Chapter 2 No.2

In form and place like to Parnassus is my heart,

And up unto this mount for safety I ascend;

My Muses are my thoughts, and they present to me

At every hour new beauties counted out.

The frequent tears that from my eyes do pour,

These make my fount of Helicon.

By such a mount, such nymphs, such floods,

As Heaven did please, was I a poet born.

No king of any kingdom,

No favouring hand of emperor,

No highest priest nor great pastor,

Has given to me such graces, honours, privileges,

As are those laurel leaves with which

O'ershadowed are my heart, my thoughts, my tears.

Here he declares his mountain to be the exalted affection of his heart, his Muses he calls the beauties and attributes of the object of his affections, and the fountain is his tears. In that mountain affection is kindled; through those beauties enthusiasm is conceived, and by those tears the enthusiastic affection is demonstrated; and he esteems himself not less grandly crowned by his heart, his thoughts, and his tears than others are by the hand of kings, emperors, and popes.

Cic. Explain to me what he means by his heart being in form like Parnassus.

Tans. Because the human heart has two summits, which terminate in one base or root; and, spiritually, from one affection of the heart proceed two opposites, love and hate; and the mountain of Parnassus has two summits and one base.

Cic. On to the next!