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ill-grounded reasons then thus by opening the true state of the Case, nor do I design to make any farther use of it then from hence to draw this modest Conclusion, That I would have all attempts of this nature be submitted to the fancy of others, and bear the name of Propositions, 5 not of Confident Lawes, or Rules made by Demonstration; and then I shall not discommend any Poet that dresses his Play in such a fashion as his fancy best approves, and fairly leave it for others to follow, if it appears to them most convenient and fullest of ornament.

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But writing this Epistle in so much haste, I had almost forgot one Argument or Observation which that Author has most good fortune in: It is in his Epistle Dedicatory before his Essay of Dramaticke Poesie, where, speaking of Rhyme in Playes, he desires it may be observ'd, That 15 none are violent against it but such as have not attempted it, or who have succeeded ill in the attempt,-which as to my self and him I easily acknowledge; for I confess none has written in that way better then himself, nor few worse than I. Yet I hope he is so ingenuous that he would not 20 wish this Argument should extend further then to him and for if it should be received as a good one, all Divines and Philosophers would find a readier way of Confutation then they yet have done of any that should oppose the least Thesis or Definition, by saying they were denied by 25 none but such as never attempted to write or succeeded ill in the attempt.

me;

Thus as I am one that am extreamly well pleas'd with most of the Propositions which are ingeniously laid down in that Essay for regulating the Stage, so I am also 30 alwayes Concern'd for the true honour of reason, and would have no spurious issue Father'd upon her. Fancy may be allow'd her wantonness; but reason is alwayes pure and chast; and as it resembles the Sun in making all things clear, it also resembles it in its several positions: 35

when it shines in full height and directly ascendant over any Subject, it leaves but little shaddow; But when descended and grown low, its oblique shining renders the shadow larger then the substance, and gives the deceiv'd 5 person a wrong measure of his own proportion.

Thus begging the Readers Excuse for this seeming Impertinency, I submit what I have written to the liberty of his unconfin'd Opinion, which is all the favour I ask of others to afford to me.

THOMAS SPRAT

I. FROM THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL-SOCIETY
OF LONDON

1667

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(The First Part,)

Sect. XX.

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HOPE now it will not be thought a vain digression, if I step a little aside to recommend the forming of such an A proposal Assembly to the Gentlemen of our Nation. I know indeed for erecting that the English Genus is not so airy and discoursive as an English Academy. that of some of our neighbors, but that we generally love to 5 have Reason set out in plain, undeceiving expressions, as much as they to have it deliver'd with colour and beauty. And besides this, I understand well enough that they have one great assistance to the growth of Oratory which to us is wanting; that is, that their Nobility live commonly close 10 together in their Cities, and ours for the most part scattered in their Country Houses. For the same reason, why our streets are not so well built as theirs will hold also for their exceeding us in the Arts of Speech. They prefer the Pleasures of the Town, we, those of the field; whereas it is from the frequent conversations in Cities that the Humour and Wit and Variety and Elegance of Language are chiefly to be fetch'd. But yet, notwithstanding these discouragements, I shall not stick to say that such a project is now seasonable to be set on foot, and 20 may make a great Reformation in the manner of our Speaking and Writing. First, the thing itself is no way contemptible. For the purity of Speech and greatness of

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Empire have in all Countries still met together. The Greeks spoke best when they were in their glory of conquest. The Romans made those times the Standard of their Wit, when they subdu'd and gave Laws to the World, 5 And from thence, by degrees, they declin'd to corruption, as their valour, their prudence, and the honor of their Arms did decay, and at last did even meet the Northern Nations half way in Barbarism, a little before they were overrun by their Armies.

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But besides, if we observe well the English Language, we shall find that it seems at this time more than others to require some such aid to bring it to its last perfection. The Truth is, it has been hitherto a little too carelessly handled, and, I think, has had less labor spent about its 15 polishing then it deserves. Till the time of King Henry the Eighth, there was scarce any man regarded it but Chaucer, and nothing was written in it which one would be. willing to read twice but some of his Poetry. But then it began to raise it self a little, and to sound tolerably well. 20 From that Age down to the beginning of our late Civil Wars, it was still fashioning and beautifying it self. In the Wars themselves (which is a time wherein all Languages use, if ever, to increase by extraordinary degrees, for in such busie and active times there arise more new thoughts of men which must be signifi'd and varied by new expressions), then, I say, it receiv'd many fantastical terms, which were introduc'd by our Religious Sects, and many outlandish phrases, which several Writers and Translators in that great hurry brought in and made free as they pleas'd, 30 and with all it was inlarg'd by many sound and necessary Forms and Idioms which it before wanted. And now, when mens minds are somewhat settled, their Passions allai'd, and the peace of our Country gives us the opportunity of such diversions, if some sober and judicious Men 35 would take the whole Mass of our Language into their

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hands as they find it, and would set a mark on the ill Words, correct those which are to be retain'd, admit and establish the good, and make some emendations in the Accent and Grammar, I dare pronounce that our Speech would quickly arrive at as much plenty as it is capable to 5 receive, and at the greatest smoothness which its derivation from the rough German will allow it.

Nor would I have this new English Academy confin'd only to the weighing Words and Letters. But there may be also greater Works found out for it. By many signs 10 we may ghess that the Wits of our Nation are not inferior to any other, and that they have an excellent mixture of the Spirit of the French and the Spaniard; and I am confident that we only want a few more standing Examples, and a little more familiarity with the Antients, to excel all 15 the Moderns. Now the best means that can be devis'd to bring that about is to settle a fixt and Impartial Court of Eloquence, according to whose Censure all Books or Authors should either stand or fall. And above all, there might be recommended to them one Principal Work in which we 20 are yet defective, and that is the compiling of a History of our late Civil Wars. Of all the labors of mens Wit and Industry, I scarce know any that can be more useful to the World then Civil History, if it were written with that sincerity and majesty, as it ought to be, as a faithful Idea 25 of humane Actions. And it is observable that almost in all civiliz'd Countries it has been the last thing that has come to perfection. I may now say that the English can already shew many industrious and worthy Pieces in this kind. But yet I have some Prophetical imagination in my 30 thoughts, that there is still behind something Greater then any we have yet seen reserv'd for the Glory of this Age. One Reason of this my strong persuasion is a comparison that I make between the condition of our State and that of the Romans. They at first writ in this way not much 35

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