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20 FRANCIS BACON'S CRYPTIC RHYMES
fable, as the ancients did in their time. But the
" persons appearing in the fable " Bacon designates
directly as " personae, sive Actores Fabulae " (persons
or Actors of the Fable). As in the time of the
Romans, the word " fabula " was used to designate
both dramatic and narrative fable or history, and as,
moreover, the words "personae" and "Actores,"
purely theatrical terms, both occur here, we have the
certain proof that Francis Bacon meant parabolical
poesy to be used and treated, not only as narrative,
but also as dramatic poesy, yea probably more in the
latter than in the former sense. And, Bacon continues,
if it suited him to come forward as a poet, he would
himself readily undertake to treat fables in that
manner.
So much about what Bacon says regarding the
various kinds of poesy.
Should anybody, however, raise the objection, that :
if
poesy alter things arbitrarily, it
cannot be a science,
but a distortion of science, we reply in the words of
Francis Bacon in his Essay, " Of Truth " :
"Truth is a Naked, and Open day light, that doth
not shew, the Masques, and Mummeries, and Triumphs
of the world, halfe so Stately, and daintily, as Candle
(Bacon evidently had in mind the lighting or
lights."
illumination of the theatre stage.) The desire to blend
truth with fiction or the lie of the poet such is the
continued train of thoughts briefly expressed in the
Essay is deep-rooted in human nature. " Doth any
man doubt, that if there were taken out of Mens
Mindes, Vaine Opinions, Flattering Hopes, False
valuations, Imaginations as one would, and the like ;
but it would leave the Mindes, of a Number of Men,