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t being abused； by the reason of his sweet charming force； it can do more hurt than any other army of words； yet shall it be so far from concluding； that the abuse shall give reproach to the abused； that； contrariwise； it is a good reason； that whatsoever being abused； doth most harm； being rightly used （and upon the right use each thing receives his title） doth most good。 Do we not see skill of physic； the best rampire ｛68｝ to our often…assaulted bodies； being abused； teach poison； the most violent destroyer？ Doth not knowledge of law； whose end is to even and right all things； being abused； grow the crooked fosterer of horrible injuries？ Doth not （to go in the highest） God's word abused breed heresy； and His name abused become blasphemy？ Truly； a needle cannot do much hurt； and as truly （with leave of ladies be it spoken） it cannot do much good。 With a sword thou mayest kill thy father； and with a sword thou mayest defend thy prince and country； so that； as in their calling poets fathers of lies； they said nothing； so in this their argument of abuse； they prove the commendation。
They allege herewith； that before poets began to be in price； our nation had set their heart's delight upon action； and not imagination； rather doing things worthy to be written； than writing things fit to be done。 What that before time was； I think scarcely Sphynx can tell； since no memory is so ancient that gives not the precedence to poetry。 And certain it is； that； in our plainest homeliness； yet never was the Albion nation without poetry。 Marry； this argument； though it be levelled against poetry； yet it is indeed a chain…shot against all learning or bookishness； as they commonly term it。 Of such mind were certain Goths； of whom it is written； that having in the spoil of a famous city taken a fair library； one hangman； belike fit to execute the fruits of their wits； who had murdered a great number of bodies； would have set fire in it。 〃No；〃 said another； very gravely； 〃take heed what you do； for while they are busy about those toys； we shall with more leisure conquer their countries。〃 This； indeed； is the ordinary doctrine of ignorance； and many words sometimes I have heard spent in it； but because this reason is generally against all learning as well as poetry； or rather all learning but poetry； because it were too large a digression to handle it； or at least too superfluous； since it is manifest that all government of action is to be gotten by knowledge； and knowledge best by gathering many knowledges； which is reading；； I only say with Horace； to him that is of that opinion；
〃Jubeo stultum esse libenter〃 ｛69｝
for as for poetry itself； it is the freest from this； objection； for poetry is the companion of camps。 I dare undertake； Orlando Furioso； or honest King Arthur； will never displease a soldier： but the quiddity of 〃ens〃 and 〃prima materia〃 will hardly agree with a corslet。 And； therefore； as I said in the beginning； even Turks and Tartars are delighted with poets。 Homer； a Greek； flourished before Greece flourished； and if to a slight conjecture a conjecture may be opposed； truly it may seem； that as by him their learned men took almost their first light of knowledge； so their active men receive their first notions of courage。 Only Alexander's example may serve； who by Plutarch is accounted of such virtue that fortune was not his guide but his footstool； whose acts speak for him； though Plutarch did not； indeed； the phoenix of warlike princes。 This Alexander left his schoolmaster； living Aristotle； behind him； but took dead Homer with him。 He put the philosopher Callisthenes to death； for his seeming philosophical； indeed mutinous； stubbornness； but the chief thing he was ever heard to wish for was that Homer had been alive。 He well found he received more bravery of mind by the pattern of Achilles； than by hearing the definition of fortitude。 And； therefore； if Cato misliked Fulvius for carrying Ennius with him to the field； it may be answered that if Cato misliked it the noble Fulvius liked it； or else he had not done it； for it was not the excellent Cato Uticensis whose authority I would much more have reverenced； but it was the former； in truth a bitter punisher of faults； but else a man that had never sacrificed to the Graces。 He misliked； and cried out against； all Greek learning； and yet； being fourscore years old； began to learn it； belike fearing that Pluto understood not Latin。 Indeed； the Roman laws allowed no person to be carried to the wars but he that was in the soldiers' roll。 And； therefore； though Cato misliked his unmustered person； he misliked not his work。 And if he had； Scipio Nasica （judged by common consent the best Roman） loved him： both the other Scipio brothers； who had by their virtues no less surnames than of Asia and Afric； so loved him that they caused his body to be buried in their sepulture。 So； as Cato's authority being but against his person； and that answered with so far greater than himself； is herein of no validity。
