Nay, if it were put to the question of the
water-rhymer's works, against Spenser's, I doubt not but they would
find more suffrages; because the most favour common vices, out of a
prerogative the vulgar have to lose their judgments and like that
which is naught.
Poetry, in this latter age, hath proved but a mean mistress to such
as have wholly addicted themselves to her, or given their names up
to her family. They who have but saluted her on the by, and now and
then tendered their visits, she hath done much for, and advanced in
the way of their own professions (both the law and the gospel)
beyond all they could have hoped or done for themselves without her
favour. Wherein she doth emulate the judicious but preposterous
bounty of the time's grandees, who accumulate all they can upon the
parasite or fresh-man in their friendship; but think an old client
or honest servant bound by his place to write and starve.
Indeed, the multitude commend writers as they do fencers or
wrestlers, who if they come in robustiously and put for it with a
deal of violence are received for the braver fellows; when many
times their own rudeness is a cause of their disgrace, and a slight
touch of their adversary gives all that boisterous force the foil.
Pages:
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46