Page:The Defence of Poesie - Sidney (1595).djvu/49

 in their seuered dissections fully commendable, I thinke, (and thinke I thinke rightly) the Lawrell Crowne appointed for tryumphant Captaines, doth worthily of all other learnings, honour the Poets triumph. But bicause we haue eares as well as toongs, and that the lightest reasons that may be, will seeme to waigh greatly, if nothing be put in the counter-ballance, let vs heare, and as well as we can, ponder what obiections be made against this Art, which may be woorthie either of yeelding, or answering. First truly I note, not onely in these, Poet-haters, but in all that kind of people who seek a praise, by dispraising others, that they do prodigally spēd a great many wandring words in quips and scoffes, carping and taunting at each thing, which by sturring the spleene, may staie the brain from a through beholding the worthinesse of the subiect. Those kind of obiections, as they are full of a verie idle easinesse, since there is nothing of so sacred a maiestie, but that an itching toong may rub it selfe vpon it, so deserue they no other answer, but in steed of laughing at the ieast, to laugh at the ieaster. We know a playing wit can praise the discretion of an Asse, the comfortablenes of being in debt, and the iolly commodities of being sicke of the plague. So of the contrary side, if we will turne Ouids verse, Vt lateat virtus, prox imitate mali, that good lye hid, in nearnesse of the euill. Agrippa will be as mery in shewing the vanitie of Science, as Erasmus was in the commending of folly: neither shal any man or matter, escape some touch of these smiling Raylers. But for Erasmus and Agrippa, they had an other foundation then