University of Windsor University of Windsor
Scholarship at UWindsor
Scholarship at UWindsor
Electronic Theses and Dissertations Theses, Dissertations, and Major Papers
1-1-1965
The verse letters of John Donne: A study of the rhetorical
The verse letters of John Donne: A study of the rhetorical
traditions of the verse epistle.
traditions of the verse epistle.
Allen Barry Cameron University of Windsor
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholar.uwindsor.ca/etd
Recommended Citation Recommended Citation
Cameron, Allen Barry, "The verse letters of John Donne: A study of the rhetorical traditions of the verse epistle." (1965). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 6376.
https://scholar.uwindsor.ca/etd/6376
A S T U D Y OF THE R H E T O R I C A L T R A D I T I O N S OF T H E V E R S E E P I S T L E
BY
A L L E N B A R R Y C AM ER O N , B . A
A Th e s i s
S u b m i t t e d to the F a c u l t y of G r a d u a t e S t u d i e s t h r o u g h the D e p a r t m e n t of E n g l i s h in P a r t i a l F u l f i l l m e n t
of the R e q u i r e m e n t s for the D e gr ee of M a s t e r of Arts at the
U n i v e r s i t y of W i n d s o r
W i nd s o r , O n ta ri o
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0
-- & t .— f ' / —A B S T R A C T
This t h e s i s a t te mp t s to set f o r t h the t r a d i t i o n s in
w h ich the v e r s e e p i s t l e of the R e n a i s s a n c e w a s w r i t t e n and to p l a c e the v e r s e l e t t e r s of J o h n D o n n e in t h o s e t r a d i t i o n s .
C h a p t e r I i n c l u d e s a r e v i e w of the e x i s t i n g c r i t i c a l l i t e r
ature, a b r i e f s k e t c h of the p l a c e of the v e r s e e p i s t l e in the c a n o n of R e n a i s s a n c e p o e t r y , and a r e v i e w of the b as i c p r e c e p t s of r h e t o r i c .
C h a p t e r II c o n c e r n s i t s e l f w i t h the e p i s t p l a r y t r a d i t i o n into w h i c h D o n n e ’s d e l i b e r a t i v e e p i s t l e s fall. The
s t r u c t u r a l and f o r m a l a s p e c t s of the v e r s e epistle, as w e l l
as the R e n a i s s a n c e p r i n c i p l e of d e c o r u m and the d i d a c t i c
t h e o r y of p o e t r y in t h e i r a p p l i c a t i o n to the v e r s e epistle, are d i s c u s s e d . In o r d e r to give a f i r m sense of the t r a d i tion, some of D o n n e ’s R e n a i s s a n c e p r e d e c e s s o r s in the
d e l i b e r a t i v e e p i s t l e are e x a m i n e d . C h a p t e r III c o n s i d e r s in d e t a i l f o u r f a i r l y r e p r e s e n t a t i v e e x a m p l e s of D o n n e ’s
d e l i b e r a t i v e e p i s tles.
D o n n e ’s c o m p l i m e n t a r y e p i s t l e s are t r e a t e d in a s i m i l a r m a n n e r . C h a p t e r IV d i s c u s s e s the c o m p l i m e n t a r y
t r a d i t i o n of the v e r s e e pistle, and, as w i t h the d e l i b e r a t i v e e p istle, the R e n a i s s a n c e p r i n c i p l e of d e c o r u m and the d i d a c t i c t h e o r y of p o e t r y in t h e i r a p p l i c a t i o n to the
c o m p l i m e n t a r y e p i s t l e are t r e a t e d . D o n n e ’s R e n a i s s a n c e
C h a p t e r V e xa m i n e s in d e t a i l t h r e e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e e x a m p l e s of
D o n n e ’s c o m p l i m e n t a r y e p i s t l e s .
The c o n c l u s i o n s r e a c h e d in this study' are s everal. The first, and m o s t s i g n i fi ca nt , is th a t it is n e c e s s a r y to k n o w the t r a d i t i o n s of the v e r s e e p is tl e in o r der to u n d e r s t a n d
and a p p r e c i a t e b o t h the d e l i b e r a t i v e and c o m p l i m e n t a r y
e p i s t l e s of Donne. The s e c o n d c o n c l u s io n, and a c o r o l l a r y to the fi r s t , is th a t an u n d e r s t a n d i n g of the v e r s e l e tters,
a l t h o u g h w r i t t e n in a d i f f e r e n t t r a d i t i o n t h a n D o n n e ’s
other, m o r e p o p u l a r poems, does cast l i g ht on the re s t of his p o e t r y . The t h i r d and m o r e g e n e r a l conclusion- is t h a t an a w ar en es s of the i m p o r t a n c e of r h e t o r i c is e s s e n t i a l not
only in the s t ud y of the v e r s e e p i s t l e in the R e n a i s s a n c e ,
but also in the s t u dy of all R e n a i s s a n c e p o e try.
The c o n c l u d i n g c h a p t e r of f e r s some s u g g e s t i o n s f o r f u r t h e r study, such as an i n v e s t i g a t i o n of the i n f l u e n c e
of l o gi c on the v e r se of Jo h n Donne, but the p r i m a r y
P R E F A C E
This t h e s i s has g r o w n out of a k n o w l e d g e t h a t the v e r s e l e t t e r s of John D o nn e h a v e h e r e t o f o r e b ee n u n j u s t l y n e g l e c t ed by r e a d er s and c r i t i c s alike. C r i t i c i s m is l i m i t e d and
u s u a l l y d e r o g a t o r y . T o .the best of m y k no w l e d g e , D o n n e ’s
v e r s e l et t e r s h av e n e v e r b e e n v i e w e d c r i t i c a l l y in t h ei r p r o p e r p e r s p e c t i v e . M o r eo ve r, it is m y f ir m c o n v i c t i o n that
a t h o r o u g h k n o w l e d g e of not on l y the c o n v e n t i o n s and the t r a d i t i o n s of the v e r s e let t e r s , but also an u n d e r s t a n d i n g of D o n n e ’s a r t i s t i c t e c h n i q u e in t h e s e p oems r e n d e r s t he m
d e s e r v i n g of a t te nt io n. One of the b a sic p u r p o s e s of this study, then, is to d r a w a t t e n t i o n to this h i t h e r t o n e g l e c t e d
asp e c t of D o n n e ’s p o e t i c canon: to s h o w that the v e r se l e t t e r s are not o n l y w o r t h y of p o n s i d e r a t i o n for an
u n d e r s t a n d i n g of p o n n e ’s o ve r a l l p o e t i c art, but also to sh o w that t h e y are w o r t h l o o k i n g at in and of t h e m s e l v e s . This aim can best be a c h i e v e d by p l a c i n g the v e r s e l e t t e rs in t h e i r p r o p e r p e r s p e c t i v e , that is, by v i e w i n g t h e m in t h e i r t r a d i t i o n s .
For D o n n e ’s p o e ms I h av e u s e d J oh n H a y w a r d ’s edition, '
C o m p l e t e P o e t r y and S e l e c t e d P r o s e , (London: The N o n e s u c h Press, 1929). I s h all q u o t e by line and pa g e n u m ber.
The la t e P r o f e s s o r I t r a t - H u s a i n Z u b e r i h e l p e d me to a r r iv e at the p r e s e n t s u b j e c t and o v e r s a w m y p r e l i m i n a r y r e s e a r c h : m y debt to h i m c a n n ot n o w be paid. P r o f e s s o r
J o h n F. S u l l i v a n k i n d l y a g r e e d to ass u m e d i r e c t i o n of the
t he s i s ; by his e n c o u r a g i n g s u g g e s t i o n s , his c a r e f u l r e a d i n g
of the draft, and his s e a s o n e d k n o w l e d g e of R e n a i s s a n c e
E n g l i s h l i t e r a t u r e , he has b e e n m o s t h el pf ul . To P r o f e s s o r s R a y m o n d S m i t h and R a l p h N e l s o n m u s t also go m y s i n c e r e s t
t h a n k s — not on l y for t h e i r e n c o u r a g e m e n t , but also for
t h e i r h e l p f u l s u g g e s t i o n s . P r o f e s s o r C h a r l es F a n t a z z i ' s e n t h u s i a s m for m y w o r k has b e e n a c on s t a n t s o u r ce of i n
sp i r a t io n. P r o f e s s o r John T. S h a w c r o s s of R u t g e r s U n i v e r s i t y
has also m a d e s e v e r a l e n c o u r a g i n g s u g g e s t i o n s .
