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FRANCIS BACON'S CRYPTIC RHYMES 17
Poesy, however, in the material sense, i.e., poesy, in
the sense of feigned history, deals with individuals in
imitation of those which are the subject of true history
;
yet with this difference, that it
commonly exceeds the
measure of nature joining at pleasure, things which in
nature never would come together, or severing things
which belong or stand together thus
; joining and
at will.
separating things
Now, as we divide true history into chronicles, lives,
relations, &c., so may we also divide feigned history
into feigned chronicles, feigned lives, feigned relations,
&c. The division of poesy, however, which is
aptest and most according to the propriety thereof,
is into poesy narrative, dramatic, and parabolical or
allusive.
Narrative poesy is a mere imitation of history, at
the pleasure of the narrator ;
whereas dramatic poesy
is a history made visible, for it
represents actions, as
if
they were present, and occurring before our very
eyes.
Narrative or heroical poesy
it
understanding of
the matter, not of the verse satisfies the mind with
the shadows of things, when the substance cannot be
obtained, describing a more perfect order, and a more
beautiful variety than it can anywhere
Poesy is at hand to feign acts more heroical, and
causes virtue and vice to be rewarded according to
find in nature.
merit. And whereas true history often wearies the
mind with satiety of ordinary events, poesy refreshes
it
by reciting things unexpected and various and full
of vicissitudes.
Translated into our modern style of writing, this
would read :
The object of poetry
is not to depict
life