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.

  [Sidenote:  Anachinosis, or the Impartener.]
Not much vnlike to the figure of reference, is there another with some little diuersitie which we call the impartener, because many times in pleading and perswading, we thinke it a very good policie to acquaint our iudge or hearer or very aduersarie with some part of our Counsell and aduice, and to aske their opinion, as who would say they could not otherwise thinke of the matter then we do.  As he that had tolde a long tale before certaine noblewomen of a matter somewhat in honour touching the Sex: 
  Tell me faire Ladies, if the case were your owne,
  So foule a fault would you haue it be knowen?

Maister Gorge in this figure, said very sweetly,
  All you who read these lines and skanne of my desart,
  Iudge whether was more good, my hap or els my hart.

  [Sidenote:  Paramologia, or the figure of Admittance.]
The good Orator vseth a manner of speach in his perswasion and is when all that should seeme to make against him being spoken by th’other side, he will first admit it, and in th’end auoid all for his better aduantage, and this figure is much vsed by our English pleaders in the Starchamber and Chancery, which they call to confesse and auoid, if it be in case of crime or iniury, and is a very good way.  For when the matter is so plaine that it cannot be denied or trauersed, it is good that it be iustified by confessall and auoidance.  I call it the figure of admittance. As we once wrate to the reproofe of a Ladies faire but crueltie.
  I know your witte, I know your pleasant tongue,
  Your some sweet smiles, your some, but louely lowrs: 
  A beautie to enamour olde and yong. 
  Those chast desires, that noble minde of yours,
  And that chiefe part whence all your honor springs,
  A grace to entertaine the greatest kings. 
  All this I know:  but sinne it is to see,
  So faire partes spilt by too much crueltie.

[Sidenote:  Etiologia, or the Reason rent, or the Tellcause.] In many cases we are driuen for better perswasion to tell the cause that mooues vs to say thus or thus:  or els when we would fortifie our allegations by rendring reasons to euery one, this assignation of cause the Greekes called Etiologia, which if we might without scorne of a new inuented terme call [Tellcause] it were right according to the Greeke originall:  & I pray you why should we not? and with as good authoritie as the Greekes?  Sir Thomas Smith, her Maiesties principall Secretary, and a man of great learning and grauitie, seeking to geue an English word to this Greeke word [Greek:  illegible] called it Spitewed or wedspite.  Master Secretary Wilson gueing an English name to his arte of Logicke, called it Witcraft, me thinke I may be bolde with like liberty to call the figure Etiologia [Tellcause.] And this manner

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