Apologie for poetrie. The Defence of Poesy by Sir Philip Sidney 2019-01-24

An Apologie for Poetrie by Philip Sidney

Laughter almost ever cometh of things most disproportioned to ourselves and nature: delight hath a joy in it either permanent or present; laughter hath only a scornful tickling. But now, let vs see how the Greekes named it, and howe they deemed of it. Heerin may much be said: let this suffice: the Poets did not induce such opinions, but dyd imitate those opinions already induced. In the thought of Plato c. A year later I read it again and this time I actually got to understand more and really get importance of poetry and Sidney's point of view.

An Apologie for Poetrie. c. 1583 (printed 1595). Sir Philip Sidney (1554

To the arguments of abuse I will after answer; only thus much now is to be said, that the comedy is an imitation of the common errors of our life, which he representeth in the most ridiculous and scornful sort that may be; so as it is impossible that any beholder can be content to be such a one. The first of these sentences is from Horace Epistle I. Nowe dooth the peerelesse Poet performe both: for whatsoeuer the Philosopher sayth shoulde be doone, hee giueth a perfect picture of it in some one, by whom hee presupposeth it was doone. Those who neither haue seene, thereby to interre, nor heard, by which they might be inflamed with desire to see, let them of duty plead to be my Champions, sith both theyr sight and hearing by mine incurring blame is reasoned. But it is possible that what he really wrote was mought-eaten i. The chief, both in antiquity and excellency, were they that did imitate the inconceivable excellencies of God.

§6. Sir Philip Sidney’s for XIV. Elizabethan Criticism. Vol. 3. Renascence and Reformation. The Cambridge History of English and American Literature: An Encyclopedia in Eighteen Volumes. 1907–21

So in our English were Gower and Chawcer. An expanding money economy encouraged. Now for rhyme, though we do not observe quantity, we observe the accent very precisely, which other languages either cannot do, or will not do so absolutely. Indeed, inflamed with a well-grounded rage, he would have his words, as it were, double out of his mouth; and so do that artificially which we see men in choler do naturally. For as in outward things, to a man that had neuer seene an Elephant or a Rinoceros, who should tell him most exquisitely all theyr shapes, cullour, bignesse, and perticular markes, or of a gorgeous Pallace the Architecture, with declaring the full beauties, might well make the hearer able to repeate, as it were by rote, all hee had heard, yet should neuer satisfie his inward conceits with being witnes to it selfe of a true liuely knowledge: but the same man, as soone as hee might see those beasts well painted, or the house wel in moddel, should straightwaies grow, without need of any description, to a iudicial comprehending of them: so no doubt the Philosopher with his learned definition, bee it of vertue, vices, matters of publick policie or priuat gouernment, replenisheth the memory with many infallible grounds of wisdom, which, notwithstanding, lye darke before the imaginatiue and iudging powre, if they bee not illuminated or figured foorth by the speaking picture of Poesie.

An apologie for poetrie, 1595, (Book, 1868) [analyststrategy.com]

If it is multi volume set, then it is only single volume. Sidney's argument is that poetry is the best of all teachers of virtue. In our neighbour-country Ireland, where, too, learning goes very bare, yet are their poets held in a devout reverence. For, indeed, poetry ever sets virtue so out in her best colors, making Fortune her well-waiting handmaid, that one must needs be enamored of her. In this kinde, though in a full wrong diuinitie, were Orpheus, Amphion, Homer in his hymnes, and many other, both Greekes and Romaines: and this Poesie must be vsed, by whosoeuer will follow S. And we, having noted the grace of those words, hale them in sometime to a familiar epistle, when it were too much choler to be choleric. Nay, truly, though I yield that poesy may not only be abused, but that being abused, by the reason of his sweet charming force, it can do more hurt than any other army of words, yet shall it be so far from concluding, that the abuse shall give reproach to the abused, that, contrariwise, it is a good reason, that whatsoever being abused, doth most harm, being rightly used and upon the right use each thing receives his title doth most good.

