But this lyeth not in written laudes so much as in ordinary reward and commendation to be giuen them by the mouth of the superiour magistrate. For histories were not intended to so generall and base a purpose, albeit many a meane souldier & other obscure persons were spoken of and made famous in stories, as we finde of _Irus_ the begger, and _Thersites_ the glorious noddie, whom _Homer_ maketh mention of. But that happened (& so did many like memories of meane men) by reason of some greater personage or matter that it was long of, which therefore could not be an vniuersall case nor chaunce to euery other good and vertuous person of the meaner sort. Wherefore the Poet in praising the maner of life or death of anie meane person, did it by some litle dittie or Epigram or Epitaph in fewe verses & meane stile conformable to his subiect. So haue you how the immortall gods were praised by hymnes, the great Princes and heroicke personages by ballades of praise called _Encomia_, both of them by historicall reports of great grauitie and maiestie, the inferiour persons by other slight poemes. _CHAP. XXI._ _The forme wherein honest and profitable Artes and sciences were treated._ The profitable sciences were no lesse meete to be imported to the greater number of ciuill men for instruction of the people and increase of knowledge, then to be reserued and kept for clerkes and great men onely. So as next vnto the things historicall such doctrines and arts as the common wealth fared the better by, were esteemed and allowed. And the same were treated by Poets in verse _Exameter_ fauouring the _Heroicall_, and for the grauitie and comelinesse of the meetre most vsed with the Greekes and Latines to sad purposes. Such were the Philosophicall works of _Lucretius Carus_ among the Romaines, the Astronomicall of _Aratus_ and _Manilius_, one Greeke th'other Latine, the Medicinall of _Nicander_, and that of _Oprianus_ of hunting and fishes, and many moe that were too long to recite in this place. _CHAP. XXII._ _In what forme of Poesie the amorous affections and allurements were vttered._