The Arte of English Poesie eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 355 pages of information about The Arte of English Poesie.

The Arte of English Poesie eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 355 pages of information about The Arte of English Poesie.
misse,
  There neuer was a better bargaine driuen. 
    My true loue hath my heart and I haue his. 
  My heart in me keepes him and me in one,
  My heart in him his thoughts and sences guides: 
  He loues my heart, for once it was his owne,
  I cherish his because in me it bides. 
    My true loue hath my heart, and I haue his.

  [Sidenote:  Paradoxon, or the Wondrer.]
Many times our Poet is caried by some occasion to report of a thing that is maruelous, and then he will seeme not to speake it simply but with some signe of admiration, as in our enterlude called the Woer.
  I woonder much to see so many husbands thriue,
  That haue but little wit, before they come to wiue: 
  For one would easily weene who so hath little wit,
  His wife to teach it him, were a thing much unfit.

Or as Cato the Romane Senatour said one day merily to his companion that
walked with him, pointing his finger to a yong vnthrift in the streete who
lately before had sold his patrimonie, of a goodly quantitie of salt
marshes, lying neere vnto Capua shore.
  Now is it not, a wonder to behold,
  Yonder gallant skarce twenty winter old,
  By might (marke ye) able to do more
  Than the mayne sea that batters on his shore? 
  For what the waues could neuer wash away,
  This proper youth hath wasted in a day.

  [Sidenote:  Aporia, or the Doubtfull.]
Not much vnlike the wondrer haue ye another figure called the doubtfull, because oftentimes we will seeme to cast perils, and make doubt or things when by a plaine manner of speech wee might affirme or deny him, as thus of a cruell mother who murdred her owne child.
  Whether the cruell mother were more to blame,
  Or the shrewd childe come of so curst a dame: 
  Or whether some smatch of the fathers blood,
  Whose kinne were neuer kinde, nor neuer good. 
  Mooued her thereto &c.

  [Sidenote:  Epitropis, or the Figure of Reference.]
This manner of speech is vsed when we will not seeme, either for manner sake or to auoid tediousnesse, to trouble the iudge or hearer with all that we could say, but hauing said inough already, we referre the rest to their consideration, as he that said thus: 
  Me thinkes that I haue said, what may well suffise,
  Referring all the rest, to your better aduise.

  [Sidenote:  Parisia, or the Licentious.]
The fine and subtill perswader when his intent is to sting his aduersary, or els to declare his mind in broad and liberal speeches, which might breede offence or scandall, he will seeme to bespeake pardon before hand, whereby his licentiousnes may be the better borne withall, as he that said: 
  If my speech hap t’offend you any way,
  Thinke it their fault, that force me so to say.

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The Arte of English Poesie from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.