Miss S a l l y M a t h e s o n also d e s e r v e s m y t h a nk s for her
carefu'l and p a i n s t a k i n g t y p i n g of the m a n u s c r i p t . F i n a l l y,
-T A B L E OF C O N -T E N -T S
Pa g e
A B S T R A C T ... ii
P R E F A C E ... iv
C h a p t e r I. I N T R O D U C T I O N ... 1
II. THE E P I S T O L A R Y T R A D I T I O N . ... 12
The N a t u r e of the V e r s e E p i s t l e ... 12
The P r i n c i p l e of D e c o r u m . ... 20
T h e o r y ... 20
D e c o r u m of S t y l e ... . . . . 23
D e c o r u m of G e n r e ... 25
The D i d a c t i c I n t e n t i on . . . ... 27
The H i s t o r y of the D e l i b e r a t i v e V e r se E p i s t l e in the R e n a i s s a n c e ... 31
W y a t t ... 32
L o d g e ... ... .. 34
D a n i e l ... 35
J o n s o n ... 36
III. D O N N E ’S D E L I B E R A T I V E E P I S T L E S . . . . 38
"To Sir H e n r y W o t t o n " ... 39
"To Sir H e n r y G o o d y e r e " ... 43
"To Sir E d w a r d H e r b e r t at J u l y e r s " ... 46
"To Mr. R o w l a n d W o o d w a r d " ... . 49
IV. THE C O M P L I M E N T A R Y T R A D I T I O N ... 53
The N a t u r e of the E p i d e i c t i c C a t e g o r y . . . 54
I n t r o d u c t i o n ... 54
The T h e o r y o~f P r a i s e ... 5 6 D e c o r u m in the C omplimentary, E p i s t le . . . . 66
The D i d a c t i c I n t e n t i o n ... .. 69
D o n n e ’s P r e d e c e s s o r s ... .. 75
D a n i e l ... 75
J o n s o n ... 7 6 V. D O N N E ’S C O M P L I M E N T A R Y V E R S E E P I S T L E S ... 81
"To the C o u n t e s s of B e d f o r d " ... 81
"To the C o u n t e s s of H u n t i n g d o n " ... 81
"A L e t t e r to the Lady C a r e y and Mrs. E s s e x Ri c h e , F r o m A m y e n s " ... 90
C h a p t e r Page VI. C O N C L U S I O N ... 94
A P P E N D I X A. A C H R O N O L O G I C A L LIST OF JOHN D ON N E * S
L E T T ER S TO S E V E R A L L P E R S O N A G E S ... 98 B I B L I O G R A P H Y . ... 102
C H A P T E R I
I N T R O D U C T I O N
M a y t h e r e f o r e this be e n o u g h to t e s t i f i e My true d e v o t i o n , free f r o m f l a t t e r y ;
He t h a t b e l e e v e s h i m s e l f e , do t h n e v e r lie. ( 1 8 7 , v v .61-63)
D e s p i t e the i n c l u s i o n of Jo h n D o n n e ’s v e r s e l et t e r s i n c o l l e c t e d e d i t i o n s , such as t h o s e of H e r b e r t J.C. G r i e r s o n (still the m o s t d e f i n i t i v e c o l l e c t i o n ) , John H a y w a r d (who of f e r s s e v e r a l new, a c c e p t a b l e r e a d i n g s ) ,
R.E. Bennett, C h a r l e s M. Coffin, and H u g h I ’A n s o n Fau s s e t ,
v e r y l it t l e c r i t i c a l w o r k has b e e n done on the l e t t er s
t h e m s e l v e s . The l a s t t h r e e n a m e d e d i t i o n s do not i n c l u d e t e x t u a l or c r i t i c a l c o m m e n t on the le t t e r s . On the other h and, w h i l e G r i e r s o n ’s and H a y w a r d ’s e d i t i o n s i n c l u d e t e x
tual and some c r i t i c a l c o m m e n t a r y , the l e t t e r s are not v i e w e d in the R e n a i s s a n c e t r a d i t i o n of e p i s t o l a r y w r i ti ng .
M or e o v e r , c r i t i c a l l i t e r a t u r e of s i g n i f i c a n t v a l u e is e x t r e m e l y l i mi t e d . E x c e p t for a f e w ar t i c l e s by such c r i t i c s as R.E. Bennett, I.A. S h a pi r o , R.C. Bald, B.W. W hi t l o c k ,
and D a v id Novarr,^-. t h e re has b e e n n o t h i n g said a bout D o n n e ’s
^See, for e x ample, R.E. B ennett, ’’D o n n e ’s L e tt er s f ro m the C o n t i n e n t in 1 6 1 1 - 1 2 , ” P h i l o l o g i c a l Q u a r t e r l y , X I X (1940) 66-78; I. A. Sha p i r o , ’’The Text of D o n n e ’s L e t t e r s to
S e v e r a l P e r s o n s , ” R e v i e w of E n g l i s h S t u d i e s , V I I (July, '1931) 2 9 1 — 301; R.C. Bald, ’’D o n n e ’s E a r l y V e r s e L e t t e r s , ” H u n t i n g t o n L i b r a r y Q u a r t e r l y , XV (May, 1952), 283-89; B.W. W h i t l o c k , ’’D o n n e ’s F i r st L e t t e r , ” Times L i t e r a r y S u p p l e m e n t , Au g u s t 22, 1952, p. 556; D a v i d Novarr, ’’D o n n e ’s L e t t e r s , ” Times
v e r s e ..letters f r o m a c r i t i c a l p o i nt of view. L a u r e n c e S t a p l e t o n ’s a r t i c l e ^ a p p e a rs to be the only c r i t i c a l s t u d y
w h i c h a p p r o x i m a t e s t r e a t i n g the l e t t e r s as w o r t h y of c o n s i d e r a t i o n and as l i t e r a t u r e in t h e m s e l v e s .
A s i d e f r o m t h e s e m e a g e r i n s t a n c es , c omment, w h e n it is
m a de, is u s u a l l y of a d e r o g a t o r y n a t u r e , and m a i n t a i n s that the letters, or epistles, are n e g l i g i b l e b e c a u s e t h e y s o m e t i m e s
f l a t t e r .^ A l t h o u g h th i s c r i t i c i s m is d i r e c t e d p a r t i c u l a r l y at the p o e m s a d d r e s s e d to ’’N o b l e L a d i e s ”, -the e n t i r e g r o u p of v e r s e l e t t e r s has b e e n n e g l e c t e d as a result. F r a n k K e r m o d e sums up p o i g n a n t l y the c r i t i c a l p o s i t i o n to da t e on the v e r s e l e tt e r s :
Of the. o c c a s i o n a l v e r s e i n c l u d e d u n d e r the t i tle TL e t t e r s to S e v e r a l l P e r s o n a g e s ’ a w o r d m u s t suffice. T h e r e is a m i s t a k e n v i e w that t h e y are n e g l i g i b l e b e c a u s e t h e y o c c a s i o n a l l y f l a t t e r . ^
D e s p i t e K e r m o d e Ts r e c o g n i t i o n of this e r r o n e o u s v i e w
L i t e r a r y S u p p l e m e n t , O c t o b e r 24, 1952, p. 700. M os t of t he s e a r t i c l e s are m o r e d i r e c t l y c o n c e r n e d w i t h the p r o s e l e t t e r s a n d / o r p r o b l e m s of c h r o n o l o g y . It s h o u l d also be n o t e d he r e that a s e p a r a t e v o l u m e of D o n n e ’s v e r s e l e t t e r s has n e v e r a p p e a r e d — a l t h o u g h s e p a r a t e e d i t i o n s of b o t h the S o n g s and S o n n e t s and D i v i n e Poems h a v e b e e n p u b l i s h e d as i n d i v i d u a l works. S i m i l a r l y , t h e r e has n e v e r b e e n a c r i t i c a l w o r k d e v o t e d e x c l u s i v e l y to the v e r s e l e t t e r s as t h e r e has b e e n to the rest of D o n n e ’s p o e t r y (aside f r o m the sat i r e s ) and e v e n to his p r o s e works.
