No man ever spake more neatly, more pressly, more
weightily, or suffered less emptiness, less idleness, in what he
uttered. No member of his speech but consisted of his own graces.
His hearers could not cough, or look aside from him, without loss.
He commanded where he spoke, and had his judges angry and pleased at
his devotion. No man had their affections more in his power. The
fear of every man that heard him was lest he should make an end.
Scriptorum catalogus. {59a} Cicero is said to be the only wit that
the people of Rome had equalled to their empire. Ingenium par
imperio. We have had many, and in their several ages (to take in
but the former seculum) Sir Thomas More, the elder Wiat, Henry Earl
of Surrey, Chaloner, Smith, Eliot, B. Gardiner, were for their times
admirable; and the more, because they began eloquence with us. Sir
Nicolas Bacon was singular, and almost alone, in the beginning of
Queen Elizabeth's time. Sir Philip Sidney and Mr. Hooker (in
different matter) grew great masters of wit and language, and in
whom all vigour of invention and strength of judgment met. The Earl
of Essex, noble and high; and Sir Walter Raleigh, not to be
contemned, either for judgment or style.
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