Author: Essex, Robert Devereux, Earl of, 1566-1601.
Title: Profitable instructions describing what speciall obseruations are to be taken by trauellers in all nations, states and countries; pleasant and profitable. By the three much admired, Robert, late Earle of Essex. Sir Philip Sidney. And, Secretary Davison.
Date: 1633
To the Reader.
IT hath bin lately maintained in an Academicall Di|spute, That the best travailing is in maps and good Authours: because thereby a man may take a view of the state and manners of the whole world, and neuer mix with the corruptions of it. A pleasing opinion for solitary prisoners, who may thus travell ouer the world, though confined to a dungeon. And, indeed, it is a good way to keepe a man innocent; but withall as Ignorant. Our sedentary Traueller may passe for a wise man, as long as hee converseth either with dead men by reading; or by writing, with men absent. But let him once enter on the stage of publike imployment, and hee will soone find, if he can bee but sensible of contempt, that he is vnfit for Action. For ability to treat with men of seueral humours, factions, and Countries; duly to comply with them, or stand off, as occasion shall require, is not gotten onely by reading of books, but rather by studying of men. Yet this euer holds true; The best scholler is fittest for a Traueller, as being able to make the most vseful obseruation: Experience added to learning, makes a perfect Man.It must, therfore, be confessed, That to fit men for Negotiation, the visiting of forraine Countries is most necessary: This kingdom iustly glories in many noble Instruments, whose Abilities haue been perfitted by that meanes. But with|all it cannot bee denied, that many men while they ayme at this fitnesse make themselus vnfit for any thing· Some goe ouer full of good qualitie, and better hopes; who, hauing as it were emptied themselues in other places, return laden with nothing but the vices, if not the diseases of the Countries which they haue seene. And, which is most to bee pittied, they are commonly the best wits, and purest receptacles of sound knowledge, that are thus corrupted. Whether it be, that they are more eagerly assaulted with vice then others; or whether they doe more easily admit any obuious impression: howeuer it be fit it is, That all young Trauellers should receive an Antidot against the infectious Ayre of other Countries.
For this purpose, diuers learned men haue prescribed rules and precepts: which haue done much good, howeuer in many things defectiue. For as hee that read a Lecture to Hannibal of the Art of war, shewed that himself was no souldier, and therefore vnfit to teach a great Commander: so He, that neuer trauelled but in his Books, can hardly shew his learning, without manifestation of his want of experience.
It hath therefore been much desired, that some men who had themselues bin Trauellers, & had made lest vse of their trauels, would giue some vnfailing directions to others. Such are here pre|sented to thee; & in such a volume, as they may be an help|ful, though vnchar|geable companion of thy trauell. Pitty it is that such monu|ments of wisedome shold haue perished for the Authours sakes: men famous in their times for learning, experience nobility, & greatnesse of place; but the losse would haue beene thine, which maist now reap the benefit. Thy fauorable acceptance may occasion others to publish larger peeces of this kind, to the increase of their own honor, because for the good of the noble youth of this florishing kingdome.
B. F.
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Sweet Swan of Avon ! what a sight it were
To see thee in our waters yet appear,
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To the Right Noble, and Honorable Lady Susan Vera Mongomriana.
V Aliant whilome the Prince that bare this Mot,
E Ngraued round about his golden Ring:
R Oaming in VENICE ere thou wast begot,
A Mong the Gallants of th'Italian spring.
N Euer omitting what might pastime bring,
I Talian sports, and Syrens Melodie:
H Opping Helena with her warbling sting,
I Nfested th'Albanian dignitie,
L Ike as they poysoned all Italie.
V Igilant then th'eternall majestie
E Nthraled soules to free from infamie:
R Emembring thy sacred virginitie,
I Nduced vs to make speedie repaire,
V Nto thy mother euerlasting faire,
S O did this Prince begette thee debonaire.
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'divers injuries and wrongs' - Essex and Oxford
Paul Hammer, _Polarisation of Elizabethan Politics_
"Elizabeth de Vere ... married William, 6th Earl of Derby, at Greenwich Palace on 26 January 1595...Although the couple soon had a daughter, also named Elizabeth, the marriage initially proved to be a disaster. A passing reference by Anthony Standen to rumours about Essex and 'the newe coyned countes' suggest that Lady Derby may have been involved with Essex as early as May 1595. This may have been one of the 'divers injuries and wrongs' which her father, the earl of Oxford, complained he had received from Essex by October 1595."
"Derby himself was frustrated that she did not behave as a dutiful wife, but he could do little to change her behaviour: 'it is said he lovethe her greatlie as withe greefe laborethe to winne her.'
The affair seems to have continued through '96 and '97, and it was rumoured that Essex 'laye with my lady of Darbe' before he went to the Azores.
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Postscript October 20 1595 - Oxford to Sir Robert Cecil concerning Forest of Waltham:
Your assured friend,
Edward Oxenford
As I was folding up this letter I received a very honourable answer from my Lord Treasurer. My whole trust in this cause is in you two, my Lord for that he is privy to the whole cause and handling thereof from time to time, and in you, for that I assure myself in so just a matter you will not abandon me.
He seemeth to doubt yet of his death, & wisheth me to make means to the Earl of Essex that he would forbear to deal for it, a thing I cannot do in honour sith I have already received divers injuries and wrongs from him which bar me of all such base courses. If her Majesty's affections be forfeits of men's estates, we must endure it.
*To the right honourable & his very good friend & brother Sir Robert Cecil, one of her Majesty's Privy Council.
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The Late E. of E. his aduice to the E. of R. in his trauels.
My Lord,
The first way to at|taine to experience of formes or behauiour, is to make the minde it selfe expert; for behauiour is but a garment, and it is easie to make a comely garment for a body that is well proportioned; whereas a deformed body can neuer bee helped by Taylors art, but the Counterfetting will appeare. And in the forme of the minde it is a true rule, that a man may mend his faults with as little labor as couer them.
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Character mentis - Mark of the Mind. Figurative abuse.
Shakespeare, Sonnet 59
If there be nothing new, but that which is
Hath been before, how are our brains beguil'd,
Which labouring for invention bear amiss
The second burthen of a former child.
