Poets civily endeavour to make a Friendship between the Guests before they meet, by teaching them to dignifie each other with the utmost of estimation. And Marriage in Mankind were as rude and unprepar'd as the hasty elections of other Creatures, but for acquaintance, and conversation before it: and that must be an acquaintance of Minds, not of bodies; and of the Mind, Poesie is the most natural and delightfull Interpreter.
When neither Religion (which is our art towards God) nor Nature (which is Gods first Law to Man, though by Man least study'd) nor when Reason (which is Nature, and made art by Experience) can by the enemies of Poesie be sufficiently urg'd against it, then some (whose frowardness will not let them quit an evil cause) plead written Authority. And though such authority be a Weapon, which even in the War of Religion, distress'd disputers take up, as their last shift; yet here we would protest against it, but that we find it makes a false defence, and leaves the Enemy more open. This Authority (which is but single too) is from Plato; and him some have maliciously quoted; as if in his feign'd Common-wealth he had banish'd all Poets. But Plato says nothing against Poets in general; and in his particular quarrel (which is to Homer, and Hesiod) onely condemns such errours as we mention'd in the beginning of this Preface, when we look'd upon the Ancients. And those errours consist in their abasing Religion, by representing the Gods in evil proportion, and their Heroes with as unequal Characters; and so brought Vices into fashion, by intermixing them with the virtues of great persons. Yet even during this divine anger of Plato, he concludes not against Poesie, but the Poems then most in request: For these be the words of his Law: If any Man (having ability to imitate what he pleases) imitate in his Poems both good and evil, let him be reverenced, as a sacred, admirable, and pleasant Person; but be it likewise known, he must have no place in our Common-wealth. And yet before his banishment he allows him, the honour of a Diadem, andsweet
