Vulgar words in A Defence of Poesie and Poems (Page 1)
This book at a glance
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~ ~ ~ Sentence 307 ~ ~ ~
We know a playing wit can praise the discretion of an ass, the comfortableness of being in debt, and the jolly commodities of being sick of the plague; so, of the contrary side, if we will turn Ovid's verse, "Ut lateat virtus proximitate mali."
~ ~ ~ Sentence 403 ~ ~ ~
For, indeed, I had much rather, since truly I may do it, show their mistaking of Plato, under whose lion's skin they would make an ass- like braying against poesy, than go about to overthrow his authority; whom, the wiser a man is, the more just cause he shall find to have in admiration; especially since he attributeth unto poesy more than myself do, namely, to be a very inspiring of a divine force, far above man's wit, as in the fore-named dialogue is apparent.
~ ~ ~ Sentence 421 ~ ~ ~
For now, as if all the Muses were got with child, to bring forth bastard poets, without any commission, they do post over the banks of Helicon, until they make their readers more weary than post-horses; while, in the meantime, they, "Queis meliore luto finxit praecordia Titan," {78} are better content to suppress the outflowings of their wit, than by publishing them to be accounted knights of the same order.
~ ~ ~ Sentence 631 ~ ~ ~
O this it is, the knotted straw is found; In tender hearts, small things engender hate: A horse's worth laid waste the Trojan ground; A three-foot stool in Greece made trumpets sound; An ass's shade e'er now hath bred debate.