Page:The Defence of Poesie - Sidney (1595).djvu/45

 that maketh vs know, Qui scaeptra saeuus duro imperio regit, Timet timentes, metus in authorem redit. But how much it can moue, Plutarch yeeldeth a notable testimonie of the abhominable Tyrant Alexander Pheraeus, from whose eyes a Tragedie well made and represented, drew abundance of teares, who without all pittie had murthered infinite numbers, and some of his owne bloud: so as he that was not ashamed to make matters for Tragedies, yet could not resist the sweete violence of a Tragedie. And if it wrought no further good in him, it was, that he in despight of himself, withdrew himselfe from hearkening to that which might mollifie his hardened heart. But it is not the Tragedie they do mislike, for it were too absurd to cast our so excellent a representation of whatsoeuer is most woorthie to be learned. Is it the Lyricke that moste displeaseth, who with his tuned Lyre and well accorded voice, giueth praise, the reward of vertue, to vertuous acts? who giueth morall preceptes and naturall Problemes, who sometime raiseth vp his voyce to the height of the heauens, in singing the laudes of the immortall God? Certainly I must confesse mine owne barbarousnesse, I neuer heard the old Song of Percy and Duglas, that I founde not my heart mooued more then with a Trumpet; and yet is it sung but by some blinde Crowder, with no rougher voyce, then rude stile: which being so euill apparelled in the dust and Cobwebbes of that vnciuill age, what would it worke, trimmed in the gorgious eloquence of Pindare? In Hungarie I haue seene it the manner at all Feastes and o-