A Shew of Discoveries

 La analogía dramatística en el inicio de Hakluytus Posthumus, or Purchas His Pilgrimes:

Hakluytus Posthumus, or, Purchas His Pilgrimes, Book 1: 

The Voyages & Peregrinations 

made by Antient Kings, Patriarkes, Apostles, Philosophers, and others, 

to and thorow the remoter parts of the knowne World: 

Enquiries also of Languages and Religions, especially of the moderne diversified Prosessions of Christianitie.

The First Booke

Chap. I: A large Treatise of King Salomons Navie sent from Eziongeberto Ophir: Wherein, besides the Typicall Mysteries briefly unvailed, and many Morall Speculations observed; the voyage is largely discussed out of Divine, Ecclesiasticall and Humane Testimonies: Intended as an historicall Preface to  the Histories following.

 

Intending to present the World to the World in the most certaine view, I thought a world of Authors fitter for that purpose, then any One Author writing of the World: whose discourse might haply bee more even, facile, methodicall, and contracted to a more compendious forme; but could not avoid to be dispendious (if I may so speake) in the matter, and to suspend the Readers judgment for the Authoritie. Oculatus testis unus praeestat auritis decem. (Plaut.). I had rather heare the meanest of Ulysses his followers relating his wanderings, then wander from the certaintie with Homer after all his readings and conjectures. Lo here then (after my Pilgrimage of the former Nature, for such as better like that course) in open Theatre presented a Shew of Discoveries on an English Stage, wherein the World is both the Spectacle and Spectator; the Actors are the Authors themselves, each presenting his owne actions and passions in that kind, kindly (in generous and genuine History) acting their acts; not affectedly straining, or scenic-all-ly playing their part (Terent.); the Arts indeed of the Poet, Maker, or Composer, aiming at delight more then truth (Populo ut placerent, quas fecisset Fabulas) seeking to please the vulgar with fabulous wonders, and wonder-foole fables. 

And for a Prologue, behold Salomons Ophirian Navigation, that Worthy of Men, being most worthy to bee Our Choragus, whose ayme is in this long Worke to fetch from Ophir Materialls for the Temples structure, and to edifie Christs Church, with more full and evident knowledge of Gods Workes in the World, both of Creation and Providence, then any one Naturall or Humane Historian, yea (absit invidia verbo) then all hitherto in this (perhaps in any) course have done. I compare not with Aristotle, Plinie, and others in philosophicall and learned speculation of Reason, but in evident demonstration of Sense, and herein (not to us Lord, not to us, but to thy Name be given the glory) it exceedeth not modesty to speake thus much in behalfe of this cloud of witnesses which we bring, testifying what they have seen, that these exceed the former in certainty (relating what they have seene) and in fulnesse (by advantage of New Worlds found in, and besides the World knowne to them) no lesse then they are exceeded in Antiquitie and learning. 

For mee, I say with Agur, surely I am more foolish then any man, and have not the understanding of a man in mee (Prov. 30.2. - 2. Kin. 6.5.); Alas Master (I may proclaim to each Reader) all is borrowed: I never travelled out of this Kingdome (ingenuously I confesse, it is the totall summe of all my Travell-readings) the Centre of the Worlds good things, and Heart of her happinesse; and yet (yea thereby) have, as thou seest, conceived (where Dinahs gadding gained onely losse) (Gen. 34.2. - Gen.30.11.) and travelled of a Gad, a Troup of Travellers; So said Leah, A troup commeth and shee called his name Gad. And seeing we have stumbled on that Word, let it be ominous, so others read it Foeliciter, Bagad, being by the Hebrewes resolved into (See M. Salden Syntag. I. De D. Syris.) Ba Mazal tob, that is; Good fortune commeth. I am not Leah, I take no such authority on mee, but when shee hath left bearing (when better leisures, quicker wits, sounder health, profounder learning, and all abler meanes looke on) let not Jacobs Bed, for the propagation and edification of the Church, be envied in Zilpah, Leahs mayd; And let this my Service in conceiving and nursing up this Gad be accepted of all Jacobs Friends. And that it might bee accepted, I have begun (Dimidium facti qui bene cepit habet) with the most acceptable Voyages mentioned in the Old and New Testaments; the one a Type of the other; those of Salomon to Ophir, and of the Apostles about the World.