But tell mee truth _Gosson_, speakest thou as thou thinkest? What coelers findest thou in a Poete not to be admitted? Are his speaches unperfect? Savor they of inscience? I think if thou hast any shame thou canst not but like and approve the[m]. Are ther gods displesant unto thee? doth _Saturne_ in his majesty move thee? doth _Juno_ with her riches displease thee? doth _Minerva_ with her weapon discomfort thee? doth _Apollo_ with his harping harme thee? Thou mayst say nothing les then harme thee because they are not, and I thinke so to[o] because thou knowest them not. For wot thou that in the person of _Saturne_ our decaying yearss are signified, in the picture of angry _Juno_ our affections are dissiphered, in ye person of _Minerva_ is our understa[n]ding signified, both in respect of warre, as policie. When they faine that _Pallas_ was begotten of the braine of _Jupiter_ their meaning is none other but that al wisdome (as the learned say) is from above, and commeth from the father of Lights: in the portrature of _Apollo_ all knowledge is denocated. So that, what so they wrot it was to this purpose, in the way of pleasure to draw men to wisedome: for se[e]ing the world in those daies was unperfect, yt was necessary that they like good Phisi[ci]ons should so frame their potions, that they might be appliable to the quesie stomaks of their werish patients. But our studientes by your meanes have made shipwrack of theyr labors, our schoole-maisters have so offended that by your judgement they shall _subire poenam capitis_ for teaching poetry, the universitie is litle beholding to you, al their practices in teaching are frivolus. Witt hath wrought that in you, that yeares and studie never set[t]led in the heads of our sagest doctors. No mervel though you disprayse poetrye, when you know not what it meanes. _Erasmus_ will make that the pathwaye to knowledge which you disprayse, and no meane fathers vouchsafe in their seriouse questions of divinitie, to inserte poeticall sensures.