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Sidney, Philip, Sir, 1554-1586

"A Defence of Poesie and Poems"

"
{42} Virgil's "AEneid," Book xii.:-
"And shall this ground fainthearted dastard
Turnus flying view?
Is it so vile a thing to die?"
(Phaer's Translation [1573].)
{43} Instances of the power of the Poet's work.
{44} Defectuous. This word, from the French "defectueux," is used
twice in the "Apologie for Poetrie."
{45} Part II. The PARTS of Poetry.
{46} Can Pastoral be condemned?
{47} The close of Virgil's seventh Eclogue--Thyrsis was vanquished,
and Corydon crowned with lasting glory.
{48} Or Elegiac?
{49} Or Iambic? or Satiric?
{50} From the first Satire of Persius, line 116, in a description
of Homer's satire:
"Omne vafer vitium ridenti Flaccus amico
Tangit, et admissus circum praecordia ludit," &c.
Shrewd Flaccus touches each vice in his laughing friend. Dryden
thus translated the whole passage:-
"Unlike in method, with concealed design
Did crafty Horace his low numbers join;
And, with a sly insinuating grace
Laughed at his friend, and looked him in the face:
Would raise a blush where secret vice he found;
And tickle, while he gently probed the wound;
With seeming innocence the crowd beguiled,
But made the desperate passes while he smiled."
{51} From the end of the eleventh of Horace's epistles (Lib. 1):
"Coelum non animum mutant, qui trans mare currunt,
Strenua nos exercet inertia; navibus atque
Quadrigis petimus bene vivere.


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