Oh that record could with a backward look,
Even of five hundred courses of the sun,
Show me your image in some antique book,
Since mind at first in character was done,
That I might see what the old world could say
To this composed wonder of your frame;
Whether we are mended, or where better they,
Or whether revolution be the same.
Oh sure I am the wits of former days,
To subjects worse have given admiring praise.
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Entering Western culture with classical writers, the ethic of moderation and proportion was a touchstone of sixteenth- and seventeenth-century thinking. The definition of physical beauty, proportion was also the rule of virtuous living; and in a period in which there was held to be a sympathy between physical and moral qualities, the one reinforced the other. For, ‘The Affections of the Mind are made known by nothing so well, as by the Body.” Conversely the same held true for the body and soul deformed. ‘Well did Aristotle…
call sinnes Monsters of nature, for as there is no Monster ordinarily reputed, but is a SWELLING or excesse of forme, so is there no sinne but is a swelling or rebelling against God.’ (Susan Vincent)
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Surpassing Nature:
Dedication in Latin to Bartholomew Clerke's Translation of The Courtier (1571/1572)
For what more difficult, more noble, or more magnificent task has anyone ever undertaken than our author Castiglione, who has drawn for us the figure and model of a courtier, a work to which nothing can be added, in which there is no redundant word, a portrait which we shall recognize as that of a highest and most perfect type of man. And so, although nature herself has made nothing perfect in every detail, YET THE MANNERS OF MEN exceed in dignity that with which nature has endowed them; and he who surpasses others has here surpassed himself and has even OUT-DONE NATURE, which by no one has ever been surpassed.
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For he [Homer] doth not meane by Mores, how to looke, or put off ones Cap with a new found grace, although true behavior is not to be despised: marry my Heresie is, that the English behaviour is best in England, and the Italians in Italie. But mores hee takes for that from whence Morall Philosophy is so called; the certainnesse of true discerning of mens mindes both in vertue, passion, and vices. --Philip Sidney, Letter
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Gabriel Harvey, Latin Address at Audley End – to the Earl of Oxford
...For long time past Phoebus Apollo has cultivated thy mind in the arts.
English poetical measures have been sung by thee long enough.
Let that Courtly Epistle, more polished even than the writings of Castiglione himself
witness how greatly thou dost excel in letters.
I have seen many Latin verses of thine, yea,
even more English verses are extant;
Thou hast drunk deep draughts not only of the Muses of France and Italy,
But hast learned the MANNERS of many men, and the arts of foreign countries.
It was not for nothing that Sturmius, himself was visited by thee,
Neither in France, Italy, nor Germany are any such cultivated and polished men.
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Effeminate Oxford/Shakespeare
…all the art of rhetorick, besides order and clearness, all the artifical and figurative application of words eloquence hath invented, are for nothing else but to insinuate wrong ideas, move the passions. And thereby mislead the judgement…eloquence, like the fair sex, has too prevailing beauties in it to suffer itself ever to be spoken against. And it is vain to find fault with those arts of deceiving wherein men find pleasure to be deceived. (John Locke, The Abuse of Words)
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Jonson, Discoveries
Affected Language:
DE VERE argutis. - I do hear them say often some men are not witty, because they are not everywhere witty; than which nothing is more foolish. If an eye or a nose be an excellent part in the face, therefore be all eye or nose! I think the eyebrow, the forehead, the cheek, chin, lip, or any part else are as necessary and natural in the place. But now nothing is good that is natural; right and natural language seems to have least of the wit in it; that which is writhed and tortured is counted the more exquisite. Cloth of bodkin or tissue must be embroidered; as if no face were fair that were not powdered or painted! no beauty to be had but in wresting and writhing our own tongue! Nothing is fashionable till it be <
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Philip Sidney
A Letter to the same purpose.
MY good Bro|ther; you haue thought vn|kindnesse in me, that I haue not written oftner vnto you, and haue desired I shouldwrite vnto you some|thing of my opinion touching your tra|uell; you being per|swaded my experi|ence therin to be som|thing, which I must needs confesse; but not as you take it. For you thinke my expe|rience growes from the good things which I haue learned: but I know the only experience which I haue gotten, is, to find how much I might haue learned, & how much indeed I haue missed, for want of directing my course to the right end, and by the right meanes. I thinke you haue read Aristotles Ethiques; If you haue, you know it is the beginning & foundation of all his worke, the end to which euery man doth and ought to bend his greatest and smallest Actions, I am sure you haue im|printed in your mind the scope and marke you meane, by your paines, to shoot at. For if you should tra|uell but to trauell, or to say you had trauel|led, certainely you should proue a pil|grim, no more. But I presume so well of you (that though a great number of vs never thought in our selves why we went, but a certain tickling humour to doe as o|ther men had done,) you prupose, being a Gentleman borne, to furnish your selfe with the knowledge of such things as may bee serviceable for your Country & cal|ling. Which certainly stands not in the change of Ayre, (for the warmest Sunne makes not a wise man) no, nor in learning Languages (although they be of serviceable vse) for words are but words in what Lan|guage soever they be; and much lesse in that all of vs come home full of disguisements not onely of apparel, but of our countenances, as though the credit of a Traueller stood all vpon his outside: but in the right informing your minde with those things which are most notable in those places which you come vnto. Of which as the one kinde is so vaine, as I thinke, ere it bee long, like the Mountebanks in Italy, wee Travellers shall bee made sport of in Comedies; so may I inst+ly say, who rightly trauels with the eye of Vlysses, doth take one of the most excellent ways of world|ly wisdome. For hard sure it is to know England, without you know it by compa|ring it with some o|ther Countrey; no more than a man can know the swiftnesse of his horse without seeing him well matched. For you that are a Logician know, that as greatnesse of it selfe is a quantity, so yet the iudgement of it, as of mighty riches & all other strengths stands in the predicament of Relation: so that you cannot tell what the Queene of England