{ 79} The orator is made, the poet born.

{ 80} What you will; the first that comes.

{ 81} "Whatever I shall try to write will be verse." Sidney quotes from memory, and adapts to his context, Tristium IV. x. 26.

"Sponte sua carmen numeros veniebat ad aptos, Et quod temptabam dicere, versus erat."

{ 82} HIS for "its" here as throughout; the word "its" not being yet introduced into English writing.

{ 83} Defects in the Drama. It should be remembered that this was written when the English drama was but twenty years old, and Shakespeare, aged about seventeen, had not yet come to London. The strongest of Shakespeare's precursors had not yet begun to write for the stage. Marlowe had not yet written; and the strength that was to come of the freedom of the English drama had yet to be shown.

{ 84} There was no scenery on the Elizabethan stage.

{ 87} Bias, slope; French "biais."