This did so notably shew it self, thatt the Philosophers
of Greece durst not a
long time apear to ye world, but vnder ye mask of poets. So Thales,
Empedocles, and Parmenides, sang their naturall
Philosophie in verses. So did Pithagoras and
Phocillides, their morall Councels. So did Tirteus in
warre matters, and Solon in matters of pollicie, or rather
they being Poets, did exercise their delightfull
vaine in those points of highest knowledge, which
before them laie hidden to the world. For, that wise
Solon was directly a Poet, it is manifest, hauing writ-
ten in verse the notable Fable of the Atlantick Iland,
which was continued by Plato. And truely euen Plato
who so euer well considereth, shall finde that in
the body of his worke though the inside & strength
were Philosophie, the skin as it were and beautie,
depended most of Poetrie. For all stands vpon Dialogues, wherein hee faines many honest Burgesses
of Athens speak of such matters, that if they had bene
set on the Racke, they would neuer haue confessed
them: besides his Poeticall describing the circumstances of their meetings, as the well ordering of a
banquet, the delicacie of a walke, with enterlacing
meere Tales, as Gyges Ring and others, which, who
knowes not to bee flowers of Poetrie, did neuer
walke into Appollos Garden.
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