is able to do defensively or offen|sively, but by through knowing what they are able to doe with whom shee is to bee matched. This therefore is one notable vse of Travellers; which stands in the mixed & correlatiue knowledge of things, in which kinde comes in the knowledge of all legues betwixt Prince and Prince; the Topographicall descrip|tion of each Country, how the one lyes by scituation to hurt or helpe the other, how they are to Sea, well harbored or not, how stored with shippes, how with Reuenue, how with fortification & Garrisons, how the people, warlike trained or kept vnder, with many other such warlike conside|rations; which as they confusedly come into my mind, so I, for want of leisure, hasti|ly set them downe: But these things, as I haue said, are of the first kinde which stands in the ballan|cing one thing with the other. The other kinde of knowledge is of the~ which stand in the things which are in themselus either sim|ply good or simply evill, and so serve for a right instruction, or a shunning example. Of these Homer meant in this verse, Qui mu|tos hominum mores cognouit et vrbes. For he doth not meane by Mores, how to looke, or put off ones Cap with a new found grace, although true behavior is not to be despised: marry my Heresie is, that the English behaviour is best in England, and the Italians in Italie. But mores hee takes for that from whence Morall Philosophy is so called; the certain|nesse of true discerning of mens mindes both in vertue, passion, and vices. And when he saith, Cognouit vrbes, hee meanes not (if I be not deceiued) to have seene Townes, and marke their buildings; for surely houses are but houses in every place, they doe but differ se|cundum magis et minus; but hee intends to their Religion, Policies, [...]awes, bringing vp of children, disci|pline both for warre and peace, and such like. These I take to be of the second kind which are euer wor|thy to be knowne for their owne sakes. As surely in the great Turke, though wee have nothing to doe with them, yet his Discipline in warre matters is, propter se, worthy to be learned. Nay, even in the kingdome of China, which is almost as far as the Antippodes from vs, their good Lawes and Customes are to be learned: but to know their riches and power is of little purpose for Vs; since that can neither ad|vance vs, nor hinder vs. But in our neigh|bour Countries, both these things are to be marked, as well the latter, which containe things for themselues as the former which seeke to know both those, and how their riches and power may be to vs auaileable, or otherwise. The Countries fittest for both these, are those you are going into. France a|bove all other most needfull for vs to marke, especially in the former kind. Next is Spaine & the Low-Countries, then Ger|many; which in my opinion excels all o|thers as much in the latter Consideration, as the other doth in former, yet nei|ther are voyd of nei|ther· For as Germany me [...]inks doth excell in good lawes and well administring of Iustice; so are wee likewise to consider in it the many Princes with whom we may have league; the pla|ces of Frade, and meanes to draw both Souldiers and furni|ture there in time of need. So on the other side, as in France and Spaine we are princi|pally to marke how they stand towards vs both in power and inclination; so are they, not without good and fitting vse, even in the generality of wisdome to bee knowne; As in France the Courts of Parlia|ment, their subulter Iurisdiction, and the it continual keeping of payed Souldiers: In Spaine, their good & grave proceedings, their keeping so ma|ny Prouinces vnder them, and by what manner; with the true points of honor. Wherein since they haue the most open conceit wherein they seeme ouer curious, it is an easie matter to cut off when a man sees the bottom Flanders likewise, besides the neighbour-hood with vs, and the annexed considerations therunto, hath diuers things to be learn'd, especially their gouerning their Merchants & other trades. Also for Italy, wee know not what wee haue, or can haue to doe with them, but to buy their Silkes and Wines: And as for the other point, except Venice, whose good Lawes and customes wee can hardly proportion to our selues, because they are quite of a contrary gouern|ment; there is little there but tyrannous oppression, and seruil yeelding to them that haue little or no right ouer them. And for the men you shall haue there, although indeed some be excellently learned, yet are they all giuen to counterfeit learning: as a man shall learne among them more false grounds of things then in any place else I know. For from a Tapster vpwards, they are all discoursers in certain matters and qualities; as Horsmanship, weapons, wayting; and such are better there then in other Coun|tries: But for other matters, as well (if not better) you shall haue them in nearer places.
Now resteth in my memory but this point, which indeed is the chiefe to you of all others; which is, the chiefe of what men you are to direct your selfe to, for it is certaine no vessell can leave a worse taste in the liquor it contains than a wrong teacher infects an vnskilfull hearer with that which hardly will euer out: I will not tel you some absurdities I haue heard some Trauellers tell; taste him well before you drinke much of his Doctrine And when you haue heard it, try well what you haue heard before you hold it for a principall; for one error is the mother of a thousand. But you may say, how shall I get excellent men to take paines to speake with me? Truly in few words; either much expence or much humblenesse. FINIS.
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Harvey, _Speculum Tuscanismi_
Since Galatea came in, and Tuscanism gan usurp,
Vanity above all: villainy next her, stateliness Empress.
No man but a minion, stout, lout, plain, swain, quoth a Lording:
No words but valorous, no works but womanish only.
For life Magnificoes, not a beck but glorious in show,
Indeed most frivolous, not a look but Tuscanish always.
His cringing side neck, eyes glancing, fisnamie smirking,
With forefinger kiss, and brave embrace to the footward.
Large-bellied Kodpeased doublet, unkodpeased half hose,
Straight to the dock like a shirt, and close to the britch like a
diveling.
A little Apish flat couched fast to the pate like an oyster,
French Camarick ruffs, deep with a whiteness starched to the purpose.
Every one A per se A, his terms and braveries in print,
Delicate in speech, quaint in array: conceited in all points.
In Courtly guiles a passing singular odd man,
For gallants a brave Mirror, a Primrose of Honour,
A Diamond for nonce, a fellow peerless in England.
Not the like discourser for Tongue, and head to be found out,
Not the like resolute man for great and serious affairs,
Not the like Lynx to spy out secrets and privities of States,
Eyed like to Argus, eared like to Midas, nos'd like to Naso,
Winged like to Mercury, fittest of a thousand for to be employed:
This, nay more than this, doth practise of Italy in one year.
None do I name, yet some do I know, that a piece of a twelve month
Hath so perfited outly and inly, both body, both soul,
That none for sense and senses half matchable with them.
