OF MANS SOULE. Chap. III. 35 



f the Auditours difpofition, both the rcafons which Logickf 

 ftbrdeth us, and the words which Grammar Rotcth us with: as 

 lfo, how to give life and motion to what we fay , by our aftion 

 *nd gefture ; that fo we may perfwade our Auditory, fuch pafli- 

 ons raigne in us , as we fcek to ftirre up in them .* for as we may 

 obferve, that one who yawneth , maketh another likewife 

 yawne; and as our feeing others laugh, provoketh laughing alfo 

 in us (the reafons whereof wee have touched in the former 

 Treatiie;^) after the fame manner, what paflion foever weexhi- 

 bite in our felvcs , the fame ftealeth infenfibly upon thole wee 

 fpeak unto j whiles their mind attending to the words they hearc, 

 is not aware of the fubtilc fpirits motions , that by a kind of con- 

 tagion rife and fwell in their hearts : according to which natural! 

 inclination in all men, the Mafter of Poets and excellent obfenrcr 

 of mens humours faid pafling well : 



Si vis me flerc , doUndujn eft 

 Primum if ft tibi. 



Hence grow thofe encreafes by metaphors, hyperboles, 

 and other tropes and figures : hence thole fervors by inter- 

 rogations, exclamations, apoftrophes, and the like; which 

 when they are fitly placed , t hey carry the Auditour even agtinft 

 his will. 



Poetry, is not a governour of our Aftions , but by advantagi- />. 

 ous exprefling fome eminent ones , it becomcth an ufefull dire- Of Poetry, 

 clour to us ; and therefore challenged a place here. . The defigne 

 of it is , by reprefenting humane adions in a more auguft and 

 admirable hew, then in thcmfelves they ufually have ; to frame 

 fpccious Ideas , in which the people may fee , what is well 

 done, what amiffejWhat ihould be done, and what bycrrouris 

 wont to be done : and to imprint in mens minds a deep conceit 

 of the goods and evils, that follow their yertuous or vitious com- 

 portment in their lives. 



If thofe who aflume the title of Poets, did ay me at this end, and 

 would hold theinfclvcs ftridtly to it, they would prove as profi- 

 tableinlhumentsasany the common wealth had ; fortheddight- 

 falneife and blithnefleof their compofitions , invitcth moft men 

 to be freqently convcrfaat with them; (either in fongs, or upon 

 the ftige, or in other Pecmesj whiles the foberafpe<5tandfe- 

 verity of bare precepts, deturncth many from lending a pleafed 



Ccc 2 care 



