darlings: 
  Not all the skilles, fit for a Princely dame,
  Your learned Muse, with vse and studie brings. 
  Not true honour, ne that immortall fame
  Of mayden raigne, your only owne renowne
  And no Queenes els, yet such as yeeldes your name
  Greater glory than doeth your treble crowne.