A vulture's smelling, Ape's tasting, sight of an Eagle,
A Spider's touching, Hart's hearing, might of a Lion.
Compounds of wisdom, wit, prowess, bounty, behaviour,
All gallant virtues, all qualities of body and soul:
O thrice ten hundred thousand times blessed and happy,
Blessed and happy travail, TRAVAILER most blessed and happy.
'Tell me in good sooth, doth it not too evidently appeare, that this English Poet wanted but a good PATTERNE before his eyes, as it might be some delicate, and choyce elegant Poesie of good M. Sidneys, or M. Dyers (ouer very Castor, & Pollux for such and many greater matters) when this trimme geere was in hatching: Much like some Gentlewooman, I coulde name in England, who by all Phisick and Physiognomie too, might as well have brought forth all goodly faire children, as they have now some ylfavoured and DEFORMED, had they at the tyme of their Conception, had in sight, the amiable and gallant beautifull Pictures of ADONIS, Cupido, Ganymedes, or the like, which no doubt would have wrought such deepe impression in their fantasies, and imaginations, as their children, and perhappes their Childrens children to, myght have thanked them for, as long as they shall have Tongues in their heades."
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V&A dedication, Shakespeare
Right Honorable, I know not how I shall offend in dedicating my unpolished lines to your lordship, nor how the world will censure me for choosing so strong a prop to support so weak a burden; only, if your honor seem but pleased, I shall account myself highly praised, and vow to take advantage of all idle hours, till I have honored you with some graver labor. But if the first heir of my invention prove deformed, I shall be sorry it had so noble a godfather, and never after ear so barren a land, for fear it will yield me still so bad a harvest. I leave it to your honorable survey, and your honor to your heart's content; which I wish may always answer your own wish and the world's hopeful expectation.
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For he [Homer] doth not meane by Mores, how to looke, or put off ones Cap with a new found grace, although true behavior is not to be despised: marry my Heresie is, that the English behaviour is best in England, and the Italians in Italie. But mores hee takes for that from whence Morall Philosophy is so called; the certainnesse of true discerning of mens mindes both in vertue, passion, and vices. --Philip Sidney, Letter
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<> C Y N T H I A 'S
_The Alchemist_, Jonson
P R O L O G U E.
FOrtune, that favours Fools, these two short Hours
We wish away, both for your sakes, and ours,
Judging Spectators; and desire in place,
To th' Author Justice, to our selves but Grace.
Our Scene is London, 'cause we would make known,
No Countries Mirth is better than our own:
No Clime breeds better Matter for your Whore,
Bawd, Squire, Impostor, many Persons more,
Whose MANNERS, NOW CALL'D HUMOURS, feed the Stage;
And which have still been Subject for the Rage
Or Spleen of Comick Writers. Though this Pen
Did never aim to grieve, but better Men;
Howe'er the AGE he lives in doth endure
The Vices that she breeds, above their Cure.
But when the wholesom Remedies are sweet,
And in their working Gain and Profit meet,
He hopes to find no Spirit so much diseas'd,
But will with such fair Correctives be pleas'd:
For here he doth not fear who can apply.
If there be any that will sit so nigh
Unto the Stream, to look what it doth run,
They shall find things, they'ld think, or wish, were done;
They are so natural Follies, but so shown,
As even the Doers may see, and yet now own.
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Jonson
And which have still been Subject for the RAGE
Or Spleen of Comick Writers. Though this Pen
Did never aim to grieve, but better Men;
Howe'er the AGE he lives in doth endure
The Vices that she breeds, above their Cure.
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Shine forth, thou Star of Poets, and with RAGE
Or influence, chide or cheer the drooping stage,
Which, since thy flight from hence, hath mourned like night,
And despairs day, but for thy volume's light.
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Entering Western culture with classical writers, the ethic of moderation and proportion was a touchstone of sixteenth- and seventeenth-century thinking. The definition of physical beauty, proportion was also the rule of virtuous living; and in a period in which there was held to be a sympathy between physical and moral qualities, the one reinforced the other. For, ‘The Affections of the Mind are made known by nothing so well, as by the Body.” Conversely the same held true for the body and soul deformed. ‘Well did Aristotle… call sinnes Monsters of nature, for as there is no Monster ordinarily reputed, but is a SWELLING or excesse of forme, so is there no sinne but is a swelling or rebelling against God.’ (Susan Vincent)
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Jonson. Verse Prologue, _Every Man in His Humor _
SCENE,---LONDON
PROLOGUE.
Though need make many poets, and some such
As art and nature have not better'd much;
Yet ours for want hath not so loved the stage,
As he dare serve the *ill customs of the AGE*,
Or purchase your delight at such a rate,
As, for it, he himself must justly hate:
To make a child now swaddled, to proceed
Man, and then shoot up, in one beard and weed,
Past threescore years; or, with three *rusty swords*,
And help of some few foot and half-foot words,
Fight over York and Lancaster's king jars,
And in the tyring-house bring wounds to scars.
He rather prays you will be pleas'd to see
One such to-day, as other plays should be;
Where neither chorus wafts you o'er the seas,
Nor creaking throne comes down the boys to please;
Nor nimble squib is seen to make afeard
The gentlewomen; nor roll'd bullet heard
To say, it thunders; nor tempestuous drum
Rumbles, to tell you when the storm doth come;
But deeds, and language, such as men do use,
And persons, such as comedy would choose,
When she would shew an image of the times,
And sport with human follies, not with crimes.
Except we make them such, by loving still
Our popular errors, when we know they're ill.
I mean such errors as you'll all confess,
By laughing at them, they deserve no less:
Which when you heartily do, there's hope left then,
*You, that have so grac'd MONSTERS, may like men*.
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Jonson -
R E V E L S,
O R,
The Fountain of Self-Love.
TO THE
SPECIAL FOUNTAIN of MANNERS,
The Court.