2 ”The T h e m e of V i r t u e in D o n n e ’s V e r s e S t u d i e s in P h i l o l o g y , LV (April, 1958), 187
d o e s n o t c o n c e r n h l m s elf, h o w e v e r , w i t h the
w h i c h the l e t t e r s w e r e w r i t t e n .
3-S'ee, for e xample, P a t r i c i a T h o m s o n , ’’The L i t e r a t u r e
of P a t r o n a g e , 1 5 8 0 - 1 6 3 0 , ” E s s a y s in C r i t i c i s m , II (July, 1952), 2 67-84; see also M a t t h i a s A. S h a a b e r , ’’I n t r o d u c t i o n , ” in
S e l e c t e d Poems of John D o n n e (New York, 1958), p. ix. 4 John D o n n e (London, 1957), p. 26.
E p i s t l e s , ” - 2 00. S t a p l e t o n
3
c o n c e r n i n g the v e r s e le t t e r s , he d e v o t e s on l y one p a r a g r a p h
to them.
This m i s t a k e n or a b us i v e v ie w (and the r e s u l t i n g n e g le ct ) stems, in m y o pinion, f r o m two b a sic er r o r s on the p a r t of c o m m e n t a t o r s . First, c r i t i cs in g e n e r a l te n d to c o m p a r e the v e r s e l et t e r s w i t h the rest of D o n n e ’s poetry, p a r t i c u l a r l y
w i t h the S on g s and S o nn et s and the D i v in e P o e m s ;^ t h e y m i s t a k e n l y i d e n t i f y the e l e m e n t s of e x a ggeration, or a m p l i f i c a t i o n (a r h e t o r i c a l t e c h n i q u e ) , as e x c e s s i v e f l a t t e r y or u n w a r r a n t e d h y p e r b o l e , ^ and p r o m p t l y d i s mi ss the p oe m s as
n e g l i g i b l e - u n w o r t h y of c o n s i d e r a t i o n .^ F a i l i n g to r e a l i z e
that t he s e p o e m s w e r e not w r i t t e n in the same t r a d i t i o n of
p o e t r y as his o t h er w o r k s were, t h e s e c r i t i c s m i s i n t e r p r e t , not only the b a s ic i n t e n t i o n of the v e r s e let t e r s , but, as
a f u r t h e r r e s ult, t h e i r b a si c m e a n i n g . On the s u rface, the b as i c i n t e n t i o n of the v e r s e l et t e r s is a d i d a c t i c one, but
it is my c o n t e n t i o n that a m o r e subtle and o f t e n c omplex, s y mb ol ic i n t e n t i o n and m e a n i n g is also i mp li e d . In the case of t h ose l e t t e r s a d d r e s s e d to p a t r o n e s s e s , the s u r fa ce
5The p o p u l a r i t y of t h e se poems, not only w i t h c ri t i c s but also w i t h r e ad er s in gen e r a l , is due no d o ubt to the r e v i v a l of i n t e r e s t in D onne and m e t a p h y s i c a l p o e t r y w h i c h was i n s t i g a t e d by T.S. E li o t and s t ill endures.
^ ’’H y p e r b o l e ’’ m a y be d e f i n e d as a f i g ur e of s p e e ch in w h i c h c o n s c i o u s e x a g g e r a t i o n is u s e d w i t h o u t the i n t en t of l i t e r a l p e r s u a s i o n . In D o n n e ’s case, as we s ha l l see, an u n d e r s t a n d i n g of bo t h his d i d a c t i c , and in turn, his l i t e r a l i n te nt i n d i c a t e s that he is i n d e e d e x a g g e r a t i n g , but not n e c e s s a r i l y for a h y p e r b o l i c effect.
i n t e n t i o n a p p e ar s to be one of f l a t t e ry . Donne, no doubt,
h a d an eye o pe n for e c o n o m i c r e m u n e r a t i o n , but ev e n here, as a c a r e f u l e x a m i n a t i o n w i l l reveal, he was able to t r a n s
c en d the c o n v e n t i o n a l i n t e n t i o n s .
The f o l l o w i n g c o m m e n t s on the l e t t e r s m a y be t a k e n as
f a i r l y r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s t a t e m e n t s of this f irst g ro u p of e r r o n e o u s c ri ti c s . W h e n c o m p a r i n g the S o ngs and S o n n e t s
w i t h the v e r s e l et te r s , C l a y H u n t m a k e s the f o l l o w i n g r em a r k : His g e n e r a l l y f e e b l e and l i s t l e s s l y w r i t t e n
c o m m e n d a t o r y e pi s t l e s to N o b le La d i e s l a b o r ...[his i d e a of] c o n c e p t u a l a n t i t h e s i s e n d l e s s ly. It p r o v i d e s the r e c u r r e n t s u b j e c t m a t t e r and i m a g i n a t i v e p a t t e r n for t h o s e p o ems in p r a i s e of the C o u n t e s s of B e d f o r d in w h i c h we se'e D o n n e just m e c h a n i c a l l y r u n n i n g t h r o u g h a r o u t i n e i n t e l l e c t u a l i n t r i c a t i o n , like a
d u t i f u l Boy S c o ut p r a c t i c i n g the s t a n d a r d k n o t s .8
E v e n H e r b e r t G r i e r s o n, D o n n e ’s g r e a t e d i t o r and m o s t p r o f o u n d critic, has l i t t l e of v a l u e to say on the v e r s e l e t t e r s :
T h e y a b o u n d in e x t r a v a g a n c e s of m e t a p h y s i c a l c o m p l i m e n t . E v e n m o r e t h a n the e a r l y e x t r a
v a g a n c e s of p e r v e r s e w i t one m i g h t r e g a r d the e x c e s s es of f l a t t e r y in t h e s e l e t t e r s and the w o r s e f u n e r a l e l e g ie s as Tan e x p e n s e of spirit in a w a s t e of s h a m e ’ .^
The s e c o n d f a ult a p p l i e s to t h o s e c r i t i cs who do
p o e m s w e r e w r i t t e n in a n ot he r t ra d i t i o n ,
i g n o r a n c e of the t r a d i t i o n , or s h e e r
l a z i n e s s , fa i l to ass e s s D o n n e Ts true p l a c e in th a t t r a d i t i o n . F o r example, J.W. S a u n d e r s c r i t i c i z e s P a t r i c i a T h o m s o n for
not l o o k i n g at D o n n e ’s v e r s e l et t e r s in t he i r p r o p e r p e r s p e c t i v e ,
Sp o n n e ’s P o e t r y (New Haven, 1954), p. 182.
^ The Poems of John D o n n e , O x f o r d S t a n d a r d A u t h o r s (Oxford, 19 33), p . x x x v i i .
5
th a t is, for not r e a l i z i n g that the p o e ms were w r i t t e n in a d i f f e r e n t t r a d i t i o n . H o w e v e r , he f ails to show wh a t this t r a d i t i o n is and h o w D o n n e ’s p o e m s fit into it.
This t h e s i s , t h e n , w il l p r i m a r i l y be an a t t e m pt not only
to show w ha t the t r a d i t i o n s of the v e r s e e pi s t l e are and
w h at D o n n e ’s p l a c e in the tra'ditions is, but also to d e m o n
st r a t e to some e x t en t h o w he m a n i p u l a t e d the c o n v e n t i o n a l
p a t t e r n s of the t r a d i t i o n s and a d d e d his own t o u c h of o r g i n a -l i t y to the v e r se -l e t ter. In o t h e r words,- I i n t e n d to p o i n t
out h o w D o n n e t r a n s c e n d e d the c o n v e n t i o n a l l i m i t s of the v e r s e l e t t e r and to show that a t h o r o u g h k n o w l e d g e of the
t r a d i t i o n s in w h i c h th e y w e r e w r i t t e n r e n d e r s the v e r s e l e t t e r s far f r o m n e g l i g i b l e .
