THE SECOND BOOK 91 



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 re- 

 membered ; 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 narration applied only to 

 express some special purpose or conceit. Which latter 

 kind of parabolical wisdom was much more in use in 

 the ancient times, as by the fables of Aesop, and the 

 brief sentences of the seven, and the use of hiero- 

 glyphics 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 subtilty of conceit. And as 

 hieroglyphics were before letters, so parables were 

 before arguments : and nevertheless now and at all 

 times they do retain much life and vigour, because 

 reason cannot be so sensible, nor examples so fit. 



4. 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 delivered, 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 

 their war against the gods, the earth their mother in 

 revenge thereof brought forth Fame : 



Illam terra parens, ira irritata Deorum, 



Extremam, ut perhibent, Coeo Encelaidoque sororem 



Progenuit. 

 Expounded that when princes and monarchs have 

 suppressed actual and open rebels, then the malignity 