Thou art a Bountiful and Brave Spring, and waterest all the Noble Plants of this Island. In thee the whole Kingdom dresseth it self, and is ambitious to use thee as her Glass. BEWARE THEN THOU RENDER MENS FIGURES TRULY, and teach them no less to hate their DEFORMITIES, than to love their Forms: For, to Grace, there should come Reverence; and no Man can call that Lovely, which is not also Venerable. It is not Powd'ring, Perfuming, and every day smelling of the Taylor, that converteth to a Beautiful Object: but a Mind shining through any Sute, which needs no False Light, either of Riches or Honours, to help it. Such shalt thou find some here, even in the Reign of C Y N T H I A, (a C R I T E S and an A R E T E.) Now, under thy P H oe B U S, it will be thy Province to make more: Except thou desirest to have thy Source mix with the Spring of Self-love, and so wilt draw upon thee as welcom a Discovery of thy Days, as was then made of her Nights.
Thy Servant, but not Slave,
BEN. JOHNSON.
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Cynthia's Revels
Act V. Scene XI.
Cynthia, Arete, Crites, Masquers.
(snip)
Arete. Nay, forward, for I delegate my Power,
And will that at thy Mercy they do stand,
Whom they so oft, so plainly scorn'd before.
"'Tis Vertue which they want, and wanting it,
"HONOUR NO GARMENT TO THEIR BACKS CAN FIT.
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_Cynthia's Revels_, Jonson
Cup. What's he, Mercury?
Mer. A notable Smelt. One, that hath newly enter-
tain'd the Begger to follow him, but cannot get him to
wait near enough. 'Tis Asotus, the Heir of Philargyrus;
but first I'll give ye the others Character, which may
make his the clearer. He that is with him is Amorphus
a TRAVELLER, one so made out of the mixture and shreds
of forms, that himself is truly DEFORM'D. He walks
most commonly with a Clove or Pick-tooth in his
Mouth, he is the very mint of Complement, all his Be-
haviours are printed, his Face is another Volume of
Essayes; and his Beard an Aristrachus. He speaks all
Cream skim'd, and more affected than a dozen of wait-
ing Women. He is his own Promoter in every place.
The Wife of the Ordinary gives him his Diet to main-
tain her Table in discourse, which (indeed) is a meer
Tyranny over the other Guests, for he will usurp all
the talk: Ten Constables are not so tedious. He is no
great shifter, once a year his Apparel is ready to revolt.
He doth use much to arbitrate Quarrels, and fights him-
self, exceeding well (out at a Window.) He will lye
cheaper than any Begger, and lowder than most Clocks;
for which he is right properly accommodated to the
Whetstone his Page. The other Gallant is his Zani, and
doth most of these Tricks after him; sweats to imitate
him in every thing (to a Hair) except a Beard, which is
not yet extant. He doth learn to make strange Sauces,
to eat Anchovies, Maccaroni, Bovoli, Fagioli, and Ca-
viare, because he loves 'em; speaks as he speaks, looks,
walks, goes so in Cloaths and Fashion: is in all as if he
were moulded of him. Marry (before they met) he
had other very pretty sufficiencies, which yet he re-
tains some light impression of; as frequenting a dan-
cing School, and grievously torturing strangers with In-
quisition after his grace in his Galliard. He buys a
asecond 'a' an error fresh acquaintance at any rate. His Eyes and his
Raiment confer much together as he goes in the Street.
He treads nicely like the Fellow that walks upon Ropes;
especially the first Sunday of his Silk-stockings; and
when he is most neat and new, you shall strip him
with Commendations.
************************************
Jonson, _Cynthia's Revels_. Acted 1600, printed 1601.
AMORPHUS. And there's her minion, Crites: why his advice more than
Amorphus? Have I not invention afore him? Learning to better
that INVENTION above him? and INFANTED with PLEASANT TRAVEL –
***********************************
Southern, Pandora (1584)
To the right honourable the Earl of Oxenford etc.
Ode I Strophe 1
This earth is the nourishing teat,
As well that delivers to eat
As else throws out all that we can
Devise that should be needful for
The health of or disease or sore,
The household companions of man.
And this earth hath herbs sovereign
To impeach sicknesses sudden
If they be well aptly applied.
And this yearth spews up many a brevage
Of which, if we knew well the usage,
Would force the force Acherontide.
Brief, it lends us all that we have
With to live, and it is our grave,
But with all this, yet cannot give
Us fair renowns when we be dead,
And indeed they are only made
By our own virtues whiles we live.
(snip)
Epode
No, no, the high singer is he
Alone that in the end must be
Made proud with a garland like this,
And not every riming novice
That writes with small wit and much pain,
And the (God’s know) idiot in vain,
For it’s not the way to Parnasse,
Nor it will neither come to pass
If it be not in some wise fiction
And of an ingenious INVENTION,
And INFANTED with PLEASANT TRAVAIL,
For it alone must win the laurel,
And only the poet WELL BORN
Must be he that goes to Parnassus,
And not these companies of asses
That have brought verse almost to scorn.
Conflicting cultural practices essex and oxford
************************************
Essex to Rutland, con't
The vse of Obser|uation is in noting the coherence of cau|ses, effects, counsels, and succcesses, with the proportion and likenesse betweene Nature and Nature, Fortune and Fortune, Action and Action, State and State, Time past and Time pre|sent. Your Lordship now seeth, you must know also that the true end of knowledge is cleare|nesse and strength of Iudgement, and not ostentation, or abili|ty to discourse; which I doe the rather put your Lordship in mind of, because the most part of Noble|men and Gentlemen of our time haue no other vse nor end of their learning but their Table-talke. But God knoweth they haue gotten little that haue onely this dis|coursing gift; for though like empty vessels they sound loud when a man knockes vpon their out sides; yet if you peere into them, you shall finde that they are full of nothing
but winde. This rule holdeth not onely in know|ledge, or in the vertue of knowledge, or in the vertue of Pru|dence, but in all o|ther vertues.
*************************************
Puttenham, Arte of English Poesie:
Some vices in speaches and writing are alwayes intollerable, some others now and then borne withall by licence of approued authors and custome.
(snip)
Others there be that fall into the contrary vice by vsing such BOMBASTED wordes, as seeme altogether FARCED full of WINDE, being a great deale to high and loftie for the matter, whereof ye may finde too many in all popular rymers.
