For as in an
instrument, so in style, there must be a harmony and consent of
parts.
Praecipiendi modi.--I take this labour in teaching others, that they
should not be always to be taught, and I would bring my precepts
into practice, for rules are ever of less force and value than
experiments; yet with this purpose, rather to show the right way to
those that come after, than to detect any that have slipped before
by error, and I hope it will be more profitable. For men do more
willingly listen, and with more favour, to precept, than
reprehension. Among divers opinions of an art, and most of them
contrary in themselves, it is hard to make election; and, therefore,
though a man cannot invent new things after so many, he may do a
welcome work yet to help posterity to judge rightly of the old. But
arts and precepts avail nothing, except Nature be beneficial and
aiding. And therefore these things are no more written to a dull
disposition, than rules of husbandry to a soil. No precepts will
profit a fool, no more than beauty will the blind, or music the
deaf. As we should take care that our style in writing be neither
dry nor empty, we should look again it be not winding, or wanton
with far-fetched descriptions; either is a vice.
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