Over the art of grammar.
Grammar is practical knowledge
of what poets and prose writers
for the most part are saying.
Its parts are six:
First: proficiently reading aloud according to prosody;
second: explanation
according to the existing poetic modes;
third: rough rendition of special expressions and plot;
fourth: finding of the true, original meaning of words;
fifth: setting out of examples;
sixth: judgement of literary inventions,
which is the finest part of this art.
Over reading.
Reading is the infallible utterance of poems and prose.
One must read in a matching expression,
prosody and distinction.
For we see the value from the expression,
from prosody the skill,
from distinctiveness the reasoning.
Reading, thus, tragedy heroically,
comedy in everyday language,
elegy sweetly,
epic vigorously,
lyric poetry harmoniously,
lamentations subdued and wailing.
For doing without due observance of these
will abate the virtues of the poets
and present the readers' skills as laughable.
