Chapter 4

Not to mention other kinds of _Poetry_, what particular Genius is requir'd to _Pastoral_ I think, is evident from the foregoing Discourse, for as every part of it ought to be full of simple and inartificial neatness, so it requires a Wit naturally neat and pleasant, born to delight and ravish, which are the qualifications certainly of a great and most excellent Nature: For whatsoever in any kind is delicate and elegant, that is usually most excellent: And such a _Genius_ that hath a sprightfulness of Nature, and is well instructed {46} by the rules of Art, is fit to attempt _Pastorals_.

Of the end of Pastorals tis not so easy to give an account: For as to the end of Poetry in General: The Enemies of Poets run out into a large common place, and loudly tell us that Poetry is frivolous and unprofitable. Excellent men! that love _profit_ perchance, but have no regard for _Honesty_ and _Goodness_; who do not know that all excellent _Arts_ sprang from _Poetry_ at first.

Which what is honest, base, or just, or good, Better than _Crantor_, or _Chrysippus_ show'd.

For tis _Poetry_ that like a chast unspotted Virgin, shews men the way, and the means to live happily, who afterward are deprav'd by the immodest precepts of vitiated and impudent _Philosophy_. For every body knows, that the _Epick_ sets before us the highest example of the Bravest man; the _Tragedian_ regulates the Affections of the Mind; the _Lyrick_ reforms Manners, or sings the Praises of Gods, and Heroes; so that there's no part of _Poetry_ but hath it's proper end, and profits.

But grant all this true, _Pastoral_ can make no such pretence: if you sing a _Hero_, you excite mens minds to imitate his Actions, and notable Exploits; but how can _Bucolicks_ apply these or the like advantages to its self? _He that reads {47} Heroick Poems, learns what is the vertue of a Hero, and wishes to be like him; but he that reads Pastorals, neither learns how to feed sheep, nor wishes himself a shepherd:_ And a great deal more to this purpose you may see in _Modicius_, as _Pontanus_ cites him in his Notes on _Virgil's_ _Eclogues_.

But when tis the end of _Comedy_, as _Jerom_ in his Epistle to _Furia_ says, to know the Humors of Men, and to describe them; and _Demea_ in _Terence_ intimates the same thing,

To look on all mens lives as in a Glass, And take from those Examples for our Own,

so that our Humors and Conversations may be better'd, and improv'd; why may not _Pastoral_ be allow'd the same Priviledge, and be admitted to regulate and improve a _Shepherd's_ life by its _Bucolicks_? For since tis a product of the Golden Age, it will shew the most innocent manners of the most ancient Simplicity, how plain and honest, and how free from all varnish, and deceit, to more degenerate, and worse times: And certainly for this tis commendable in its kind, since its design in drawing the image of a Country and Shepherd's life, is to teach Honesty, Candor, and Simplicity, which are the vertues of _private_ men; as _Epicks_ teach the highest Fortitude, and Prudence, and Conduct, which are the vertues of _Generals_, and _Kings_. And tis necessary {48} to Government, that as there is one kind of _Poetry_ to instruct the _Citizens_, there should be another to fashion the manners of the _Rusticks_: which if _Pastoral_, as it does, did not do, yet would it not be altogether frivolous, and idle, since by its taking prettinesses it can delight, and please. It can scarce be imagin'd, how much the most flourishing times of the _Roman_ Common- wealth, in which _Virgil_ wrote, grew better and brisker by the use of _Pastoral_: with it were _Augustus_, _Mecænas_, _Asinius Pollio_, _Alphenus Varus_, _Cornelius Gallus_, the most admired Wits of that happy Age, wonderfully pleas'd; for whatever is sweet, and ravishing, is contain'd in this sweetest kind of Poetry. But if we must slight every thing, from which no _profit_ is to be hop'd, all pleasures of the Eye and Ear are presently to be laid aside; and those excellent Arts, _Musick_, and _Painting_, with which the best men use to be delighted, are presently to be left off. Nor is it indeed credible, that so many excellent Wits, as have devoted themselves to Poetry, would ever have medled with it, if it had been so empty, idle, and frivolous, as some ridiculously morose imagine; who forsooth are better pleas'd with the severity of _Philosophy_, and her harsh, deform'd impropriety of Expressions. But the judgments of such men are the most contemptible in the world; for when by _Poetry_ mens minds are fashioned to generous {49} Humors, Kindness, and the like: those must needs be strangers to all those good qualites, who hate, or proclaim _Poetry_ to be frivolous, and useless.

{50} _The Third_ PART

_Rules for writing_ Pastorals.