************************************
The stuff of farce:
John Aubrey Upon the Seventeenth Earl of Oxford: - John Aubrey (1626-1697)
This Earle of Oxford, making of his low obeisance to Queen Elizabeth, happened to let a Fart, at which he was so abashed and ashamed that he went to Travell, 7 yeares. On his returne the Queen welcomed him home, and sayd, My Lord, I had forgott the Fart.
*************************************
Sidney, Defense of Poesy
...These be subdivided into sundry more special denominations. The most notable be the heroic, lyric, tragic, comic, satiric, iambic, elegiac, pastoral, and certain others, some of these being termed according to the matter they deal with, some by the sort of verse they liked best to write in,—for indeed the greatest part of poets have apparelled their poetical inventions in that numberous kind of writing which is called verse. Indeed but apparelled, verse being but an ornament and no cause to poetry, since there have been many most excellent poets that never versified, and now swarm many versifiers that need never answer to the name of poets. For Xenophon, who did imitate so excellently as to give us effigiem justi imperii—the portraiture of a just empire under the name of Cyrus (as Cicero saith of him)—made therein an absolute heroical poem; so did Heliodorus in his sugared invention of that picture of love in Theagenes and Chariclea; and yet both these wrote in prose. Which I speak to show that it is not riming and versing that maketh a poet—no more than a long gown maketh an advocate, who, though he pleaded in armor, should be an advocate and no soldier—but it is that feigning notable images of virtues, vices, or what else, with that delightful teaching, which must be the right describing note to know a poet by. Although indeed the senate of poets hath chosen verse as their fittest raiment, meaning, as in matter they passed all in all, so in manner to go beyond them; not speaking, table-talk fashion, or like men in a dream, words as they chanceably fall from the mouth, but peizing each syllable of each word by just proportion, according to the dignity of the subject.
Now, therefore, it shall not be amiss, first to weigh this latter sort of poetry by his works, and then by his parts; and if in neither of these anatomies he be condemnable, I hope we shall obtain a more favorable sentence. This purifying of wit, this enriching of memory, enabling of judgment, and enlarging of conceit, which commonly we call learning, under what name soever it come forth or to what immediate end soever it be directed, the final end is to lead and draw us to as high a perfection as our degenerate souls, made worse by their clay lodgings, can be capable of.
************************************
Harvey, _Speculum Tuscanismi_
Since Galatea came in, and Tuscanism gan usurp,
Vanity above all: villainy next her, stateliness Empress.
No man but a minion, stout, lout, plain, swain, quoth a Lording:
No words but valorous, no works but womanish only.
For life Magnificoes, not a beck but glorious in show,
Indeed most frivolous, not a look but Tuscanish always.
His cringing side neck, eyes glancing, fisnamie smirking,
With forefinger kiss, and brave embrace to the footward.
Large-bellied Kodpeased doublet, unkodpeased half hose,
Straight to the dock like a shirt, and close to the britch like a
diveling.
A little Apish flat couched fast to the pate like an oyster,
French Camarick ruffs, deep with a whiteness starched to the purpose.
Every one A per se A, his terms and braveries in print,
Delicate in speech, quaint in array: conceited in all points.
In Courtly guiles a passing singular odd man,
For gallants a brave Mirror, a Primrose of Honour,
A Diamond for nonce, a fellow peerless in England.
Not the like discourser for Tongue, and head to be found out,
Not the like resolute man for great and serious affairs,
Not the like Lynx to spy out secrets and privities of States,
Eyed like to Argus, eared like to Midas, nos'd like to Naso,
Winged like to Mercury, fittest of a thousand for to be employed:
This, nay more than this, doth practise of Italy in one year.
None do I name, yet some do I know, that a piece of a twelve month
Hath so perfited outly and inly, both body, both soul,
That none for sense and senses half matchable with them.
A vulture's smelling, Ape's tasting, sight of an Eagle,
A Spider's touching, Hart's hearing, might of a Lion.
Compounds of wisdom, wit, prowess, bounty, behaviour,
All gallant virtues, all qualities of body and soul:
O thrice ten hundred thousand times blessed and happy,
Blessed and happy travail, TRAVAILER most blessed and happy.
'Tell me in good sooth, doth it not too evidently appeare, that this English Poet wanted but a good PATTERNE before his eyes, as it might be some delicate, and choyce elegant Poesie of good M. Sidneys, or M. Dyers (ouer very Castor, & Pollux for such and many greater matters) when this trimme geere was in hatching: Much like some Gentlewooman, I coulde name in England, who by all Phisick and Physiognomie too, might as well have brought forth all goodly faire children, as they have now some ylfavoured and DEFORMED, had they at the tyme of their Conception, had in sight, the amiable and gallant beautifull Pictures of ADONIS, Cupido, Ganymedes, or the like, which no doubt would have wrought such deepe impression in their fantasies, and imaginations, as their children, and perhappes their Childrens children to, myght have thanked them for, as long as they shall have Tongues in their heades."
************************************
V&A dedication, Shakespeare
Right Honorable, I know not how I shall offend in dedicating my unpolished lines to your lordship, nor how the world will censure me for choosing so strong a prop to support so weak a burden; only, if your honor seem but pleased, I shall account myself highly praised, and vow to take advantage of all idle hours, till I have honored you with some graver labor. But if the first heir of my invention prove deformed, I shall be sorry it had so noble a godfather, and never after ear so barren a land, for fear it will yield me still so bad a harvest. I leave it to your honorable survey, and your honor to your heart's content; which I wish may always answer your own wish and the world's hopeful expectation.
***************************************
For he [Homer] doth not meane by Mores, how to looke, or put off ones Cap with a new found grace, although true behavior is not to be despised: marry my Heresie is, that the English behaviour is best in England, and the Italians in Italie. But mores hee takes for that from whence Morall Philosophy is so called; the certainnesse of true discerning of mens mindes both in vertue, passion, and vices. --Philip Sidney, Letter
***************************************
<
_The Alchemist_, Jonson
P R O L O G U E.
FOrtune, that favours Fools, these two short Hours
We wish away, both for your sakes, and ours,
Judging Spectators; and desire in place,
To th' Author Justice, to our selves but Grace.
