Category: Poetry
BEN JONSON’S “Discoveries” are, as he says in the few Latin words prefixed to them, “A wood—Sylva—of things and thoughts, in Greek ‘ὕλη’” [which has for its first meaning material, but is also applied peculiarly to kinds of wood, and to a wood], “from the multiplicity and vari...
_Parasiti ad mensam_.—These are flatterers for their bread, that praise all my oraculous lord does or says, be it true or false; invent tales that shall please; make baits for h...
4. Chapter 4_Clementia_.—_Machiavell_.—A prince should exercise his cruelty not by himself but by his ministers; so he may save himself and his dignity with his people by sacrificing those...
2. Chapter 2_Lingua sapientis_, _potius quâm loquentis_.—A wise tongue should not be licentious and wandering; but moved and, as it were, governed with certain reins from the heart and bott...
3. Chapter 3_Not._ 9.—But the wretcheder are the obstinate contemners of all helps and arts; such as presuming on their own naturals (which, perhaps, are excellent), dare deride all diligen...
7. Chapter 71. _Ingenium_.—_Seneca_.—_Plato_.—_Aristotle_.—_Helicon_.—_Pegasus_.— _Parnassus_.—_Ovid_.—First, we require in our poet or maker (for that title our language affords him elegan...
6. Chapter 6He doth not say it was so, but seemed to be so. Although it be somewhat incredible, that is excused before it be spoken. But there are hyperboles which will become one language,...
1. Chapter 1BEN JONSON’S “Discoveries” are, as he says in the few Latin words prefixed to them, “A wood—Sylva—of things and thoughts, in Greek ‘ὕλη’” [which has for its first meaning materi...
8. Chapter 8CAMDEN! most reverend head, to whom I owe All that I am in arts, all that I know— How nothing’s that! to whom my country owes The great renown, and name wherewith she goes! Than...
9. Chapter 9NOT to know vice at all, and keep true state, Is virtue and not fate: Next to that virtue, is to know vice well, And her black spite expel. Which to effect (since no breast is s...