The two b a s i c t r a d i t i o n s into w h i c h D o n n e ’s v er s e l e t t e r s fa l l are e s s e n t i a l l y r h e t o r i c a l in n a t u r e and bo t h are e x t r e m e l y c o m p l e x and not n e c e s s a r i l y disti n c t . M or e o v e r , all of his v e r s e e p is t l e s (aside f r o m the ’’S t o r m e " and the
”Calme") fit p r i m a r i l y into e i t h e r one or the o t her t r a d i t i o n w i t h some sl i g h t o v erlapping.^-1- The f ir s t pa r t of the t h e s i s is c o n c e r n e d w i t h w h a t I h a v e c h o s e n to call the ’’e p i s t o l a r y ” t r a d i t i o n , th a t is, w i t h an e x a m i n a t i o n of the e p i s t l e , o r
l O See J.W. S a u n d e r s , "D o n n e and D a n i e l , ” E s s a y s in C r i t i c i s m , III (January, 1953), 109-14. See also P a t r i c i a
T h o m s o n , ’’T h e L i t e r a t u r e of P a t r o n a g e , 1 5 8 0 — 1 6 3 0 , ” Ess ays
in C r i t i c i s m , II (July, 1952), 267-84. Mi s s T h o m s o n m a i n t ai n s that D o n n e ’s v e r s e l e t t e r s w er e a p r o d u c t only of the s y s t e m of p a t r o n a g e and that t he y w e r e w r i t t e n w i t h a s t r o n g sense of c o m p e t i t i o n in mind.
U F o r a c om p l e t e , c h r o n o l o g i c a l l i s t i n g of the
l e t ter, w h i c h e x e m p l i f i e s an e t hical, or p a r a e n e t i c (teach ing, p e r s u a d i n g by p r e c e p t ) , m o t i f . ^ In C h a p t e r II, the
t r a d i t i o n i t s e l f and its c o n v e n t i o n s are d i s c u s s e d . C h a p t e r III l o oks at s e v e r a l r e p r e s e n t a t i v e e x a m p l e s of D o n n e rs
v er se l e tt er s w h i c h w e r e w r i t t e n in this t r a d i t i o n . A t t e n
t i o n he r e w i l l be f o c u s e d m a i n l y on the d e l i b e r a t i v e c a t e g o r y of r h e t o r i c and t h o s e a s p e c ts of e l o c u t i o n , or style, w h i c h a p p ly to D on n e ' s poe m s . S in c e the r h e t o r i c a l
n a t u r e of this p a r t i c u l a r g r ou p of p oe m s is e s s e n t i a l l y d e l i b e r a t i v e , t h e se l e t te r s m i g h t b e t t e r be l a b e l l e d
d e l i b e r a t i v e e p i st le s. In the d i s c u s s i o n , t h e .R e n a i s s a n c e
p r i n c i p l e of d e c o r u m and its a p p l i c a t i o n bo t h in style and
g en r e to the l e t t e r s w i l l also be c o n s i d e r e d . To some extent, m o r e o v e r , D o n n e ’s R e n a i s s a n c e p r e d e c e s s o r s in the deliberative, e pi s t l e w i l l be e x a m i n e d , in o rder to g a i n a h i s t o r i c a l sense of this k i n d of v e r se letter.
The s e c o n d h a l f of the t h e s i s is c o n c e r n e d w i t h the c o m p l i m e n t a r y t r a d i t i o n , that is, w i t h an e x a m i n a t i o n of the
e p i s tl e w h i c h not on l y illustrates, a c o m p l i m e n t a r y motif, but also a t t e m pt s to i n s t r u c t or p e r s u a d e its r e a d e r s by t r e a t i n g
the s ub j e c t of p r a i s e as an e x a m p l e of v i r t u e . A t t e n t i o n here, h ow ev e r , w i l l be f o c u s e d on the e p i d e i c t i c c a t e g o r y
1 2r h e two g r o u ps of p oe m s m i g h t also be i s o l a t e d on the basis of the a d dr es se e; the ethical, or p a r a e n e t i c ,
e p is t l e s are a d d r e s s e d to his f ri en ds , not to his p a t r o n e s s e s . 1 3 A s i d e f r o m the two b as i c d i d a c t i c e le me nt s a l r e a d y
7
of r h e t o r i c , and t h o se a s pe ct s of i n v e n t i o n (such as the
t r a d i t i o n a l t o p ic s of p r a ise) as t he y a pply to D o n n e ’s v e r se l e tt e r s . Here, as before, the p r i n c i p l e of d e c o r u m and its a p p l i c a t i o n w i l l be d i s cu s s ed . C h a p t e r IV c o n c e r n s i t s e l f w i t h the t r a d i t i o n p r o p e r , and C h a p t e r V looks at r e p r e s e n
t a t i v e e x a m ples.
Bef or e - b e g i n n i n g the . di s c u s sion of the traditions-, it
is n e c e s s a r y to k n o w the p l a c e of the v e r se e p is tl e in the c a n o n of R e n a i s s a n c e p oe t r y . The v e r s e epistle, as one
m i g h t suspect, was a p o e t i c g e n r e p r a c t i s e d by the ancients, p a r t i c u l a r l y by H or a c e . In the R e n a i s s a n c e , it was r e n e w e d by P e t r a r c h in I t a ly and to some e x t en t by L odge in E ngland. Pe rh ap s b e c a u s e of P e t r a r c h , but m o r e l i k e l y b e c a u s e of the r e v i v a l of i n t e r e s t in H o r a c e and the a n c ient w r i t e r s in
general*, the v e r se e pi s t l e b e ca me an e x t r e m e l y p o p u l a r f o r m
of p o e try. It b e ca me a c c e p t a b l e to w r i t e v erse l et t e r s to
o n e ’s p at r o n s (or p a t r o n e s s e s ) and o n e ’s f riends. In at ■ l e a st one way, the c o m p l e x s y s t e m ' o f p a t r o n a g e in the
R e n a i s s a n c e p r o m o t e d this p o p u l a r i t y , for the v e r s e l e t t e r e n a b l e d the p o e t to f u l f i l his du t y to a p a t ron; the v er y
fact that the p o e m was a d d r e s s e d to an i n d i v i d u a l p a t r o n was a f o r m of c om p l i m e n t . Not only Donne, but also such E n g l i s h R e n a i s s a n c e p oe t s as Jonson, Daniel, Lodge, and D r a y t o n
w r o t e v e r s e e pi s t l e s .
i n c i d e n t (e.g., the " S t o r m e " and the " C a l m e ” ); he c o u l d
’' p h i l o s o p h i z e ” or teach; and he c o u l d p r a ise. In short, the
po e t c o u l d t al k about or c o mm en t on a n y t h i n g th a t a t t r a c t e d his a t te nt io n; and is not this, in some sense, the v e r y n a t u r e of any l e t t e r ? W h e n we w r i t e a l e t t e r to a friend, we u s u a l l y t al k a bout a n y t h i n g we like: we are not c o n f i n e d
to c e r t a i n t o pi cs or a p a r t i c u l a r form. The e p i s t o l a r y art, then, was e s s e n t i a l l y an art of r e p o r t a g e and c o m m e n t and,
to some extent, c o m p l i m e n t . Its t o p o g r a p h i c a l n a t u r e is an i m p o r t a n t q u a l i t y to r em e m b e r . W i t h this b ri e f i n t r o d u c t i o n
as to the p l a c e of the v e r s e e p i s t le in the R e n a i s s a n c e in mind, it m i g h t be w i s e to r e v i e w b r i e f l y the art of r h e t o r i c
and its e s s e n t i a l p r ec e p t s , since, as ..I. h a v e a l r e a d y
m e n t i o n e d , the t r a d i t i o n s of D o n n e ’s v e r s e l e t t e r s are e s s e n t i a l l y r h e t o r i c a l .