In delivering Rules for writing _Pastorals_, I shall not point to the _streams_, which to look after argues a small creeping _Genius_, but lead you to the _fountains_. But first I must tell you, how difficult it is to write _Pastorals_, which many seem not sufficiently to understand: For since its matter is low, and humble, it seems to have nothing that is troublesome, and difficult. But this is a great mistake, for, as _Horace_ says of _Comedy_, "It is by so much the more difficult, by how much the less pardonable are the mistakes committed in its composure": and the same is to be thought of every thing, whose end is to please, and delight. For whatsoever is contriv'd for pleasure, and not necessarily requir'd, unless it be exquisite, must be nauseous, and distastful; as at a Supper, scraping Musick, thick Oyntment, or the like, because the Entertainment might have been without all these; For the sweetest things, and most delicious, are most apt to satiate; for tho the sense may sometimes be pleas'd, yet it presently disgusts that which is {51} luscious, and, as _Lucretius_ phraseth it,

E'en in the midst and fury of the Joys, Some thing that's better riseth, and destroys.

Beside, since _Pastoral_ is of that nature, that it cannot endure too much negligence, nor too scrupulous diligence, it must be very difficult to be compos'd, especially since the expression must be neat, but not too exquisite, and fine: It must have a simple native beauty, but not too mean; it must have all sorts of delicacies, and surprizing fancies, yet not be flowing, and luxuriant. And certainly, to hit all these excellencies is difficult enough, since Wit, whose nature it is to pour it self forth, must rather be restrain'd than indulg'd; and that force of the Mind, which of it self is so ready to run on, must be checkt, and bridled: Which cannot be easily perform'd by any, but those who have a very good Judgment, and practically skill'd in Arts, and Sciences: And lastly, a neat, and as it were a happy Wit; not that curious sort, I mean, which _Petronius_ allows _Horace_, lest too much _Art_ should take off the Beauty of the _Simplicity_. And therefore I would not have any one undertake this task, that is not very polite by _Nature_, and very much at leisure. For what is more hard than to be always in the _Country_, and yet never to be _Clownish_? to sing of _mean_, and _trivial_ matters, {52} yet not _trivially_, and _meanly_? to pipe on a _slender_ Reed, and yet keep the sound from being _harsh_, and _squeaking_? to make every thing _sweet_, yet never _satiate_? And this I thought necessary to premise, in order to the better laying down of such Rules as I design. For the naked _simplicity_ both of the Matter and Expression of a _Pastoral_, upon bare Contemplation, might seem easily to be hit, but upon trial 'twill be found a very hard task: Nor was the difficulty to be dissembled, lest _Ignorance_ should betray some into a rash attempt. Now I must come to the very Rules; for as nothing excellent can be brought to perfection without _Nature_, (for Art unassisted by that, is vain, and ineffectual,) so there is no _Nature_ so excellent, and happy, which by its own strength, and without _Art_ and _Use_ can make any thing excellent, and great.

But tis hard to give _Rules_ for that, for which there have been none already given; for where there are no footsteps nor path to direct, I cannot tell how any one can be certain of his way. Yet in this difficulty I will follow _Aristotle's_ Example, who being to lay down Rules concerning _Epicks_, propos'd _Homer_ as a Pattern, from whom he deduc'd the whole Art: So I will gather from _Theocritus_ and _Virgil_, those Fathers of _Pastoral_, what I shall deliver on this account. For all the Rules that are to be given of any Art, are to be given of it as excellent, and perfect, and {53} therefore ought to be taken from them in whom it is so.

The first Rule shall be about the _Matter_, which is either the _Action_ of a _Shepherd_, or contriv'd and fitted to the _Genius_ of a Shepherd; for tho _Pastoral_ is simple, and bashful, yet it will entertain lofty subjects, if it can be permitted to turn and fashion them to its own proper Circumstances, and Humor: which tho _Theocritus_ hath never done, but kept close to _pastoral_ simplicity, yet _Virgil_ hath happily attempted; of whom almost the same _Character_ might be given, which _Quintilian_ bestow'd on _Stesichorus_, who _with his Harp bore up the most weighty subjects of_ Epick _Poetry_; for _Virgil_ sang great and lofty things to his Oaten Reed, but yet suited to the Humor of a Shepherd, for every thing that is not agreeable to that, cannot belong to _Pastoral_: of its own nature it cannot treat of lofty and great matters.

