II.] A D VANCEMENT OF LEARNING. r 5 5 



epistles, feigned orations, and the rest, is into Poesy Narrative, Repre 

 sentative, 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 someiimcs pleasure and 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 theyarc,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 ALsop, 

 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 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 can 

 not 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 tcndeth 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, 

 and philosophy arc involved in fables and parables. 



Of this in divine poesy, we see the use is authorized. In heathen poesy, 

 we sec, 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 pnrens ira irritata deonim, 



Extremnm. ut pcrhibent, Coeo Encelndoque sororem 



I rogcnuit. 



Expounded, that when princes and monarchies have suppressed actual 

 and open rebels, then the malignity of people, which is the mother of 

 rebellion, cloth bring forth libels and slanders, and taxations of the 

 states, which is of the same kind with rebellion, but more feminine. 

 So in the fable, that the rest of the gods having conspired to bind Jupi 

 ter, Pallas called Briareus with his hundred hands to his aid : expounded, 

 that monarchies need not fear any curbing of their absoluteness by 

 mighty subjects, as long as by wisdom they keep the hearts of the people, 

 who will be sure to come in on their side. So in the fable, that Achilles 

 was brought up under Chiron the Centaur, who was part a man and 

 part a beast : expounded ingeniously, but corruptly by Machiavel, that 

 it bclongeth to the education and discipline of princes, to know as well 

 how to play the part of the lion in violence, and the fox in guile, as of 

 the man in virtue and justice. 



Nevertheless in many the like encounters, I do rather think that 

 the fr.ble was first, and the exposition devised, than that the moral 

 was first, and thereupon the fable framed. For I find it was an ancient 

 vanity in Chrysippus, that troubled himself with great contention to 