A n c i e n t r h e t o r i c d i v i d e s o r a t o r y into t h r e e g r eat
c a t e g o r i e s : the d e l i b e r a t i v e , the f o r e n s i c , and the e p i d e i c
-tic, or occasional."*"^ The first, the d e l i b e r a t i v e , is
c o n c e r n e d w i t h the o r a t o r y of p a r l i a m e n t or p u b l i c assembly, its f u n c t i o n b e i n g p e r s u a s i o n or e x h o r t a t i o n in such m a t t e r s as the m a k i n g of p o l i c y or l e g i s l a t i o n . The f o r e n s i c , o r judicial, is the o r a t o r y of the l a w c o u r t s and its b u s i n e s s is a c c u s a t i o n and d ef en se . The t h i r d d iv i s i o n , e p i d e i c ti c,
9
d e m o n s t a t i v e , or o c c a s i o n a l , is c o n c e r n e d w i t h the c e r e m o n i a l
o r a t i o n of w h i c h the s ub j e c t is u s u a l l y p r a i s e and s o m et i m e s ,
t h o u g h rare l y , blame. In terms of time, the d e l i b e r a t i v e o r a t i o n d e als w i t h the future, the f o r e n s i c w i t h the past,
and the e p i d e i c t i c w i t h the present.. The p u r p o s e of the d e l i b e r a t i v e o r a t i o n is to v i n d i c a t e the e x p e d i e n t and e x po se the harmful., the f o r e n s i c to vindicate- the just and
c o n d e m n the u n j ust, and the e p i d e i c t i c to v i n d i c a t e the n o b l e
and d i s p r a i s e the i gn ob le . T h e se t h re e c a t e g o r i e s we m a y l o o s e l y l a b e l as the s u b j ec t m a t t e r of r h e t or ic . H ow ev e r , as A r i s t o t l e suggests, a n y t h i n g can be m a d e the s u b j ec t of
rh e t or ic , for any s u bj ec t can be m a d e p e r s u a s i v e . ^ M o r e
over, the c l a s s i c a l c o n s e n s u s c o n c e r n i n g the p u r p o s e
of r h e t o r i c is th a t it is " p e r s u a s i v e ” p u bl ic s p e a k i n g . ^ The e s se nc e of r h e t o r i c then, is p e r s u a s i o n . P.A. D u h a m e l
pu t s it s uc c i n c t l y :
R h e t o r i c is b e t t e r t h o u g h t of as an idea, the c o n cept of e f f e c t i v e e x p re ss io n, t h a n as a set or
c o l l e c t i o n of p r i n c i p l e s w i t h an a b i d i n g p u r p o s e . . . Terms and p u r p o s e s are m e a n i n g f u l only w i t h i n the c o n t e x t of the a u t h o r ’s s y s t e m t a k e n as a whole. All r h e t o r i c i a n s h a v e h a d one object: the
t e a c h i n g of e f f e c t i v e e x p r e ss i o n .17
H o we v e r , in our d i s c u s s i o n of the t r a d i t i o n s of the v er s e lett e r , we w i l l be c o n c e r n e d d i r e c t l y w i t h the f i rst
I S A r i s t o t l e , R h e t o r i c , i n T h e R h e t o r i c and T he P o e t i c s of A r i s t o t l e , t r a n s . W. R h y s R o b e r t s ( N e w Y o r k , 1 9 5 4 7 7 1.1
X T 3 5 4 a 1-127, p. 19.
l ^ S ee D.L. Clark, R h e t o r i c and P o e t r y , p. 25.
c a t e g o r y , the d e l i b e r a t i v e , and the third, the e p i d e i c t i c . The s u b j e c t of r h e t o r i c was c o m m o n l y d i v i d e d into five p a r t s . I n v e n t i o (often t r a n s l a t e d as i n v e n t i on ), the f ir s t
part, is the art of e x p l o r i n g the m a t e r i a l "to d i s c o v e r all
the a r g u m e n t s w h i c h m a y be b r o u g h t to b e a r in s u p p o rt of a p r o p o s i t i o n and in r e f u t a t i o n of the o p p o s i n g a g r u m e n t s . It i n c l u d e s the s t u d y of a r g u m e n t s and f a l l a c i es . The k i nds of a r g u m e n t t r e a t e d in c l a s s i c a l r h e t o r i c we r e two: the enthymeme, or r h e t o r i c a l s y l l o g i sm , and the r h e t o r i c a l i n
d u c t i o n of e x a m p l e . T h e l a t t e r is the m o s t i m p o r t a n t for our p u r p o s e s , as it a p p l i e s to the m a j o r i t y of D o n n e ’s v e r s e
l etters, but e n t h y m e m e s also f r e q u e n t l y occur, e s p e c i a l l y in the d e l i b e r a t i v e e p i s t l e s .
D i s p o s i t i o ( disposition) is the art of a r r a n g i n g the m a t e r i a l g a t h e r e d for p r e s e n t a t i o n to an audie n c e . W i t h
the t r a d i t i o n a l t r a n s f e r of r h e t o r i c a l t e c h n i q u e s to poetry, this aspect n a t u r a l l y v a r i e d a c c o r d i n g to the p a r t i c u l a r
20
p o e t ’s art. The t h i r d pa r t of r h e t o r i c is e l o c u t i o
(o f t e n t r a n s l a t e d e lo c u t i o n ) , or style, the c h o i ce or
a r r a n g e m e n t s of v a r i o u s w o r d s i n a s e n t e n c e a n d , i n t h i s case,
the ch o i c e of w o rd s and t h e i r a r r a n g e m e n t in a v e r s e letter.
l ®C la r k , R h e t o r i c and P o e t r y , p. 27. The a u t h o r gives a c o m p r e h e n s i v e d i s c u s s i o n of t h e s e five parts. See also, R h e t o r i c in G r e c o - R o m a n E d u c a t i o n , pp. 71-143.
- ^ S e e A r i s t o t l e , R h et o r i c , i, 2 (1 3 5 7 a 9-20), pp. 2 7 — 28. ^ C l a r k p o i n t s out that ’’The t e n d e n c y to u s e the
11
The f o u r t h and f i f t h parts, m e m o r i a (memory) and
p r o n u n t i a t i o (delivery), are d i r e c t l y c o n c e r n e d w i t h o r a t o r y
and are not p e r t i n e n t to this d i s c u s s i o n . Our i n t e r e s t is o n l y in the f i r s t t h r ee pa r t s : i n v e n t i o n , d i s p o s i t i o n , and
e l o c u t i o n ; and also in D o n n e ’s a p p l i c a t i o n of t he s e r h e t o r i c a l d e v i c e s in his v e r s e l e t t e r s . ' B e c a u s e the t r a d i t i o n s of
the v e r s e e p i s t l e are e s s e n t i a l l y r h e t o r i c a l in n a t u r e , it
is quite n e c e s s a r y to h a v e t h e s e r h e t o r i c a l t e r m s and t h e i r m e a n i n g s c l e a r l y in m i n d . A t t e n t i o n can now be t u r n e d to the
T H E E P I S T O L A R Y T R A D I T I O N
One of the b a s ic p r o b l e m s i n l o o k i n g at R e n a i s s a n c e p o et ry , or the p o e t r y of any p r e c e d i n g age for that m at t e r , is a t e n d e n c y on the p ar t of c r i t i c s and r e a d e r s a l i k e to
r e m o v e it f r o m its c o n t e x t , that is, a t e n d e n c y not to lo o k at it on its own g ro un d s . P o e t r y is not w r i t t e n in a
v a cu u m ; it is w r i t t e n in a p a r t i c u l a r p l a c e and at a
p a r t i c u l a r time. We cannot, of c ou r s e , b e c om e R e n a i s s a n c e r e a de r s , but we c a n s h a r p e n our u n d e r s t a n d i n g of s i x t e e n t h
and s e v e n t e e n t h c e n t u r y p o e t r y by b e c o m i n g a w are of its a m b i e n c e and t r a d i t i o n s , and of the p o s s i b i l i t i e s for o r i g i n a l i t y w i t h i n i m p o s e d l i m i t s of c o n v e n t i o n . C o n s e qu e n t l y , in d e a l i n g w i t h the v e r s e l e t t e r s of Jo h n Donne,
an a w a r e n e s s of t h e i r t r a d i t i o n s is a p r e r e q u i s i t e for f u r t h e r d i s c u s si o n.
The N a t u r e of the V e r s e E p i s t le
M o s t of the e s t a b l i s h e d p o e t i c g e n r e s r e c e i v e d a d e q u a t e ,
if not e x t e n s i v e t r e a t m e n t , in the c r i t i c a l t r e a t i s e s of the R e n a i s s a n c e , but the v e r s e e p i s tl e was s i n g u l a r l y i g n o r e d . The age of N e o - C l a s s i c i s m , w h i c h g e n e r a l l y
c u l t i v a t e d the t h e o r y of ge n r e s and p o e t i c form, l i k e w i s e i g n o r e d the v e r s e e p is t l e in its t r e a t i s e s , and ev e n t o d a y it is s till i g n o r e d by c r i t i c s and schol a r s . P e r h ap s the
13
fa c t that it was n e g l e c t e d by the N e o - C l a s s i c i s t s and the f a ct t h a t it is s t i l l p a i d l i t t l e a t t e n t i o n to t o d a y is,
to some extent, j u s t i f i e d , for it was not t r e a t e d c r i t i c a l l y as a p o e t i c f o r m i n the age w h i c h c u l t i v a t e d it. W h e n it
is c o m m e n t e d u p o n in the v a r i o u s p o e t i c a l t r e a t i s e s of the R e n a i s s a n c e and o t h er c r i t i c a l d o c u m e n t s , t h e r e is m u c h
i n d e c i s i o n as to w h a t the v e r s e e pi s t l e a c t u a l l y is;
c o m m e n t a t o r s g e n e r a l l y r e g a r d it as e i t h e r an e l e g i a c mode,
or as a w a y of w r i t i n g satire.
