THE SECOND BOOK 251 



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 narration applied only to 

 express some special purpose or conceit. Which later 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 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 subtle than 

 the vulgar in that manner ; because men in those times 

 wanted both variety of examples and subtlety 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. 



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, ird irritata deorum, 

 Extremam, ut perhibent, Coeo Enceladoque sororem 

 Progenuit: 



expounded that when princes and monarchs have sup- 

 pressed actual and open rebels, then the malignity of 

 people (which is the mother of rebellion) doth bring forth 



