An Apology for Poetry (also called The Defence of Poesy) • Paragraph 1
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I should be loth to beleeve those written of vs, which the truth of our owne knowledge will not allow us to beleeve: and therefore the often & vehement inuersion of Poets, sheweth not, that they sinned, but that they are enemies: for they that beare rule in the commonwealth, and that haue the preseruation of publike good in their shoulders, doe not in this only err, but they are commonly most vehement, when they feele least: where as Poets that vse but a little licence in their fables, to make the matter faster beleeued, and consequently more profitable, doe not at all leaue their old end, which was, to instruct and delight.