F o r the v e r s e e p i s t l e w r i t t e n by D o n n e and his
c o n t e m p o r a r i e s , the o n ly c l a s s i c a l p r e c e d e n t of m e r i t was
the E p i s t o l a e of H or a c e . H o w e v e r , e v e n the d e m a n d of the H o r a t i a n e p i s t l e to c o n s i d e r a t i o n as a c l a s s i f i e d p o e t i c
ty p e has r e m a i n e d a m a t t e r of a r g u m e n t b e t w e e n t h o s e who
w o u l d r e g a r d it as a sub— d i v i s i o n of the s e r m o (satiric d i a l o g u e )
and t h o s e who w o u l d v i e w it a s "a f o r m d i f f e r e n t f r o m the sermo or
iSee, for e x ample, P i e r r e de Laudun, Art P o e t i q u e F r a n c o i s , in T h r e e C e n t u r i e s of F r e n c h Poetic T h e o r y , ed. W a r r e n F. P a t t e r s o n (Ann Arbor, 1935), I, 768. For
P a t t e r s o n fs c o m m e n t s u p o n the c o n f u s i o n of the e l e g y and the epistle, see I, 270-1, 383, 466, 586, 857. See also Je a n V a u q u e l i n de la F r es n a y e , P r e f a c e to S a t y r e s F r a n co i ses, in C r i t i c a l P r ef ac es of the F r e n c h R e n a i s s a n c e , ed. B e r n a r d W e i n b e r g (Evanston, 195071 F* 275. The f o r e g o i n g w or k s are c i t e d by Jay A r n o l d L e v in e in, "The St a t u s of the V er s e E p i s t l e b e f o r e P o p e , " S t u d i e s in P h i l o l o g y , L I X (1962), 660. A s i de f r o m C l a y H u n t 1s s ke t c h y t r e a t m e n t
i n " T h e E l i z a b e t h a n B a c k g r o u n d o f N e o — C l a s s i c P o l i t e
V e r s e , " E L H , V I I I (1941), 2 7 3-304, this a r t i cl e is the only s t u d y a v a i l a b l e on the v e r s e e p is tl e as a p o e t i c f o r m
i n the R e n a i s s a n c e and N e o - C l a s s i c p e r i o d s of l i t e r a t u r e . The a u t h o r is c o n c e r n e d only w i t h the e t h i c a l ?or moral,
o
"satire'* g en e r a l l y . The m o s t s u c c e s s f u l way, it a ppears,
of d i s t i n g u i s h i n g b e t w e e n the e p i s t l e and the sermo has b ee n
on the b a s i s of style (d i s p o s i t i o n ) or c o n t e n t
E n c o m p a s s i n g as t h e y do such a w i d e v a r i e t y of t o p i c s ( from the r e j e c t i o n of d i n n e r i n v i t a t i o n s to v e r y s e r i o u s m o r a l and c r i t i c a l d i s q u i s i t i o n s ) , and u n l i k e p a s t o r a l or satire, w h i c h can be d i s t i n g u i s h e d by s ub j e c t m a t t e r (as w e l l as by s t r u c t u r a l and s t y l i s t i c e l e m e n t s ) , 4 or the ode, elegy, epi g r a m , and sonnet, w h i c h m u s t c o n f o r m to c e r t a i n
f o rm a l r e q u i r e m e n t s , the H o r a t i a n e p i s t l e c a n n o t be c o n v e n i e n t ly c a t e g o r i z e d by such s i m p l e c r i t e r i a as t h e m e a n d / o r f o r m . ^
^See Levine, S t u d i e s in P h i l o l o g y , LIX, 660; see also, for example, G.L. H e n d r i c k s o n , "Are the L et t e r s of H o r a c e S a t i r e s ? , " A m e r i c a n J o u r na l of P h i l o l o g y , X V I I I (1897), 3 1 3 -24. H e n d r i c k s o n m a i n t a i n s tFat the E p i s t l e s of H o r a c e are a s u b d i v i s i o n of the w i d e r g e n r e sermo and h e n c e c o u ld l i k e wi s e be c a l l e d satires; see also S m i th P. Bovie, " Ge ne ra l I n t r o d u c t i o n , " in S at i r e s and E p i s t l e s of H o r a c e (Chicago, 1959), p. 8; see also E d u a r d F ra e n k e l , H o r a c e (Oxford, 1957), p. 309. A l t h o u g h the l a st two s ch ol ar s d i s t i n g u i s h b e t w e e n the S a t i r e s and E p i s 1 1 es on the b a sis of style, t he y both c l a s s i f y the e p i s tl e as p ar t of the g e n re s e r m o , w hi ch also i n c l u d e s satire. T h e r e f o r e , b o t h the E p i s t l e s and the S a t i r e s c o u l d be c l a s s i f i e d as s e r m o n e s , the d i s t i n c t i o n b e t w e e n the t wo b e i n g one of s t y l e .
^See, for e xample, E.P. M o r r i s , "The F o r m of the E p i s t l e in H o r a c e , " Y a l e C l a s s i c a l S t u d i e s , II (1931), 79-114. See also James C. la D r i e r e , "S e r m o n i P r o p i u s : A S t u d y of the H o r a t i a n T h e o r y of the E p i s t l e , " u n p u b l i s h e d Ph.D. d i s s e r t a tion, U n i v e r s i t y of M i c h i g a n , 1937, pp. 54-55. La D r i e r e
r e j e c t s H e n d r i c k s o n ' s t h e s i s .
■^See Levine, S t u d i e s in P h i l o l o g y , LIX, 660.
^ M a n y of D o n n e ' s v e r s e e p i s t l e s m i g h t w e l l be c l a s s i f i e d on the basis of f o r m as ele g i e s , odes, e p i g r a m s , or satires. Indeed, the e p i s t l e s that i l l u s t r a t e a p a r a e n e t i c m o t i f h a v e m a n y q u a l i t i e s of the e p i g r a m and satire. For the a f f i n i t y b e t w e e n s a t i r es a n d e p i s t l e s , see M a r y C l a i r e R a n d o l p h , "The S t r u c t u r a l D e s i g n of the F o r m a l V e r s e S a t i r e , " P h i l o l o g i c a l Q ua r t e r l y , X X I (1942), 368 - 3 8 4 .
(e l o c u t i o n ) r a t h e r t h a n s t r u c t u r e
15
T h e r e f o r e , as J o s e p h T rapp s u g g e s t s and Le v i n e m a i n t a i n s , the v e r s e e p i s t l e s h o u l d p r o b a b l y be v i e w e d not as a g enre in itself, but as n a m a n n e r of w r i t i n g a da p t a b l e to such f i x e d f o rm s as the e l e g y and the s a t i r e . " 6 We w o u l d
o t h e r w i s e not be able to j u s t i f y c a l l i n g all t h i r t y - f i v e
of D o n n e Ts v e r s e l e t t e r s e p i st l e s . ^ It is this v e r y l o o s e n e s s of f o r m w h i c h e n a b l es D o n ne to t r eat v a r i o u s
s u b j e c t s in d i v e r s e ways, that is, s a t i r i c a l l y and
p h i l o s o p h i c a l l y . Indeed, as J o s e ph T r a pp says a b out the v e r s e e p i s t l e :
M a n y E l e g i e s are w r i t in the E p i s t o l a r y ,M a n n e r ... S a t i r e m a y be w ri t on the D i a l o g u e or E p i s t o l a r y M an n e r , and we h a v e i n s t a n c e s of b o t h F o r m s in H o r a c e , Juvenal, and P e r s i u s . v As some of H o r a c e ’s w h i c h are c a l l ’d S a t i r e s , are as t r u l y E p i s t l e s ;
so m a n y of his E p i s t l e s m i g h t as w e l l be c a l l ’d S a t i r e s .8
The d i s t i n g u i s h i n g f e a t u r e of the v er s e e p i s t l e , t h e n , is its i n n e r form: a t t i t u d e , tone, and purpose.— m o r e
c r udely, s u b j e c t and a u d i e n c e , all of w h i c h are i n c l u d e d in
the e l e m e n t of style. I s hall h a v e m o r e to say about
^S t u d i e s in P h i l o l o g y , LIX, 661; see also, 661, n. 10: "By w a y of analogy, we can a g ree that b ot h P a m e l a and Tom Jones are n o v els, w i t h o u t m a i n t a i n i n g that the e p i s t o l a r y m o d e of n a r r a t i o n e i t h e r p r e c l u d e s or j u s ti fi es our c l a s s i f i c a t i o n or R i c h a r d s o n ’s w o r k . "
^ Pe rh a ps at this point, the d i s t i n c t i o n b e t w e e n a l e t t e r and an e pi s t l e s h o u l d be m a de. Wh a t m a k e s a l e t t e r
an e p i s t l e is t h e p r e d o m i n a n c e of g e n e r a l c o n t e n t over t o p i c a l i n t e r e s t . The l e t t e r is m o r e p a r t i c u l a r and m o r e f a m i l i a r in s t y l e , w h e r e a s the e p i s t l e has an e t h i c a l or m o r a l q u a l i t y a b out it; it is m o r e e x h o r t a t o r y in nature. T h e r e are e x a m p l e s of b o t h the l e t t e r and the e p is tl e in D o n n e ’s poems, but for our p u r p o s e s the d i s t i n c t i o n is not too i m p o r t a n t .
