|
{ 1. The praise of the aucthour. { 2. The exposicion of the sentence. { 3. A confirmacion in the strength of the cause. { 4. A conference, of the contrarie. { 5. A similitude. { 6. The example. { 7. The testimonie of aucthors, shewing ye like. { 8. Then adde the conclusion. |
¶ An Oracion vpon a sentence.
¶ The sentence.
In a common wealthe or kyngdome, many kynges to
beare rule, is verie euill, let there be but one kyng.
¶ The praise of the aucthour.
Omere, who of all the Poetes chiefly excelled, spake
this sentence in the persone of Ulisses, vpon the king
Agamemnon, kyng of Grece. This Homere intrea-
ting of all princely affaires, and greate enterprices of the
Grecians: and of the mightie warre againste the Troians,
emong whom soche discorde rose, that not onely the warre,
for lacke of vnitie and concorde, continued the space of tenne
yeres. But also moche blood shed, hauocke, and destruccion,
came vpon the Grecians, vttered this sentēce. This Homere
for his learnyng and wisedome remaineth, [intteled] in many
monumentes of learnyng: with greate fame and commen-
The praise of
Homere. dacion to all ages. What Region, Isle, or nacion is not, by
his inuencion set foorthe: who although he were blinde, his
minde sawe all wisedome, the states of all good kyngdomes
The content
of Homers
bookes. and common wealthes. The verie liuely Image of a Prince
or gouernour, the faithfull and humble obediēce of a subiect,
toward the prince, the state of a capitaine, the vertue and no-
ble qualities, that are requisite, in soche a personage, be there
set forthe. The perfite state of a wiseman, and politike, is in-
treated of by hym. The Iustice, and equitie of a Prince, the
strength of the bodie, all heroicall vertues: also are set forthe
his eloquence and verse, floweth in soche sorte, with soche
pleasauntnes: so copious, so aboundaunt, so graue and sen-
tencious, that his singularitie therein excelleth, and passeth.
Alexander. The mightie prince Alexander, in all his marciall enter-
prices, and great conquestes, did continually night by night,
The Ilias
of Homere,
mete for prin-
ces to looke
vpon. reade somewhat of the Ilias of the Poete Homere, before he
slepte, and askyng for the booke, saied: giue me my pillowe.
Alexander as it semeth, learned many heroical vertues, poli-
cie, wisedome, & counsaill thereof, els he occupied in so migh-
tie and greate warres, would not emploied studie therein.
Iulius Cesar the Emperour, commendeth this Poete,
for his singularitie, his commendacion giueth, ample argu-
ment, in this singulare sentence, whiche preferreth a Monar-
chie aboue all states of common wealthes or kyngdome.
¶ The exposicion.