For hee that shall a perfect poet bee, Must first bee bred out of _Medusae’s_ bloud, He must be chast and vertuous, as was shee Who to her powre the Ocean god withstoode: To th’ende also his doome be iust and good, Hee must, as shee, looke rightly with one eye Truth to regarde, and write nothing awrye.[1713] 24. In courage eke he must be like a horse, He may not feare to register the right: What though some frowne? thereof he may not force,[1714] No bit, nor reyne, his tender iawes may twight: He must be armde with strength of wit and sprite, To dash the rocks, darke causes and obscure, Till hee attayne the springs of truth most pure. 25. His hooues also must[1715] plyant bee and strong, To riue the rocks of lust and errours blinde, In braynlesse heads, that alway wander wrong: These must hee brise[1716] with reasons playne and kinde, Till springs of grace doe gush out of the minde: For till affections from the fond be driuen, In vayne is truth tolde, or good counsayle giuen. 26. Like _Pegasus_ a poet must haue wings, To flye to heauen, or where him liketh best:[1717] He must haue knowledge of eternall things, Almighty Ioue must harbour in his brest: With worldly cares he may not be opprest, The wings of wit and skill[1718] must heaue him hyer, With great delight to satisfie desier.[1719] 27. He must also be lusty,[1720] free, and swift To trauayle far, to vewe the trades of men, Great knowledge oft is gotten by this[1721] shift: Things that import hee[1722] must bee quicke to pen, Reprouing vices sharply now and then: He must be swift when touched tyraunts chafe, To gallop thence, to keepe his carkas safe. 28. If I had well these qualityes considered,[1723] Especially that which I touched last, With speedy flight my feete should haue deliuered My feeble body from [a] most boystrous blast,[1724] They should haue caught mee, ere I had be cast:[1725] But too much trusting to a tyraunt’s[1726] grace, I neuer shronke, nor chaunged port or place. 29. I thought the poet’s auncient libertyes For pleas had beene allowed at the bar:[1727] I had forgot how newe found tyrannyes With truth[1728] and freedom were at open war, That lust was lawe, that might did make and marre, That among tyraunts this is[1729] and euer was,[1730] _Sic volo, sic iubeo, stet pro ratione voluntas_. 30.