Metaphors far-fetched hinder to be understood; and
affected, lose their grace. Or when the person fetcheth his
translations from a wrong place as if a privy councillor should at
the table take his metaphor from a dicing-house, or ordinary, or a
vintner's vault; or a justice of peace draw his similitudes from the
mathematics, or a divine from a bawdy house, or taverns; or a
gentleman of Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, or the Midland, should
fetch all the illustrations to his country neighbours from shipping,
and tell them of the main-sheet and the bowline. Metaphors are thus
many times deformed, as in him that said, Castratam morte Africani
rempublicam; and another, Stercus curiae Glauciam, and Cana nive
conspuit Alpes. All attempts that are new in this kind, are
dangerous, and somewhat hard, before they be softened with use. A
man coins not a new word without some peril and less fruit; for if
it happen to be received, the praise is but moderate; if refused,
the scorn is assured. Yet we must adventure; for things at first
hard and rough are by use made tender and gentle. It is an honest
error that is committed, following great chiefs.
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