Analysis of Ars Poetica part 21

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When a person lacks skill in any particular field, he should not try to indulge in that art. If he does so then the audience may rightly burst out with laughter on seeing him. However such is not the case with the field of poetry. Even if a person does not know how to compose poetry, he has every right to express himself because he is a free man. But Horace forbids Piso to compose poetry which are a result of anger and agitation. When he does writes something, he should first present his work to a critic. After that he should get it analysed by Maecius, his father and Horace himself. Then he should keep his parchments away for nine years. After that he should check the work himself. Now this work would appear to the poet as someone else’s work and he would be able to give his judgement in a fair manner. Horace advises Piso to be very careful in the field of poetry because he can destroy his own work anytime he wants but once published, he cannot call it back.

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