But ｛70｝ now； indeed； my burthen is great； that Plato's name is laid upon me； whom； I must confess； of all philosophers I have ever esteemed most worthy of reverence； and with good reason； since of all philosophers he is the most poetical； yet if he will defile the fountain out of which his flowing streams have proceeded； let us boldly examine with what reason he did it。
First； truly； a man might maliciously object that Plato； being a philosopher； was a natural enemy of poets。 For； indeed； after the philosophers had picked out of the sweet mysteries of poetry the right discerning of true points of knowledge； they forthwith； putting it in method； and making a school of art of that which the poets did only teach by a divine delightfulness； beginning to spurn at their guides； like ungrateful apprentices； were not content to set up shop for themselves； but sought by all means to discredit their masters； which； by the force of delight being barred them； the less they could overthrow them； the more they hated them。 For； indeed； they found for Homer seven cities strove who should have him for their citizen； where many cities banished philosophers as not fit members to live among them。 For only repeating certain of Euripides' verses many Athenians had their lives saved of the Syracusans； where the Athenians themselves thought many of the philosophers unworthy to live。 Certain poets； as Simonides and Pindar； had so prevailed with Hiero the First； that of a tyrant they made him a just king； where Plato could do so little with Dionysius that he himself； of a philosopher； was made a slave。 But who should do thus； I confess； should requite the objections raised against poets with like cavillations against philosophers； as likewise one should do that should bid one read Phaedrus or Symposium in Plato； or the discourse of Love in Plutarch； and see whether any poet do authorise abominable filthiness as they do。
Again； a man might ask； out of what Commonwealth Plato doth banish them？ In sooth； thence where he himself alloweth community of women。 So； as belike this banishment grew not for effeminate wantonness； since little should poetical sonnets be hurtful； when a man might have what woman he listed。 But I honour philosophical instructions； and bless the wits which bred them； so as they be not abused； which is likewise stretched to poetry。 Saint Paul himself sets a watchword upon philosophy； indeed upon the abuse。 So doth Plato upon the abuse； not upon poetry。 Plato found fault that the poets of his time filled the world with wrong opinions of the gods； making light tales of that unspotted essence； and therefore would not have the youth depraved with such opinions。 Herein may much be said； let this suffice： the poets did not induce such opinions； but did imitate those opinions already induced。 For all the Greek stories can well testify that the very religion of that time stood upon many and many…fashioned gods； not taught so by poets； but followed according to their nature of imitation。 Who list may read in Plutarch the discourses of Isis and Osiris； of the cause why oracles ceased； of the Divine providence； and see whether the theology of that nation stood not upon such dreams； which the poets indeed superstitiously observed； and truly； since they had not the light of Christ； did much better in it than the philosophers； who； shaking off superstition； brought in atheism。
Plato； therefore； whose authority I had much rather justly construe than unjustly resist； meant not in general of poets； in those words of which Julius Scaliger saith； 〃qua authoritate； barbari quidam atque insipidi； abuti velint ad poetas e republica exigendos ｛71｝：〃 but only meant to drive out those wrong opinions of the Deity； whereof now； without farther law； Christianity hath taken away all the hurtful belief； perchance as he thought nourished by then esteemed poets。 And a man need go no farther than to Plato himself to know his meaning； who； in his dialogue called 〃Ion；〃 ｛72｝ giveth high； and rightly； divine commendation unto poetry。 So as Plato； banishing the abuse； not the thing； not banishing it； but giving due honour to it； shall be our patron； and not our adversary。 For； indee