The Arte of English Poesie

Name: The Arte of English Poesie
Author: Puttenham, George

Puttenham, George

English poetry -- History and criticism; Poetry -- Early works to 1800

How Poets were the first Priests, the first Prophets,
  the first Legis-lators and Polititiens in the world.                3

How Poets were the first Philosophers, the first Astronomeers,
  and Historiographers, and Orators, and Musicians in the world.      5

How euery wilde and sauadge people vse a kind of natural Poesie
  in versiete and rime, as our vulgar is.                             7

Whence the riming Poesie came first to the Greekes and Latines,
  and how it had altered, and almost spilt their maner of Poesie.     7

How in the time of Charlemaynes raigne and many yeares after him,
  the Latine Poets wrote in rime.                                     8

In what reputation Poets and Poesie were in the old time with
  Princes, and otherwise generally, & how they be now become
  contemptible, and for what causes.                                 11

How Poesie shoulde not be employed vpon vaine conceits,
  nor specially those that bee vicious or infamous.                  18

The subiect or matter of Poesie, what it is.                         18

Of Poems and their sundrie sortes, and how thereby the
  auncient Poets receaued Surnames.                                  19

In what forms of Poesie the gods of the gentils were praysed
  and honored.                                                       21

In what forme of Poesie vice, & the common abases of mans life
  were reprehended.                                                  24

How the Poesie for reprehension of vice, was reformed by two
  manner of Poems, more euill than the first.                        25

In what forme of Poesie the euill and outrageous behauiours
  of Princes were reprehended.                                       25

In what forme of Poesie the great Princes and dominators
  of the world were praised and honoured.                            27

Of the places where in auncient time their enterludes and other
  Poemes drammaticke were represented vnto the people.               28

Of the shepheards or pastorall poesie called Egologue, and
  to what purpose it was first inuented and deuised.                 30

Of historicall Poesie, by which the famous acts of princes and
  the vertuous and worthy liues of our forefathers were reported.    31

In what forms of poesie vertue in the inferior sort was commended.   34

The forme wherein honest & profitable arts and sciences were treated. 35

In what forme of poesie the amarous affections and entertainments
  were vttered.                                                      36

The forme of poeticall reiocings.                                    36

The forme of poeticall lamentations.                                 37

The solemne reioysings at the birth and natiuitie of princes children. 40

The manner of reioysing at weddings and marriages, specially of great
  Ladies and Gentlewomen and Dames of honour.                        40

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

The Arte of English PoesiePuttenham, George

History

The Arte of English Poesie

Puttenham, George

English poetry -- History and criticism; Poetry -- Early works to 1800

How Poets were the first Priests, the first Prophets,
  the first Legis-lators and Polititiens in the world.                3

How Poets were the first Philosophers, the first Astronomeers,
  and Historiographers, and Orators, and Musicians in the world.      5

How euery wilde and sauadge people vse a kind of natural Poesie
  in versiete and rime, as our vulgar is.                             7

Whence the riming Poesie came first to the Greekes and Latines,
  and how it had altered, and almost spilt their maner of Poesie.     7

How in the time of Charlemaynes raigne and many yeares after him,
  the Latine Poets wrote in rime.                                     8

In what reputation Poets and Poesie were in the old time with
  Princes, and otherwise generally, & how they be now become
  contemptible, and for what causes.                                 11

How Poesie shoulde not be employed vpon vaine conceits,
  nor specially those that bee vicious or infamous.                  18

The subiect or matter of Poesie, what it is.                         18

Of Poems and their sundrie sortes, and how thereby the
  auncient Poets receaued Surnames.                                  19

In what forms of Poesie the gods of the gentils were praysed
  and honored.                                                       21

In what forme of Poesie vice, & the common abases of mans life
  were reprehended.                                                  24

How the Poesie for reprehension of vice, was reformed by two
  manner of Poems, more euill than the first.                        25

In what forme of Poesie the euill and outrageous behauiours
  of Princes were reprehended.                                       25

In what forme of Poesie the great Princes and dominators
  of the world were praised and honoured.                            27

Of the places where in auncient time their enterludes and other
  Poemes drammaticke were represented vnto the people.               28

Of the shepheards or pastorall poesie called Egologue, and
  to what purpose it was first inuented and deuised.                 30

Of historicall Poesie, by which the famous acts of princes and
  the vertuous and worthy liues of our forefathers were reported.    31

In what forms of poesie vertue in the inferior sort was commended.   34

The forme wherein honest & profitable arts and sciences were treated. 35

In what forme of poesie the amarous affections and entertainments
  were vttered.                                                      36

The forme of poeticall reiocings.                                    36

The forme of poeticall lamentations.                                 37

The solemne reioysings at the birth and natiuitie of princes children. 40

The manner of reioysing at weddings and marriages, specially of great
  Ladies and Gentlewomen and Dames of honour.                        40

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

The Arte of English Poesie

The Arte of English Poesie

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