Advancement of Learning 83 



have some participation of divineness, because it doth raise 

 and erect the mind, by submitting the shows of things to 

 the desires of the mind; whereas reason doth buckle and 

 bow the mind into the nature of things. And we see, that 

 by these insinuations and congruities with man s nature 

 and pleasure, joined also with the agreement and comfort 

 it hath with music, it hath had access and estimation in 

 rude times and barbarous regions, where other learning 

 stood excluded. 



The division of Poesy which is aptest in the propriety 

 thereof (besides those divisions which are common unto it 

 with history, as feigned chronicles, feigned lives, and the 

 appendices of history, as feigned epistles, feigned orations, 

 and the rest) is into poesy narrative, representative, and 

 allusive. The Narrative is a mere imitation of history, with 

 the excesses before remembered; choosing for subject 

 commonly wars and love, rarely state, and sometimes 

 pleasure or mirth. Representative is as a visible history; 

 and is an image of actions as if they were present, as history 

 is of actions in nature as they are (that is) past. Allusive 

 or Parabolical is a Narrative applied only to express some 

 special purpose or conceit. Which latter kind of paraboli 

 cal wisdom was much more in use in the ancient times, as 

 by the fables of /Esop, and the brief sentences of the Seven, 

 and the use of hieroglyphics may appear. And the cause 

 was, for that it was then of necessity to express any point 

 of reason which was more sharp or subtile than the vulgar 

 in that manner, because men in those times wanted both 

 variety of examples and subtility of conceit : and as hiero 

 glyphics were before letters, so parables were before argu 

 ments: and nevertheless now, and at all times, they do 

 retain much life and vigour; because reason cannot be so 

 sensible, nor examples so fit. 



But there remaineth yet another use of Poesy Parabolical, 

 opposite to that which we last mentioned : for that tendeth 

 to demonstrate and illustrate that which is taught or de 

 livered, and this other to retire and obscure it : that is, when 

 the secrets and mysteries of religion, policy, or philosophy, 

 are involved in fables or parables. Of this in divine poesy 

 we see the use is authorized. In heathen poesy we see the 

 exposition of fables doth fall out sometimes with great, 

 felicity ; as in the fable that the giants being overthrown in 



