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Dominus Veru- lanus. |
One, though hee be excellent,
and the chief, is not to bee imitated alone. For never no Imitator, ever
grew up to his Author; likenesse is alwayes on this side Truth :
Yet there hapn'd, in my time, one noble Speaker, who was full of
gravity in his speaking. His language, (where hee could spare, or passe by
a jest) was nobly censorious. No man ever spake more neatly, more
presly, more weightily, or suffer'd lesse emptinesse, lesse idlenesse, in
what hee utter'd. No member of his speech, but consisted of the owne
graces : His hearers could not cough, or looke aside from him, without
losse. Hee commanded where hee spoke ; and had his Judges angry, and
pleased at his devotion. No man had their affections more in his power.
The feare of every man that heard him, was, lest hee should make an
end. |
Scriptorum Catalogus. ... |
Cicero is said to bee the only wit, that the
people of Rome had equall'd to their Empire. Ingenium par
imperio. We have had many, and in their severall Ages, (to take in but
the former Seculum.) Sir Thomas Moore, the elder Wait;
Henry , Earle of Surrey; Chaloner, Smith, Eliot, B.
Gardiner, were for their times admirable : and the more, because
they began Eloquence with us. Sir Nico: Bacon, was singular, and
almost alone, in the beginning of Queene Elizabeths times. Sir
Philip Sidney, and Mr. Hooker (in different matter) grew
great Masters of wit, and language ; and in whom all vigour of Invention,
and strength of judgement met. The Earle of Essex, noble and high ;
and Sir Walter Rawleigh, not to be contemn'd, either for judgement,
or stile. Sir Henry Savile grave, and truly letter'd ; Sir Edwin
Sandes, excellent in both : Lo: Edgerton, and the Chancellor, a
grave, and great Orator ; and best, when hee was provok'd. But his learned, and able (though unfortunate)
Successor is he, who hath fill'd up all
numbers ; and perform'd that in our tongue, which may be compar'd, or
preferr'd, either to insolent Greece, or haughty Rome.
In short, within his view, and about his times, were all the wits borne,
that could honour a language, or helpe study. Now things daily fall : wits
grow downe-ward, and Eloquence growes back-ward : So that hee may be nam'd, and stand as the marke, and [acme]
of our
language. |
Augmentis scientiarum.Iulius Caesar. Lord
S. Al- bane. |
I have ever observ'd it, to
have been the office of a wise Patriot, among the greatest affaires of
State, to take care of the Common-wealth of Learning. For
Schooles, they are the Seminaries of State : and nothing is
worthier the study of a States-man, then that part of the
Republicke, which wee call the advancement of Letters.
Witnesse the care of Iulius Caesar; who, in the heat of the civill
warre, writ his bookes of Analogie, and dedicated them to
Tully. This made the late Lord S. Albane entitle his worke,
nouum Organum. Which though by the most of superficiall men, who
cannot get beyond the Title of Nominals, it is not penetrated, nor
understood : it really openeth all defects of Learning, whatsoever ; and
is a Booke, |
Horat: de art:
Poetica. |
Qui longum noto scriptori porriget
aevum. |
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My conceit of his Person was never increased toward
him, by his place, or honours. But I have, and doe reverence him for the
greatnesse, that was onely proper to himselfe, in that hee seem'd to mee
ever, by his worke, one of the greatest men, and most worthy of admiration,
that had beene in many Ages. In his adversity I ever prayed, that
God would give him strength : for Greatnesse hee
could not want. Neither could I condole in a word, or syllable for him ; as
knowing no Accident could doe harme to vertue ; but rather helpe to make it
manifest.
[@ Jonson,
Timber: or, Discoveries (Herford 590-2)] |
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