s t yle l a t e r w h e n I d i s c u ss the p r i n c i p l e of d e c or u m .
H ow e v e r , the c r i t i c a l p r o b l e m n o w is to find the o t her
d i m e n s i o n (the o ut e r form) to c o m p l e t e the p i c t u r e . ^
D es p i t e the l a c k of s i g n i f i c a n t c r i t i c a l comment,
L ev i n e p o i n t s out th a t c o m m e n t s w h e n t he y are m a d e stress the i n f o r m a l i t y and f r e e d o m of the e p i s t o l a r y m o d e of w r i t i n g : " W h a t e v e r m e a n s m i g h t be e m p l o y e d to se c u r e the
effect, the i n t e n t i o n of the e p i s t o l a r y w r i t e r was [at
l e as t] to c o n v e y the air of fr e e and i n t i m a t e s p o n t a n e i t y ."10 F o r this reason, the w r i t e r of v e r s e e pi st le s h a d to se e m n o n — p r o f e s s i o n a l . To a c h i ev e this p ur po se , it is my
c o n t e n ti on , as it is L e v i n e ’s, th a t the R e n a i s s a n c e poet s i m pl y a d o p t e d the t e c h n i q u e s of r h e t o r i c w h i c h for h i m o f f e r e d
in c o d i f i e d f o r m t ho s e b a s i c p r i n c i p l e s of .persuasion w h i c h are a p p l i c a b l e to n u m e r o u s
t y pes of d i s c o u r s e , and w h i c h m a y be a p p l i e d w i t h as l i tt l e s e l f - c o n s c i o u s n e s s as the r u les of g r a m m a r . H
M o r e o v e r , the u n u s u a l d e p e n d e n c e of D o n n e ’s v e r s e l e t t e rs
u p o n r h e t o r i c a l f o r m u l a t i o n s s u g g e s t s that the e p i s t o l a r y style of w r i t i n g m a i n t a i n e d a p a r t i c u l a r l y c l ose a l i g n m e n t
^ R e n e W e l l e k and A u s t i n W a r r e n def i n e g e n re "as a g r o u p i n g of l i t e r a r y w o r k s based, t h e o r e t i c a l l y , u p o n b o t h o uter f o r m ( s p e c i f i c m e t r e and s t r u c t u r e ) and also u p o n i n n e r f o r m ( a t titude, tone, p u r p o s e — m o r e crudely,
s u b j e c t and a ud i e n c e ) . The o s t e n s i b l e b a sis m a y be one or the o t h e r (e.g. ’p a s t o r a l ’ and ’s a t i r e ’ for the i n n e r form; d i p o d i c v e r s e and P i n d a r i c ode for outer); but the c r i t i c a l p r o b l e m w i l l t h e n be to f i n d the o t h e r d i me ns io n, to c o m p l e t e the d i a g r a m " ( Th e o r y of L i t e r a t u r e [New
York, 1956], p. 231.
I Q S t u d i e s in P h i l o l o g y , LIX, 662.
17
w i t h the o r a t o r i c a l art. To s u b s t a n t i a t e this claim, a
c o n s i d e r a t i o n of the p l a c e h e l d by e p i s t o l a r y c o m p o s i t i o n
in the r h e t o r i c a l e d u c a t i o n of the R e n a i s s a n c e is in order.
As the n e e d for p u b l i c o r a t o r y d e c l i n e d , c l a s s i c a l r h e t o r i c s e r v e d the M i d d l e Ages in wa y s a p p r o p r i a t e to the n e w d e m a n d s of the p e r i o d , p r i n c i p a l l y in the w r i t i n g of
s e rmons, and in the c o m p o s i t i o n of l e t t e r s w i t h the aid of the f o r m u l a e of the ars d i c t a m i n i s S i m i l a r l y , w h e n
the R e n a i s s a n c e h u m a n i s t s l a t e r c u l t i v a t e d the f a m i l i a r
epistle, w h i c h r a n g e d b r o a d l y over p h i l o s o p h i c a l , sch o l a r l y ,
and i n t i m a t e m a t t e r s , the m o s t n o t a b l e p r a c t i t i o n e r of the form, Er a s m u s , c o l l e c t e d the r h e t o r i c a l r ules for such
c o m p o s i t i o n s in his D_e R a t i o n e C o n s c r i b e n d i E p i s t o l a s (1522), a p r i m a r y t e x t in E n g l i s h s c h o o l s in the s i x t e e n t h c e ntury,
p r e c e d i n g A p h t h o n i u s ’s as a c o m p o s i t i o n text (which I s ha l l ha v e m o r e to say about l a t e r ) . This o f t e n - i m i t a t e d m a n u a l
1 2 S ee, for example., Eib Curtips^E u r o p e a n L i t e r a t u r e and
the L a t i n M i d d l e A g e s , t r a n s . W.R. T r a s k (New York, 1953), pp. 75-76. F o r an e x a m p l e of the u s e of r h e t o r i c in sermons,
see A u g u s t i n e , D_e d o c t r i n a C h r i s t i a n a . The i n f l u e n c e of the v a r i o u s ars d i c t a m i n i s on the i n v e n t i o n and s t r u c t u r e of the v e r s e e p i s t l e m a y h a v e g i v e n the R e n a i s s a n c e p o e t i c f o r m m a n y of its q u a l i t i e s . The ars p r o v i d e d a h i g h l y d e v e l o p e d t h e o r y of the f o r m a l l e t t e r and, a l o n g w i t h
H o r a c e ’s E p i s t l e s , m u s t s u r e l y h a v e i n f l u e n c e d the d e v e l o p m e n t of the v e r s e e p i s t l e . This r e l a t i o n s h i p s h o u l d be e x p l o r e d in m o r e detail.
l ^ F o r f u l l e r d i s c u s s i o n s of the p l a c e of the e p i s t l e in E n g l i s h R e n a i s s a n c e e d u c a t i o n , and o t h e r m a n u a l s b a s e d on Er a s m u s , see T.W. Baldwin, W i l l i a m S h a k e s p e r e Ts S m a l l L a t i n e & L e s s e G r e e k (Urbana, 19447] II, 239-87 ; D o n a l d L. Clark, John M x l t o n at S t . Paul ’ s S c h o o l (New York, 1948), pp. 186-98; H a r r i s F. F l e t c h e r , The I n t e l l e c t u a l D e v e l o p m e n t of John
d e s c r i b e s the m a i n t yp e s of l e t t e r s i n terms of the t r a d i t i o n
al r h e t o r i c a l d i v i s i o n of subject:
R h e t o r u m p l e r i s q u e t r i a c a u s a r u m g e n e r a p l a c u r e n t , s u as o r i u m , e n c o m i s t i c o n & j u d i c i a l e .14
In his d i s c u s s i o n of the d e l i b e r a t i v e l e t t e r , w h i c h is
the c o n c e r n h e re b e c a u s e it r e s e m b l e s D o n n e ’s p a r a e n e t i c ^ or m o r a l e pistle, E r a s m u s s t r e s s e s an a d h e r e n c e to the d i v i s i o n s of the r h e t o r ’s d i s p o s i t i o :
Si res p o s t u l a b i t c a p t a n d a p a u c i s est b e n e v o l e n t i a . Id q u e m a d m o d u m f i e r i c on v e n i a t , a R h e t o r i b u s d i l i -g e n t e r m o n s t r a t u m est. D e i n d e n a r r a t i o n e m s u b j i — ciemus, in q u a o m n i a ad s a u d e n d u m a c c o m o d a b i m u s , & t a n q u a m a r g u m e n t o r u m s e m i n a j a c i e m u s . D e i n d e si res i p s a p a r t e s in se c o n t i n e b i t , eas c u m d i v is o n e
p r o p o n e m u s ....15
E r as mu s, b e s i de s d i s t i n g u i s h i n g the k i n d s of e p i s t l e s and o u t l i n i n g t h e i r r h e t o r i c a l s t r uc tu re , p r o v i d e s s t y l i s t i c
a d vi ce and off e r s n u m e r o u s e x a m p l e s of c o m p l e t e l e tters.
