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PASTORALS,

WITH

A

Difcourfe on PASTORAL.

Written in the Year MDCCIV.

Rura mihi & rigui placeant in vallibus amnes,
Flumina amem, fylvasque, inglorius !

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3

A

DISCOURSE

ON

PASTORAL POETRY,

HERE are not, I believe, a greater number

THERE

of any fort of verfes than of thofe which are called Pastorals; nor a finaller, than of those which are truly fo. It therefore feems neceffary to give fome account of this kind of Poem, and it is my defign to comprize in this fhort paper the fubitan, ce of thofe numerous differtations the Critics have made on the fubject, without omitting any of their rules in my own favour. You will also find fome points reconciled, about which they feem to differ and a few remarks, which, I think, have escaped, their obfervation.

:

The original of Poetry is afcribed to that Age which fucceeded the creation of the World and as the keeping of flocks feems to have been the first employment of mankind, the most ancient fort of poetry was probably paftoral b), It is natural to imagine, that the leifure of thofe ancient fhepherds adınitting and inviting fome diverfion, none was fo 4) Written at fixteen years of age. b) Fontenelle's Difc. on Pastorals. Asc

proper to that folitary and fedentary life as finging ; and that in their fongs they took occafion to celebrate their own felicity. From hence a Poem was invented, and afterwards improved to a perfect image of that happy time; which by giving us an esteem for the virtues of a former age, might recommend them to the prefent. And fince the life of fhepherds was attended with more tranquillity than any other rural employment, the Poets chose to introduce their Perfons, from whom it received the name of Pastoral.

VA Paftoral is an imitation of the action of a fhepherd, or one confidered under that character. The form of this imitation is dramatic, or narrative, or mixed of both); the fable fimple, the manners not ot too polite nor too ruftic: the thoughts are plain, yet admit a little quickness and paffion, but that short and flowing: the expreffion humble, yet as pure as the language will afford; neat, but not florid; cafy, and yet lively. In fhort, the fable, manners, thoughts, and expreffions are full of the greatest fimplicity in nature.

?

The complete character of this poem confifts in fimplicity d), brevity, and delicacy; the two first of which render an eclogue natural, and the laft delightful.

<) Heinfius in Theocr.

4) Rapin. de Carm. Paft. p. 2.

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