Therefore let _Pastoral_ be smooth and soft, not noisy and bombast; lest whilst it raiseth its voice, and opens its mouth, it meet with the same fate that, they say, an _Italian_ Shepherd did, who having a very large mouth, and a very strong breath, brake his Pipe as often as he blow'd it. This is a great fault in one that writes _Pastorals_: for if his words are too sounding, or his sense too strong, he must be absurd, because indecently loud. And this is not the rule of an unskilful {54} impertinent Adviser, but rather of a very excellent Master in this _Art_; for _Phoebus_ twitcht _Virgil_ by the Ear, and warn'd him to forbear great Subjects: but if it ventures upon such, it may be allow'd to use some short _Invocations_, and, as _Epicks_ do, modestly implore the assistance of a Muse. This _Virgil_ doth in his _Pollio_, which is a Composure of an unusual loftiness:

_Sicilian_ Muse begin a loftier strain.

So he invocates _Arethusa_, when _Cornelius Gallus Proconsul of Ægypt_ and his _Amours_, matters above the common reach of _Pastoral_, are his Subject.

One Labor more O _Arethusa_ yield.

Why he makes his application to _Aretheusa_ is easy to conjecture, for she was a _Nymph_ of _Sicily_, and so he might hope that she could inspire him with a _Genius_ fit for _Pastorals_ which first began in that _Island_, Thus in the seventh and eighth _Eclogue_, as the matter would bear, he invocates the Nymphs and Muses: And _Theocritus_ does the same,

Tell Goddess, you can tell.

From whence 'tis evident that in _Pastoral_, tho it never pretends to any greatness, _Invocations_ {55} may be allow'd: But whatever Subject it chooseth, it must take care to accommodate it to the Genius and Circumstances of a Shepherd.

Concerning the Form, or mode of _Imitation_, I shall not repeat what I have already said, _viz._ that this is in it self _mixt_; for _Pastoral_ is either _Alternate_, or hath but _one Person_, or is _mixt_ of both: yet 'tis properly and chiefly _Alternate_. as is evident from that of _Theocritus_.

Sing _Rural_ strains, for as we march along We may delight each other with a Song.

In which the _Poet_ shows that _alternate_ singing is proper to a _Pastoral_: But as for the _Fable_, 'tis requisite that it should be simple, lest in stead of _Pastoral_ it put on the form of a _Comedy_, or _Tragedy_ if the _Fable_ be great, or intricate: It must be _One_; this _Aristotle_ thinks necessary in every _Poem_, and _Horace_ lays down this general Rule,

Be every _Fable_ simple, and but one:

For every Poem, that is not _One_, is imperfect, and this _Unity_ is to be taken from the _Action_: for if that is _One_, the Poem will be so too. Such is the Passion of _Corydon_ in _Virgil's_ second Eclogue, _Meliboeus's_ Expostulation with _Tityrus_ about his Fortune; _Theocritus's_ _Thyrsis, Cyclops_, and _Amaryllis_, of which perhaps in its proper place I may treat more largely.

{56} Let the third Rule be concerning the _Expression_, which cannot be in this kind excellent unless borrow'd from _Theocritus's_ _Idylliums_, or _Virgil's_ _Eclogues_, let it be chiefly simple, and ingenuous: such is that of _Theocritus_,

A Kid belongs to thee, and Kids are good,

Or that in _Virgil's_ seventh Eclogue,

This Pail of Milk, these Cakes (_Priapus_) every year Expect; a little Garden is thy care: Thou'rt Marble now, but if more Land I hold, If my Flock thrive, thou shalt be made of Gold,

than which I cannot imagine more simple, and more ingenuous expressions. To which may be added that out of his _Palemon_,

And I love _Phyllis_, for her Charms excell; At my departure O what tears there fell! She sigh'd, Farewell Dear Youth, a long Farewell.

Now, That I call an ingenuous Expression which is clear and smooth, that swells with no insolent words, or bold metaphors, but hath something familiar, and as it were obvious in its Composure, and not disguis'd by any study'd and affected dress: All its Ornament must be like the Corn and fruits in the Country, easy to {57} be gotten, and ready at hand, not such as requires Care, Labor, and Cost to be obtain'd: as _Hermogenes_ on _Theocritus_ observes; _See how easie and unaffected this sounds_,

Pines murmurings, Goatherd, are a pleasing sound,

_and most of his expressions, not to say all, are of the same nature_: for the ingenuous simplicity both of Thought and Expression is the natural _Characteristick_ of _Pastoral_. In this _Theocritus_ and _Virgil_ are admirable, and excellent, the others despicable, and to be pittied; for they being enfeebled by the meanes of their subject, either creep, or fall flat. _Virgil_ keeps himself up by his choice and curious words, and tho his matter for the most part (and _Pastoral_ requires it) is mean, yet his expressions never flag, as is evident from these lines in his _Alexis_:

The glossy Plums I'le bring, and juicy Pear, Such as were once delightful to my Dear: I'le crop the Laurel, and the Myrtle tree, Confus'dly set, because their Sweets agree.

