Yet deny I not but that they may goe well together; for as in Alexanders picture well set out wee delight without laughter, and in twenty mad Anticks we laugh without delight, so in Hercules, painted with his great beard and furious countenance, in womans attire, spinning at Omphales commaundement, it breedeth both delight and laughter.* For the representing of so strange a power in love procureth delight: and the scornefulnes of the action stirreth laughter.
But I speake to this purpose, that all the end of the comicall part bee not vpon such scornefull matters as stirreth laughter onely, but, mixt with it, that delightful teaching which is the end of Poesie.* And the great fault euen in that point of laughter, and forbidden plainely by Aristotle, is that they styrre laughter in sinfull things, which are rather execrable then ridiculous: or in miserable, which are rather to be pittied then scorned.* For what is it to make folkes gape at a wretched Begger, or a beggerly Clowne, or, against lawe of hospitality, to iest at straungers, because they speake not English so well as wee doe?
Original spelling.
From ‘Sidney’s Apologie for Poetrie’ (ca. 1582, 1907), edited by J. Churton Collins.
* See Heracles and Omphale.
* The word ‘end’ here means ‘purpose, aim’.
* Writing in 1798, William Eton found the comedy in the Ottoman Empire was of this sneering, scornful kind, and was of the opinion that it arose from a society in which free speech was so limited that being nasty about the kind of people the Government did not like was the only humour left. See The Source of Civilisation.
Précis
Of course, laughter and delight can go well together, he said, giving the example of a love-struck Heracles wearing Omphale’s gown; but too often laughter arises only from scorn or coarseness. All he asked, was that writers ensure that any laughter promoted what was best in poetry, and did not serve ends thoroughly unworthy of the dramatist’s art. (58 / 60 words)
Of course, laughter and delight can go well together, he said, giving the example of a love-struck Heracles wearing Omphale’s gown; but too often laughter arises only from scorn or coarseness. All he asked, was that writers ensure that any laughter promoted what was best in poetry, and did not serve ends thoroughly unworthy of the dramatist’s art.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: although, because, just, may, must, until, whether, who.
Archive
Word Games
Sevens Based on this passage
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
Variations: 1.expand your answer to exactly fourteen words. 2.expand your answer further, to exactly twenty-one words. 3.include one of the following words in your answer: if, but, despite, because, (al)though, unless.
Jigsaws Based on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 His. Man. Ridiculous.
2 Example. Tickle. Together.
3 One. Power. Scarce.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Add Vowels Find in Think and Speak
Make words by adding vowels to each group of consonants below. You may add as many vowels as you like before, between or after the consonants, but you may not add any consonants or change the order of those you have been given. See if you can beat our target of common words.
dtng (5)
auditing. dating. dieting. doting. editing.
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