5 Work which sets forth the highest Acts of Kings and Heroes should be made fit to allure the inclinations of such like Persons to a studious delight in reading of those things which they are desired to imitate. They likewise very much erre from probability of circumstance who go about to describe antient things after a modern Model, which is an untruth even in Poetry it self, and so against all Decorum that it shows no otherwise then as if a Man should read the Antient History of the 10 Persians or Egyptians to inform himself of the customs and manners of the modern Italians and Spaniards; besides that our Author should avoid, as much as might be, the making such descriptions as should any way betray his ignorance in antient customs, or any other 15 knowledge in which he ought industriously to shew himself accomplish't. There is also a Decorum to be observ'd in the style of the H. Poem, that is, that it be not inflate or gingling with an empty noise of Words, nor creepingly low and 20 insipid, but of a Majesty suitable to the Grandeur of the subject, not nice or ashamed of vulgarly unknown or unusual words, if either tearms of Art well chosen or proper to the occasion, for fear of frighting the Ladies from reading, as if it were not more reasonable that Ladies 25 who will read Heroic Poem should be qualified accordingly, then that the Poet should check his fancy for such, either Men or Ladys, whose capacities will not ascend above Argalus and Parthenia. Next to the Heroic Poem (if not, as some think, equal) is Tragedy, in conduct very 30 different,in heighth of Argument alike, as treating only of the actions and concernments of the most Illustrious Persons, whereas Comedy sets before us the humours, converse, and designs of the more ordinary sort of People: the chief parts thereof are the ἦθος & πάθος, by which latter 35 is meant that moving and Pathetical manner of expression, which in some respect is to exceed the highest that can be delivered in Heroic Poesie, as being occasioned upon representing to the very life the unbridled passions of Love, Rage, and Ambition, the violent ends or down falls of great Princes, the subversion of Kingdoms and Estates, 5 or what ever else can (be) imagined of funest or Tragical, all which will require a style not ramping, but passionately sedate & moving; as for the Ethos, waving farther large Discourses, as intending a Preface only, not Poetical System, I shall only leave it to consideration whether the 10 use of the Chorus and the observation of the ancient Law of Tragedy, particularly as to limitation of time, would not rather, by reviving the pristine glory of the Tragicall, advance then diminish the present, adding moreover this caution that the same Indecorums are to be avoided in 15 Tragedy as have already been intimated in Heroic Poem, besides one incident to Tragedy alone, as namely that Linsie-woolsie intermixture of Comic mirth with Tragic seriousness, which being so frequently in use, no wonder if the name of Play be apply'd without distinction as well 20 to Tragedy as Comedy; and for the Verse, if it must needs be Rime, I am clearly of opinion that way of Versifying, which bears the name of Pindaric, and which hath no necessity of being divided into Strophs or Stanzas, would be much more suitable for Tragedy then the continued 25 Rhapsodie of Riming Couplets, which whoever shall mark it well will find it appear too stiff and of too much constraint for the liberty of conversation and the interlocution of several Persons: and now before (I) conclude, I cannot but call to mind something that may be yet alledged 30 against some very noted Writers, either Philosophers, Historians, Mathematicians, or the like, here mentioned, who for what they are said to have written in Poetry, being perhaps but small or inconsiderable, will scarce be thought worthy a place among the Poets; It is true, indeed, they 35 do not shine here as in their proper Sphear of Fame; nevertheless, since it is not ungrateful to many to know all that hath been written by famous Men, as well in the Arts they least as those they most profess, and since the 5 Register of one Science only may well take the greater Scope within that circuit, I judged it not impertinent to mention, as well those Famous men in other Faculties who have also writ Poetically, as the most Famous of Poetical Writers, considering especially how largely the Name of 10 Poet is generally taken; for if it were once brought to a strict Scrutinie who are the right genuine and true born Poets, I fear me our number would fall short, and there are many that have a Fame deservedly for what they have writ even in Poetry it self, who, if they came to the test, 15 I question how well they would endure to hold open their Eagle eys against the Sun: Wit, Ingenuity, and Learning in Verse, even Elegancy it self, though that comes neerest, are one thing, true Native Poetry is another; in which there is a certain Air and Spirit which perhaps the most 20 Learned and judicious in other Arts do not perfectly apprehend, much less is it attainable by any Study or Industry; nay, though all the Laws of Heroic Poem, all the Laws of Tragedy were exactly observed, yet still this tour entrejeant, this Poetic Energie, if I may so call it, 25 would be required to give life to all the rest, which shines through the roughest, most unpolish't, and antiquated Language, and may happly be wanting in the most polite and reformed; let us observe Spencer, with all his Rustie, obsolete words, with all his rough-hewn, clowterly Verses, 30 yet take him throughout, and we shall find in him a gracefull and Poetic Majesty; in like manner Shakespear, in spight of all his unfiled expressions, his rambling and indigested Fancys, the laughter of the Critical, yet must be confess't a Poet above many that go beyond him in 35 Literature some degrees. All this while it would be very unreasonable that those who have but attempted well, much more those who have been learned, judicious, or Ingenuous in Verse, should be forgotten, and left out of the circuit of Poets in the larger acceptation. Thus, most Worthy Arbiters, I have layd before you the 5 reason and occasion of this design, have Apologized for what I judg'd most obnoxious to Censure or Objection, have lastly deliver'd my own sentiment in some things relating to Poetry, wherein, if I have differ'd ought from the received opinion, I can safely aver that I have not 10 done it out of affectation of singularity, but from a different apprehension, which a strict inquiry into the truth of things (for there is also a Right and a Wrong, a Best and a Worst, as well in Poetical as other Assertions) hath suggested to my reason, perswading my self, that no right 15 judgement can be given or distinction made in the Writings of This or That Author, in whatever Art or Science, but, without taking ought upon trust, by an unbiass'd and, from the knowledge of ancient Authors, judicious examination of each; being also sufficiently 20 assur'd of the concurrence with me in this matter of all impartial Readers,—of yours especially, my most honoured Friends, whom I wish that fate which I am concern'd in for all deserving Writers, a lasting Fame, equal to the merit to what you have so advantagiously publisht to the 25 World. FROM JOSEPH GLANVILL AN ESSAY CONCERNING PREACHING, WRITTEN FOR THE DIRECTION OF A YOUNG DIVINE, AND USEFUL ALSO FOR THE PEOPLE IN ORDER TO PROFITABLE HEARING 1678 PLAINNESS is a Character of great latitude, and stands in opposition, First, to hard words; Secondly, to deep and mysterious notions; Thirdly, to affected Rhetorications; and Fourthly, to Phantastical Phrases. 5 1. The Preacher should use plain words: so the end, Edification, requires. He that affects hard ones speaks in an unknown tongue, and is a Barbarian to his Auditors; they hear the sound, but are not edified: of all the vanities of Speech, there is none more contemptible than this, and Io none is more exploded among the wise, not only in preaching, but in all matters of solemn discourse and ordinary conversation. It is commonly the Error of the Youth, and may be pardon'd to such, in Moral and Philosophical subjects; but in Men set apart to instruct the people in 15 things of spiritual and eternal concernment, 'tis not (to) be indured. If you here ask me, What I mean by hard words? I will presume that you cannot think I intend to condemn all that are borrow'd from the Greek, Latin, or other more modern languages. No, the English is a mixt speech, 20 made up of divers tongues, and we cannot speak without using forreign words: So that those that talk of pure English, if they mean unmixt by it, dream of Chimera's: our Language hath in all Ages been inlarging by the |