For since the matter must be low, to avoid being abject, and despicable, you must borrow some light from the Expression; not such as is dazling, but pure, and lambent, such as may shine thro the whole matter, but never flash, and blind. {58} The words of such a _Stile_ we are usually taught in our Nurses armes, but 'tis to be perfected and polished by length of time, frequent use, study, and diligent reading of the most approved Authors: for Pastoral is apt to be slighted for the meaness of its Matter, unless it hath some additional Beauty, be pure, polisht, and so made pleasing, and attractive. Therefore never let any one, that designs to write _Pastorals_, corrupt himself with foreign manners; for if he hath once vitiated the healthful habit, as I may say, of Expression, which _Bucolicks_ necessarily require, 'tis impossible he should be fit for that task. Yet let him not affect pompous or dazling Expressions, for such belong to _Epicks_, or _Tragedians_. Let his words sometimes tast of the Country, not that I mean, of which _Volusius's_ Annals, upon which _Catullus_ hath made that biting _Epigram_, are full; for though the Thought ought to be rustick, and such as is suitable to a Shepherd, yet it ought not to be Clownish, as is evident in _Corydon_, when he makes mention of his Goats.

Young sportive Creatures, and of spotted hue, Which suckled twice a day, I keep for you: These_ Thestilis _hath beg'd, and beg'd in vain, But now they're Hers, since You my Gifts disdain.

For what can be more Rustical, than to design those _Goats_ for _Alexis_, at that very time when {59} he believes _Thestylis's_ winning importunity will be able to prevail? yet there is nothing Clownish in the words. In short, _Bucolicks_ should deserve that commendation which _Tully_ gives _Crassus_, of whose Orations he would say, _that nothing could be more free from childish painting, and affected finery_. So let the Expression in _Pastoral_ be without gawdy trappings, and all those little fineries of Art, which are us'd to set off and varnish a discourse: But let an ingenuous Simplicity. and unaffected pleasing Neatness appear in every part; which yet will be flat, if 'tis drawn out to any length, if not close, short, and broken, as that in _Virgil_,

He that loves _Bavius_ Verses, hates not Thine:

And in the same _Eclogue_,

--It is not safe to drive too nigh, The Bank may fail, the Ram is hardly dry:

And in _Corydon_,

To learn this Art what won't _Amyntas_ do?

And in _Theocritus_ much of the same nature may be seen; as in his other _Pastoral Idylliums_, so chiefly in his fifth. Thus _Battus_ in the fourth _Idyllium_, complaining for the loss of _Amaryllis_,

{60} Dear Nymph, dear as my Goats, you dy'd.

And how soft and tender is that in the third _Idyllium_,

And she may look on me, she may be won, She may be kind, she is not perfect Stone,

And in this _concise_, close way of Expression lies the chiefest Grace of _Pastorals_: for in my opinion there's nothing in the whole Composition that can delight more than those frequent stops, and breakings off. Yet lest in these too it become dull and sluggish, it must be quickned by frequent lively touches of Concernment: such as that of the Goatherd in the third Idyllium,

--I see that I must die:

Or _Daphnis's_ despair, which _Thyrsis_ sings in the first _Idyllium_,

Ye Wolves, and Pards, and Mountain Bores adieu, The Herdsmen now must walk no more with You.

How tender are the lines, and yet what passion they contain! And most of _Virgil's_ are of this nature, but there are likewise in him some touches of despairing Love, such as is this of _Alphesiboeus_,

Nor have I any mind to be reliev'd:

{61} Or that of _Damon_,

I'le dy, yet tell my Love e'en whilst I dy:

Or that of _Corydon_,

He lov'd, but could not hope for Love again.

