Page:The Defence of Poesie - Sidney (1595).djvu/14

 comparison, then would he adde certaine praises by telling what a peerlesse beast the horse was, the onely seruiceable Courtier without flattery, the beast of most bewtie, faithfulnesse, courage, and such more, that if I had not bene a peece of a Logician before I came to him, I thinke he would haue perswaded me to haue wished my selfe a horse. But thus much at least, with his no few words he draue into me, that selfeloue is better then any guilding, to make that seem gorgious wherin our selues be parties. Wherin if Pulianos strong affection and weake arguments will not satisfie you, I wil giue you a nearer example of my selfe, who I know not by what mischance in these my not old yeares and idlest times, hauing slipt into the title of a Poet, am prouoked to say somthing vnto you in the defence of that my vnelected vocation, which if I handle with more good will, then good reasons beare with me, since the scholler is to be pardoned that followeth the steps of his maister. And yet I must say, that as I haue more iust cause to make a pittifull defence of poore Poetrie, which from almost the highest estimation of learning, is falne to be the laughing stocke of children, so haue I need to bring some more auaileable proofes, since the former is by no man bard of his deserued credit, the silly later, hath had euen the names of Philosophers vsed to the defacing of it, with great daunger of ciuill warre among the Muses. And first truly to all them that professing learning enuey against Poetrie, may iustly be obiected, that they go very neare to vngratefulnesse, to seeke to deface that which in the noblest nations and languages that are knowne,