An apologie for poetrie. 1595

And a man need goe no further then to Plato himselfe to know his meaning: who, in his Dialogue called Ion, giueth high and rightly diuine commendation to Poetrie. The Auncient no doubt more fit for Musick, both words and tune obseruing quantity, and more fit liuely to expresse diuers passions, by the low and lofty sounde of the well-weyed silable. For proof whereof, let but most of the verses be put in prose, and then ask the meaning, and it will be found that one verse did but beget another, without ordering at the first what should be at the last; which becomes a confused mass of words, with a tinkling sound of rhyme, barely accompanied with reason. The other is of Nathan the prophet, who, when the holy David had so far forsaken God, as to confirm adultery with murder, when he was to do the tenderest office of a friend, in laying his own shame before his eyes, being sent by God to call again so chosen a servant, how doth he it? It deserves 5 stars just for being so gutsy and clever! Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world , and other notations in the work. Then that it is fully written in meeter, as all learned Hebricians agree, although the rules be not yet fully found. I account the Mirror of Magistrates meetly furnished of beautiful parts.

Profeminism in Philip Sidney's Apologie for Poetrie

Coleridge's brief treatise On Poesy or Art sets forth a theory of imitation which bears a remarkable resemblance to that of Sidney. His reason is, because poesy deals with katholou, that is to say with the universal consideration, and the history with kathekaston, the particular. True it is, and so was it to be playd in two daies, and so fitted to the time it set forth. So, as belike this banishment grew not for effeminate wantonness, since little should poetical sonnets be hurtful, when a man might have what woman he listed. It will be seen that there is bibliographical justification for either title— Defence or Apologie. First, that there being many other more fruitful knowledges, a man might better spend his time in them than in this. Method and style are thus key components of the Apology to overcome the problem of censorship.

A Defence of Poesie, by Philip Sidney : An Apologie for Poetrie

Category: History Author : Evelyn S. He says that poetry is the oldest of all branches of learning; it is superior to philosophy by its charm, to history by its universality, to science by its moral end, to law by its encouragement of human rather than civic goodness. I account the Mirrour of Magistrates meetely furnished of beautiful parts; and in the Earle of Surries Liricks many things tasting of a noble birth, and worthy of a noble minde. That same framing of his stile to an old rustick language I dare not alowe, sith neyther Theocritus in Greeke, Virgill in Latine, nor Sanazar in Italian did affect it. Hee sayde they were the Maisters of warre, and ornaments of peace; speedy goers, and strong abiders; triumphers both in Camps and Courts. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. And so as Epaminondas is sayd, with the honor of his vertue, to haue made an office, by his exercising it, which before was contemptible, to become highly respected; so these, no more but setting their names to it, by their owne disgracefulnes disgrace the most gracefull Poesie.

An Apology for Poetry

For conclusion, I say the philosopher teacheth, but he teacheth obscurely, so as the learned only can understand him; that is to say, he teacheth them that are already taught. And wee, hauing noted the grace of those words, hale them in sometime to a familier Epistle, when it were too much choller to be chollerick. . For the philosopher, setting down with thorny arguments the bare rule, is so hard of utterance, and so misty to be conceived, that one that hath no other guide but him shall wade in him until he be old, before he shall find sufficient cause to be honest. Leather Binding on Spine and Corners with Golden Leaf Printing on round Spine extra customization on request like complete leather, Golden Screen printing in Front, Color Leather, Colored book etc. Only let Aeneas be worne in the tablet of your memory; how he gouerneth himselfe in the ruine of his Country; in the preseruing his old Father, and carrying away his religious ceremonies; in obeying the Gods commandement to leaue Dido, though not onely all passionate kindenes, but euen the humane consideration of vertuous gratefulnes, would haue craued other of him; how in storms, howe in sports, howe in warre, howe in peace, how a fugitiue, how victorious, how besiedged, how besiedging, howe to strangers, howe to allyes, how to enemies, howe to his owne; lastly, how in his inward selfe, and how in his outward gouernment; and I thinke, in a minde not preiudiced with a preiudicating humor, hee will be found to in excellencie fruitefull, yea, euen as Horace sayth, Melius Chrisippo et Crantore. For vntill they find a pleasure in the exercises of the minde, great promises of much knowledge will little perswade them that knowe not the fruites of knowledge.