For tho _Pastoral_ doth not admit any violent passions, such as proceed from the greatest extremity, and usually accompany despair; yet because Despairing Love is not attended with those frightful and horrible consequences, but looks more like _grief to be pittied_, and a _pleasing madness_, than _rage_ and _fury_, _Eclogue_ is so far from refusing, that it rather loves, and passionately requires them. Therefore an unfortunate _Shepherd_ may be brought in, complaining of his successless Love to the _Moon, Stars_, or _Rocks_, or to the Woods, and purling Streams, mourning the unsupportable anger, the frowns and coyness of his proud _Phyllis_; singing at his _Nymphs_ door, (which _Plutarch_ reckons among the signs of Passion) or doing any of those fooleries, which are familiar to Lovers. Yet the Passion must not rise too high, as _Polyphemus's_, _Galateas's_ mad Lover, of whom _Theocritus_ divinely thus, as almost of every thing else:

His was no common flame, nor could he move In the old Arts, and beaten paths of Love, No Flowers nor Fruits sent to oblige the Fair, {62} His was all Rage, and Madness:

For all violent Perturbations are to be diligently avoided by _Bucolicks_, whose nature it is to be _soft_, and _easie_: For in small matters, and such must all the strifes and contentions of Shepherds be, to make a great deal of adoe, is as unseemly, as to put _Hercules's_ Vizard and Buskins on an Infant, as _Quintilian_ hath excellently observ'd. For since _Eclogue_ is but weak, it seems not capable of those Commotions which belong to the _Theater_, and _Pulpit_; they must be soft, and gentle, and all its Passion must seem to flow only, and not break out: as in _Virgil's Gallus_,

Ah, far from home and me You wander o're The _Alpine_ snows, the farthest Western shore, And frozen _Rhine_. When are we like to meet? Ah gently, gently, lest thy tender feet Sharp Ice may wound.

To these he may sometimes joyn some short Interrogations made to _inanimate Beings_, for those spread a strange life and vigor thro the whole Composure. Thus in _Daphnis_,

Did not You Streams, and Hazels, hear the Nymphs?

Or give the very Trees, and Fountains sense, as in _Tityrus_,

Thee (_Tityrus_) the Pines, and every Vale, The Fountains, Hills, and every shrub did call:

for by this the Concernment is express'd; and of the like nature is that of _Thyrsis_, in _Virgil's_ _Meliboeus_,

{63} When _Phyllis_ comes, my wood will all be green.

And this sort of Expressions is frequent in _Theocritus_, and _Virgil_, and in these the delicacy of _Pastoral_ is principally contain'd, as one of the old _Interpreters_ of _Theocritus_ hath observ'd on this line, in the eighth _Idyllium_,

Ye Vales, and Streams, a race Divine:

But let them be so, and so seldom us'd, that nothing appear vehement, and bold, for Boldness and Vehemence destroy the sweetness which peculiarly commends _Bucolicks_, and in those Composures a constant care to be soft and easie should be chief: For _Pastoral_ bears some resemblance to _Terence_, of whom _Tully_, in that Poem which he writes to _Libo_, gives this Character,

His words are soft, and each expression sweet.

In mixing _Passion_ in _Pastorals_, that rule of _Longinus_, in his golden Treatise *peri hypsous*, must be observ'd, _Never use it, but when the matter requires it, and then too very sparingly_.

Concerning the _Numbers_, in which _Pastoral_ should be written, this is my opinion; the _Heroick_ Measure, but not so strong and sounding as in _Epicks_, is to be chosen. _Virgil_ and _Theocritus_ have given us examples; for tho _Theocritus_ hath in one Idyllium mixt other Numbers, yet that can be of no force against all the rest; and _Virgil_ useth no Numbers but _Heroick_, from whence it may be inferr'd, that those are the fittest.

{64} _Pastoral_ may sometimes admit plain, but not long _Narrations_ such as _Socrates_ in _Plato_ requires in a Poet; for he chiefly approves those who use a plain _Narration_, and commends that above all other which is short, and fitly expresseth the nature of the Thing. Some are of opinion that _Bucolicks_ cannot endure Narrations, especially if they are very long, and imagine there are none in _Virgil_: but they have not been nice enough in their observations, for there are some, as that in _Silenus_.

Young _Chromis_ and _Mnasylus_ chanct to stray, Where (sleeping in a Cave) _Silenus_ lay, Whose constant Cups fly fuming to his brain, And always boyl in each extended vein: His trusty Flaggon, full of potent Juice, Was hanging by, worn out with Age, and Use, &c.

But, because _Narrations_ are so seldom to be found in _Theocritus_, and _Virgil_, I think they ought not to be often us'd; yet if the matter will bear it, I believe such as _Socrates_ would have, may very fitly be made use of.

The Composure will be more suitable to the Genius of a Shepherd, if now and then there are some short turns and digressions from the purpose: Such is that concerning _Pasiphae_ in _Silenus_, although tis almost too long; but we may give _Viogil_ a little leave, who takes so little liberty himself.