{59a} Cicero is said to be the only wit that the
people of Rome had equalled to their empire.
people of Rome had equalled to their empire.
Ben Jonson - Discoveries Made Upon Men, and Some Poems
And I have heard some of them compelled to speak, out
of necessity, that have so infinitely exceeded themselves, as it was
better both for them and their auditory that they were so surprised, not
prepared. Nor was it safe then to cross them, for their adversary, their
anger made them more eloquent. Yet these men I could not but love and
admire, that they returned to their studies. They left not diligence (as
many do) when their rashness prospered; for diligence is a great aid,
even to an indifferent wit; when we are not contented with the examples
of our own age, but would know the face of the former. Indeed, the more
we confer with the more we profit by, if the persons be chosen.
_Dominus Verulamius_. --One, though he be excellent and the chief, is not
to be imitated alone; for no imitator ever grew up to his author;
likeness is always on this side truth. Yet there happened in my time one
noble speaker who was full of gravity in his speaking; his language
(where he could spare or pass by a jest) was nobly censorious. No man
ever spake more neatly, more pressly, more weightily, or suffered less
emptiness, less idleness, in what he uttered. No member of his speech
but consisted of his own graces. His hearers could not cough, or look
aside from him, without loss. He commanded where he spoke, and had his
judges angry and pleased at his devotion. No man had their affections
more in his power. The fear of every man that heard him was lest he
should make an end.
_Scriptorum catalogus_.
{59a} Cicero is said to be the only wit that the
people of Rome had equalled to their empire. _Ingenium par imperio_. We
have had many, and in their several ages (to take in but the former
_seculum_) Sir Thomas More, the elder Wiat, Henry Earl of Surrey,
Chaloner, Smith, Eliot, B. Gardiner, were for their times admirable; and
the more, because they began eloquence with us. Sir Nicolas Bacon was
singular, and almost alone, in the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's time.
Sir Philip Sidney and Mr. Hooker (in different matter) grew great masters
of wit and language, and in whom all vigour of invention and strength of
judgment met. The Earl of Essex, noble and high; and Sir Walter Raleigh,
not to be contemned, either for judgment or style. Sir Henry Savile,
grave, and truly lettered; Sir Edwin Sandys, excellent in both; Lord
Egerton, the Chancellor, a grave and great orator, and best when he was
provoked; but his learned and able (though unfortunate) successor is he
who hath filled up all numbers, and performed that in our tongue which
may be compared or preferred either to insolent Greece or haughty Rome.
In short, within his view, and about his times, were all the wits born
that could honour a language or help study. Now things daily fall, wits
grow downward, and eloquence grows backward; so that he may be named and
stand as the mark and ? ? ? ? of our language.
_De augmentis scientiarum_.
of necessity, that have so infinitely exceeded themselves, as it was
better both for them and their auditory that they were so surprised, not
prepared. Nor was it safe then to cross them, for their adversary, their
anger made them more eloquent. Yet these men I could not but love and
admire, that they returned to their studies. They left not diligence (as
many do) when their rashness prospered; for diligence is a great aid,
even to an indifferent wit; when we are not contented with the examples
of our own age, but would know the face of the former. Indeed, the more
we confer with the more we profit by, if the persons be chosen.
_Dominus Verulamius_. --One, though he be excellent and the chief, is not
to be imitated alone; for no imitator ever grew up to his author;
likeness is always on this side truth. Yet there happened in my time one
noble speaker who was full of gravity in his speaking; his language
(where he could spare or pass by a jest) was nobly censorious. No man
ever spake more neatly, more pressly, more weightily, or suffered less
emptiness, less idleness, in what he uttered. No member of his speech
but consisted of his own graces. His hearers could not cough, or look
aside from him, without loss. He commanded where he spoke, and had his
judges angry and pleased at his devotion. No man had their affections
more in his power. The fear of every man that heard him was lest he
should make an end.
_Scriptorum catalogus_.
{59a} Cicero is said to be the only wit that the
people of Rome had equalled to their empire. _Ingenium par imperio_. We
have had many, and in their several ages (to take in but the former
_seculum_) Sir Thomas More, the elder Wiat, Henry Earl of Surrey,
Chaloner, Smith, Eliot, B. Gardiner, were for their times admirable; and
the more, because they began eloquence with us. Sir Nicolas Bacon was
singular, and almost alone, in the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's time.
Sir Philip Sidney and Mr. Hooker (in different matter) grew great masters
of wit and language, and in whom all vigour of invention and strength of
judgment met. The Earl of Essex, noble and high; and Sir Walter Raleigh,
not to be contemned, either for judgment or style. Sir Henry Savile,
grave, and truly lettered; Sir Edwin Sandys, excellent in both; Lord
Egerton, the Chancellor, a grave and great orator, and best when he was
provoked; but his learned and able (though unfortunate) successor is he
who hath filled up all numbers, and performed that in our tongue which
may be compared or preferred either to insolent Greece or haughty Rome.
In short, within his view, and about his times, were all the wits born
that could honour a language or help study. Now things daily fall, wits
grow downward, and eloquence grows backward; so that he may be named and
stand as the mark and ? ? ? ? of our language.
_De augmentis scientiarum_.