Our Scene is London, 'cause we would make known,
No Countries Mirth is better than our own:
No Clime breeds better Matter for your Whore,
Bawd, Squire, Impostor, many Persons more,
Whose MANNERS, NOW CALL'D HUMOURS, feed the Stage;
And which have still been Subject for the Rage
Or Spleen of Comick Writers. Though this Pen
Did never aim to grieve, but better Men;
Howe'er the AGE he lives in doth endure
The Vices that she breeds, above their Cure.
But when the wholesom Remedies are sweet,
And in their working Gain and Profit meet,
He hopes to find no Spirit so much diseas'd,
But will with such fair Correctives be pleas'd:
For here he doth not fear who can apply.
If there be any that will sit so nigh
Unto the Stream, to look what it doth run,
They shall find things, they'ld think, or wish, were done;
They are so natural Follies, but so shown,
As even the Doers may see, and yet now own.
********************************
Jonson
And which have still been Subject for the RAGE
Or Spleen of Comick Writers. Though this Pen
Did never aim to grieve, but better Men;
Howe'er the AGE he lives in doth endure
The Vices that she breeds, above their Cure.
*************************************
Shine forth, thou Star of Poets, and with RAGE
Or influence, chide or cheer the drooping stage,
Which, since thy flight from hence, hath mourned like night,
And despairs day, but for thy volume's light.
************************************
Entering Western culture with classical writers, the ethic of moderation and proportion was a touchstone of sixteenth- and seventeenth-century thinking. The definition of physical beauty, proportion was also the rule of virtuous living; and in a period in which there was held to be a sympathy between physical and moral qualities, the one reinforced the other. For, ‘The Affections of the Mind are made known by nothing so well, as by the Body.” Conversely the same held true for the body and soul deformed. ‘Well did Aristotle… call sinnes Monsters of nature, for as there is no Monster ordinarily reputed, but is a SWELLING or excesse of forme, so is there no sinne but is a swelling or rebelling against God.’ (Susan Vincent)
************************************
Jonson. Verse Prologue, _Every Man in His Humor _
SCENE,---LONDON
PROLOGUE.
Though need make many poets, and some such
As art and nature have not better'd much;
Yet ours for want hath not so loved the stage,
As he dare serve the *ill customs of the AGE*,
Or purchase your delight at such a rate,
As, for it, he himself must justly hate:
To make a child now swaddled, to proceed
Man, and then shoot up, in one beard and weed,
Past threescore years; or, with three *rusty swords*,
And help of some few foot and half-foot words,
Fight over York and Lancaster's king jars,
And in the tyring-house bring wounds to scars.
He rather prays you will be pleas'd to see
One such to-day, as other plays should be;
Where neither chorus wafts you o'er the seas,
Nor creaking throne comes down the boys to please;
Nor nimble squib is seen to make afeard
The gentlewomen; nor roll'd bullet heard
To say, it thunders; nor tempestuous drum
Rumbles, to tell you when the storm doth come;
But deeds, and language, such as men do use,
And persons, such as comedy would choose,
When she would shew an image of the times,
And sport with human follies, not with crimes.
Except we make them such, by loving still
Our popular errors, when we know they're ill.
I mean such errors as you'll all confess,
By laughing at them, they deserve no less:
Which when you heartily do, there's hope left then,
*You, that have so grac'd MONSTERS, may like men*.
************************************
Jonson -
R E V E L S,
O R,
The Fountain of Self-Love.
TO THE
SPECIAL FOUNTAIN of MANNERS,
The Court.
Thou art a Bountiful and Brave Spring, and waterest all the Noble Plants of this Island. In thee the whole Kingdom dresseth it self, and is ambitious to use thee as her Glass. BEWARE THEN THOU RENDER MENS FIGURES TRULY, and teach them no less to hate their DEFORMITIES, than to love their Forms: For, to Grace, there should come Reverence; and no Man can call that Lovely, which is not also Venerable. It is not Powd'ring, Perfuming, and every day smelling of the Taylor, that converteth to a Beautiful Object: but a Mind shining through any Sute, which needs no False Light, either of Riches or Honours, to help it. Such shalt thou find some here, even in the Reign of C Y N T H I A, (a C R I T E S and an A R E T E.) Now, under thy P H oe B U S, it will be thy Province to make more: Except thou desirest to have thy Source mix with the Spring of Self-love, and so wilt draw upon thee as welcom a Discovery of thy Days, as was then made of her Nights.
Thy Servant, but not Slave,
BEN. JOHNSON.
************************************
Cynthia's Revels
Act V. Scene XI.
Cynthia, Arete, Crites, Masquers.
(snip)
Arete. Nay, forward, for I delegate my Power,
And will that at thy Mercy they do stand,
Whom they so oft, so plainly scorn'd before.
"'Tis Vertue which they want, and wanting it,
"HONOUR NO GARMENT TO THEIR BACKS CAN FIT.
************************************
_Cynthia's Revels_, Jonson
Cup. What's he, Mercury?
Mer. A notable Smelt. One, that hath newly enter-
tain'd the Begger to follow him, but cannot get him to
wait near enough. 'Tis Asotus, the Heir of Philargyrus;
but first I'll give ye the others Character, which may
make his the clearer. He that is with him is Amorphus
a TRAVELLER, one so made out of the mixture and shreds
of forms, that himself is truly DEFORM'D. He walks
most commonly with a Clove or Pick-tooth in his
Mouth, he is the very mint of Complement, all his Be-
haviours are printed, his Face is another Volume of
Essayes; and his Beard an Aristrachus. He speaks all
Cream skim'd, and more affected than a dozen of wait-
ing Women. He is his own Promoter in every place.
The Wife of the Ordinary gives him his Diet to main-
tain her Table in discourse, which (indeed) is a meer
Tyranny over the other Guests, for he will usurp all
the talk: Ten Constables are not so tedious. He is no
great shifter, once a year his Apparel is ready to revolt.