T h r o u g h o u t his p r e s e n t a t i o n of t h e s e e x a m p l e s , he e m p h a s i z e s
the n e c e s s i t y of a t t e n d i n g to the ethos of the o r a t i o n — of o b s er vi ng , that is, the p a r t i c u l a r n a t u r e of the s pe a k e r
(1934), nos. 3,4; Je a n R o b e r t s o n , The Art of L e t t e r W r i t i n g (Liver p o o l , 1944). See also Levine, S t u d i e s in p K T l o l o g y , LIX, 667.
14
De R a t i o n e C o n s c r i b e n d i E p i s t o l a s in O p e r a O m n i a , f a c s . ed. (London, 1962), I, c o l s . 379— 80. "The t hr e e d i v i s i o n s of s u b j e ct m a t t e r h a v e s a t i s f i e d m o s t r h e t o r i c i a n s — d e l i b e r a t i v e , e n c o m i a s t i c and j u d i c i a l ” ( t r a n s l a t i o n m i n e ) .
^ E p i s t o l a s , I, col 402. ” If the s ub j e c t d e m a nd s it, f a m i l i a r i t y is e s p e c i a l l y to be d e s ir e d . It has b e e n c a r e f u l l y s ho w n by r h e t o r i c i a n s h o w this m a y be a g r e e a b l y d o n e . T h e n we s hall let the a r g u m e n t f o l l o w in w h i c h we s ha l l adapt e v e r y t h i n g to e x h o r t a t i o n ( p e r s u a s i v e n e s s ) and w e s h a l l sow the seeds, so to speak, of the e v i d e n c e . Then, if the
19
a nd of his a u d i e n c e (the p r i n c i p l e of d e c o r u m ) .^6
W i t h E r a s m u s Ts text (or one of its n u m e r o u s p r o g e n i e s )
as t h e i r b a s i c mo d e l , R e n a i s s a n c e s t u d e n t s w e r e thoroughly-d r i l l e thoroughly-d in the c o m p o s i t i o n of e p i s t l e s a c c o r thoroughly-d i n g to
r h e t o r i c a l forms. T h e s e e x e r c i s e s w e r e not on l y in p r o s e
(with C i c e r o as the i n e v i t a b l e m o d e l ) , but also in v e r s e ( with Ovid or m o r e l i k e l y H o r a c e as a p o e t i c m o d e l ) . 1?
This a s s e r t i o n c o n c e r n i n g the r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n the v e r s e e p i s t l e and r h e t o r i c a l e d u c a t i o n is not to be
t a k e n as a c l a i m th a t the R e n a i s s a n c e w r i t e r of v e r s e e p i s t l e s was s i m p l y c o n t i n u i n g his s c h o o l - d a y ' e x e r c i s e s ;
r at h e r , it is a s u g g e s t i o n that a p a r t i a l c o n c e p t i o n of
the r h e t o r i c a l p o s s i b i l i t i e s of this f o r m mu s t h a v e
l i n g e r e d in his w r i t i n g s , m a n i f e s t i n g i t s e l f p a r t i c u l a r ly in the a c c o m m o d a t i o n of the a u d i e n c e . ^ ® W h e n we lo o k
at the d e l i b e r a t i v e e p is t l e s of D o n n e and his p r e d e c e s s o r s l a t e r in the thesis, we s h all be l o o k i n g t he n for the d e gr ee to w h i c h t h e s e p o e m s d e p e n d u p o n a t r u l y r h e t o r i c a l
l ® S e e Levine, S t u d i e s i n P h i l o l o g y , LIX, 668, n. 25. • ^ S e e T.W. B aldwin, S m a l l L a t i n e & L e s s e G r e e k , II, 239-87, e s p e c i a l l y 242; see also, II, 289: "So far as s t r u c t u r e was c o n c e r n e d , p o e t r y was r e g a r d e d as b e i n g f u n d a m e n t a l l y the same as p r o s e . " I h a v e not b e e n able to e x p l o r e this l i n k b e t w e e n the p r o s e e p i st le and the v e r s e e p istle, but it seems to m e that the p r o s e l e t t e r s of C i c e r o w o u l d be a g oo d s t a r t i n g point. See G.F. Singer, The E p i s t o l a r y N o v e l (New York, 1933), chap. i, for a d i s c u s s i o n of tEe e p i s t o l a r y p r o s e t r a d i t i on .
^ ® S e e Levine, S t u d i e s in P h i l o l o g y , LIX, 669. The l i n k b e t w e e n r h e t o r i c a l f o r m u l a t i o n s and R e n a i s s a n c e p o e t r y
s h o u l d not s u r p r i s e us, as it has b e e n a mply e x p l o r e d by su c h s ch o la rs as R o s e m o n d Tu v e in E l i z a b e t h a n and
r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n the s p e a k e r and his a u d i e n c e (both i n t i
m a t e and p ub l i c ) . It is such i n v o l v e m e n t of the r e c i p i e n t
in t er m s of the a d d r e s s, wh i c h , as L e v i n e p o i n t s out, f ul f i l s 19
the r h e t o r i c a l p o t e n t i a l of the v e r s e letter.
Perhaps, at t h i s point, it m i g h t be w i s e to offer, f r o m
t he d i s c u s s i o n so far, a t e n t a t i v e d e f i n i t i o n of the
d e l i b e r a t i v e v e r s e e pistle. G e n e r a l l y s p e a k i n g it is that
k i n d of poem, p r e s e n t e d as a l e t ter, w h i c h d i s c u s s e s s e r ious m a t t e r s of i n d i v i d u a l , social, or p o l i t i c a l c o n d u c t in an
i n t i m a t e or f a m i l i a r style. On its d i s c u r s i v e level, such a p o e m a t t e mp ts to p e r s u a d e its. r e c i p i e n t — and »through him,
its w i d e r a u d i e n c e (in D on n e rs case, h i s se l e c t s o c i e t y of f r i e n d s ) of the w i s d o m in a c e r t a i n a t t i t u d e or c o u r s e of
20
ac t ion. M o r e o v e r , as we n o t e d before, the soul of the d e l i b e r a t i v e c a t e g o r y of r h e t o r i c is p e r s u a s i o n . The two
o u t s t a n d i n g s t r u c t u r a l f e a t u r e s of the d e l i b e r a t i v e epistlej then, are the s i g n i f i c a n t i n v o l v e m e n t of the a d d r e s s e e and the a dd r e s s to a d u a l a u d i e n c e . H o w e v e r , our k n o w l e d g e of this p a r t i c u l a r k i n d of v e r s e l e t t e r can be i n c r e a s e d by a s tu d y of the t h e o r y of d e c o r u m in the R e n a i s s a n c e and
its a p p l i c a t i o n to th i s g r o u p of D o n n e ’s v e r s e let t e r s .
The P r i n c i p l e of D e c o r u m
T h e o r y
In R e n a i s s a n c e l i t e r a r y t h e ory, the p r i n c i p l e of d e c o r u m p e r f o r m e d a f u n c t i o n s o me w h a t s i m i l a r to that w h i c h is
■ ^ S t u d ie s jn P h i l o l o g y , LIX, 669.
