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Oxford University Press, Amen House, London E.C.4

GLASGOW NEW YORK TORONTO MELBOURNE WELLINGTON
BOMBAY CALCUTTA MADRAS KARACHI LAHORE DACCA
CAPE TOWN SALISBURY NAIROBI IBADAN ACCRA
KUALA LUMPUR HONG KONG

801 5648 V. 2

Cap. 3

FIRST EDITION 1904

Reprinted lithographically in Great Britain by
LOWE AND BRYDONE (PRINTERS) LTD., LONDON N.W.10, from
sheets of the first edition 1937, 1950, 1959, 1964

GEORGE PUTTENHAM

(The Arte of English Poesie)

1589

[The Arte of English Poesie. Contriued into three Bookes: The first of Poets and Poesie, the second of Proportion, the third of Ornament was published without the author's name, in 1589, by 'Richard Field, dwelling in the black-Friers, neere Ludgate. The text here printed follows Ben Jonson's copy, now in the British Museum. Many passages are underlined (especially in the opening chapters), and there are a few annotations; but it is extremely doubtful that any of these are by Ben Jonson. The copy also contains eight unnumbered pages on the 'Device' and 'Anagram' (see p. 105), which were withdrawn while the volume was passing through the press: and it has the substituted passage in Book III, chap. xix, in place of the criticism of the Flemings, which occurs in some copies of this edition (see Notes).

The Arte of English Poesie is anonymous, yet the evidence of Puttenham's authorship is, if not absolute, at least sufficiently strong to justify the ascription. It is dedicated (May 28, 1589) to Lord Treasurer Burghley by the printer Richard Field, who excuses his presumption and his author's 'slender subject' in these words:-'This Booke (right Honorable) comming to my handes, with his bare title without any Authours name or any other ordinarie addresse, I doubted how well it might become me to make you a present thereof, seeming, by many expresse passages in the same at large, that it was by the Authour intended to our Soueraigne Lady the Queene, and for her recreation and seruice chiefly deuised; in which case to make any other person her highnes partener in the honour

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