He doth use much to arbitrate Quarrels, and fights him-
self, exceeding well (out at a Window.) He will lye
cheaper than any Begger, and lowder than most Clocks;
for which he is right properly accommodated to the
Whetstone his Page. The other Gallant is his Zani, and
doth most of these Tricks after him; sweats to imitate
him in every thing (to a Hair) except a Beard, which is
not yet extant. He doth learn to make strange Sauces,
to eat Anchovies, Maccaroni, Bovoli, Fagioli, and Ca-
viare, because he loves 'em; speaks as he speaks, looks,
walks, goes so in Cloaths and Fashion: is in all as if he
were moulded of him. Marry (before they met) he
had other very pretty sufficiencies, which yet he re-
tains some light impression of; as frequenting a dan-
cing School, and grievously torturing strangers with In-
quisition after his grace in his Galliard. He buys a
asecond 'a' an error fresh acquaintance at any rate. His Eyes and his
Raiment confer much together as he goes in the Street.
He treads nicely like the Fellow that walks upon Ropes;
especially the first Sunday of his Silk-stockings; and
when he is most neat and new, you shall strip him
with Commendations.
************************************
Jonson, _Cynthia's Revels_. Acted 1600, printed 1601.
AMORPHUS. And there's her minion, Crites: why his advice more than
Amorphus? Have I not invention afore him? Learning to better
that INVENTION above him? and INFANTED with PLEASANT TRAVEL –
***********************************
Southern, Pandora (1584)
To the right honourable the Earl of Oxenford etc.
Ode I Strophe 1
This earth is the nourishing teat,
As well that delivers to eat
As else throws out all that we can
Devise that should be needful for
The health of or disease or sore,
The household companions of man.
And this earth hath herbs sovereign
To impeach sicknesses sudden
If they be well aptly applied.
And this yearth spews up many a brevage
Of which, if we knew well the usage,
Would force the force Acherontide.
Brief, it lends us all that we have
With to live, and it is our grave,
But with all this, yet cannot give
Us fair renowns when we be dead,
And indeed they are only made
By our own virtues whiles we live.
(snip)
Epode
No, no, the high singer is he
Alone that in the end must be
Made proud with a garland like this,
And not every riming novice
That writes with small wit and much pain,
And the (God’s know) idiot in vain,
For it’s not the way to Parnasse,
Nor it will neither come to pass
If it be not in some wise fiction
And of an ingenious INVENTION,
And INFANTED with PLEASANT TRAVAIL,
For it alone must win the laurel,
And only the poet WELL BORN
Must be he that goes to Parnassus,
And not these companies of asses
That have brought verse almost to scorn.
Conflicting cultural practices essex and oxford
************************************
Essex to Rutland, con't
The vse of Obser|uation is in noting the coherence of cau|ses, effects, counsels, and succcesses, with the proportion and likenesse betweene Nature and Nature, Fortune and Fortune, Action and Action, State and State, Time past and Time pre|sent. Your Lordship now seeth, you must know also that the true end of knowledge is cleare|nesse and strength of Iudgement, and not ostentation, or abili|ty to discourse; which I doe the rather put your Lordship in mind of, because the most part of Noble|men and Gentlemen of our time haue no other vse nor end of their learning but their Table-talke. But God knoweth they haue gotten little that haue onely this dis|coursing gift; for though like empty vessels they sound loud when a man knockes vpon their out sides; yet if you peere into them, you shall finde that they are full of nothing
but winde. This rule holdeth not onely in know|ledge, or in the vertue of knowledge, or in the vertue of Pru|dence, but in all o|ther vertues.
*************************************
Puttenham, Arte of English Poesie:
Some vices in speaches and writing are alwayes intollerable, some others now and then borne withall by licence of approued authors and custome.
(snip)
Others there be that fall into the contrary vice by vsing such BOMBASTED wordes, as seeme altogether FARCED full of WINDE, being a great deale to high and loftie for the matter, whereof ye may finde too many in all popular rymers.
************************************
The stuff of farce:
John Aubrey Upon the Seventeenth Earl of Oxford: - John Aubrey (1626-1697)
This Earle of Oxford, making of his low obeisance to Queen Elizabeth, happened to let a Fart, at which he was so abashed and ashamed that he went to Travell, 7 yeares. On his returne the Queen welcomed him home, and sayd, My Lord, I had forgott the Fart.
*************************************
Sidney, Defense of Poesy
...These be subdivided into sundry more special denominations. The most notable be the heroic, lyric, tragic, comic, satiric, iambic, elegiac, pastoral, and certain others, some of these being termed according to the matter they deal with, some by the sort of verse they liked best to write in,—for indeed the greatest part of poets have apparelled their poetical inventions in that numberous kind of writing which is called verse. Indeed but apparelled, verse being but an ornament and no cause to poetry, since there have been many most excellent poets that never versified, and now swarm many versifiers that need never answer to the name of poets. For Xenophon, who did imitate so excellently as to give us effigiem justi imperii—the portraiture of a just empire under the name of Cyrus (as Cicero saith of him)—made therein an absolute heroical poem; so did Heliodorus in his sugared invention of that picture of love in Theagenes and Chariclea; and yet both these wrote in prose. Which I speak to show that it is not riming and versing that maketh a poet—no more than a long gown maketh an advocate, who, though he pleaded in armor, should be an advocate and no soldier—but it is that feigning notable images of virtues, vices, or what else, with that delightful teaching, which must be the right describing note to know a poet by. Although indeed the senate of poets hath chosen verse as their fittest raiment, meaning, as in matter they passed all in all, so in manner to go beyond them; not speaking, table-talk fashion, or like men in a dream, words as they chanceably fall from the mouth, but peizing each syllable of each word by just proportion, according to the dignity of the subject.
Now, therefore, it shall not be amiss, first to weigh this latter sort of poetry by his works, and then by his parts; and if in neither of these anatomies he be condemnable, I hope we shall obtain a more favorable sentence. This purifying of wit, this enriching of memory, enabling of judgment, and enlarging of conceit, which commonly we call learning, under what name soever it come forth or to what immediate end soever it be directed, the final end is to lead and draw us to as high a perfection as our degenerate souls, made worse by their clay lodgings, can be capable of.
