tion amufed with any new application of thofe views The range range of pafcoral is indeed narrow, for though nature itself, philofophically confidered, be inexhauftible, yet its genera effects on the eye and on the ear are uniform, and incapable of much variety of defcription. Poetry cannot dwell upon the minuter diftinctions, by which one fpecies differs from another, without departing from that fimplicity of grandeur which fills the imagination; nor diffect the latent qualities of things, without lofing its general power of gratifying every mind by recalling its conceptions. However, as each age makes, fome difcoveries, and thole difcoveries are by degrees generally known, as new plants or modes of culture are introduced, and by little and little become common, paftoral might receive, from time to time, fmall augmentations, and exhibit once in a century a fcene fomewhat varied. But paftoral fubjects have been often, like others, taken into the hands of thofe that were not qualified to adorn them, men to whom the face of nature was fo little known, that they have drawn it only after their own imagination, and changed or diftorted her features, that their portraits might appear fomething more than fervile copies from their predeceffors. Not only the images of rural life, but the occafions on which they can be properly produced, are few and general. The ftate of a man confined to the employments and pleasures of the country, is fa little diverfified, and exposed to fo few of thofe accidents which produce perplexities, terrours, and fur prifes, prifes, in more complicated trar factions, that he can be fhewn but feldom in fuch circumftances as attract curiofity. His ambition is without policy, and his love without intrigue. He has no complaints to make of his rival, but that he is richer than himself; nor any difafters to lament, but a cruel miftrefs, or a bad harveft. The conviction of the neceffity of fome new fource of pleasure induced Sannazarius to remove the fcené from the fields to the fea, to fubftitute fishermen for fhepherds, and derive his fentiments from the pifcatory life; for which he has been cenfured by fucceeding criticks, becaufe fea is an object of terrour, and by no means proper to amufe the mind, and lay the paffions afleep. Againft this objection he might be defended by the established maxim, that' the poet has a right to felect his images, and is no more obliged to fhew the fea in a form, than the land under an inundation; but may difplay all the pleafures, and conceal the dangers of the water, as he may lay his fhepherd under a fhady beech, without giving him an ague, or letting a wild beaft loofe upon him. There are, however, two defects in the pifcatory eclogue, which perhaps cannot be fupplied. The fea, though in hot countries it is confidered by thofe who live, like Sannazarius, upon the coaft, as a place of pleasure and diverfion, has notwithstanding much lefs variety than the land, and therefore will be fooner exhausted by a defcriptive writer. When he has once fhewn the fun rifing or fetting upon it, curled its waters with the vernal breeze, rolled the 3 waves waves in gentle fucceffion to the shore, and enumerated the fish sporting in the fhallows, he has nothing remaining but what is common to all other poetry, the complaint of a nymph for a drowned lover, or the indignation of a fifher that his oyfters are refufed, and Mycon's accepted. Another obstacle to the general reception of this kind of poetry, is the ignorance of maritime pleafures, in which the greater part of mankind muft always live. To all the inland inhabitants of every region, the fea is only known as an immenfe diffufion of waters, over. which men pafs from one country to another, and in which life is frequently loft. They have, therefore, no opportunity of tracing in their own thoughts, the defcriptions of winding fhores and calm bays, nor can look on the poem in which they are mentioned, with other fenfations than on a fea chart, or the metrical geography of Dionyfius. This defect Sannazarius was hindered from perceiving, by writing in a learned language to readers generally acquainted with the works of nature; but if he had made his attempt in any vulgar tongue, he would foon have difcovered how vainly he had endeavoured to make that loved, which was not understood. I am afraid it will not, be found easy to improve, the paftorals of antiquity, by any great additions, or: diversifications. Our defcriptions may indeed differ from, thofe of Virgil, as an English from an Italian fummer, and, in fome refpects, as modern from ancient life; but as nature is in both countries nearly the same, and as poetry has to do rather with, the the paffions of men, which are uniform, than their cuftoms, which are changeable, the varieties, which time or place can furnish, will be inconfiderable; and I fhall endeavour to fhew, in the next paper, how little the latter ages have contributed to the improvement of the ruftick muse. NUMB. 37. TUESDAY, July 24, 1750. Canto que folitus, fi quando armenta vocabat, Amphion Dirceus. Such ftrains I fing as once Amphion play'd, VIRG. ELPHINSTON. N writing or judging of pastoral poetry, neither אן the authors nor criticks of latter times feem to have paid fufficient regard to the originals left us by antiquity, but have entangled themselves with unneceffary difficulties, by advancing principles, which, having no foundation in the nature of things, are wholly to be rejected from a fpecies of compofition, in which, above all others, mere nature is to be regarded. It is therefore neceffary to enquire after fome more distinct and exact idea of this kind of writing. This may, I think, be eafily found in the paftorals of Virgil, from whose opinion it will not appear very safe to to depart, if we confider that every advantage of nature, and of fortune, concurred to complete his productions; that he was born with great accuracy and feverity of judgment, enlightened with all the learning of one of the brighteft ages, and embellished with the elegance of the Roman court; that he employed his powers rather in improving, than inventing, and therefore must have endeavoured to recompence the want of novelty by exactnefs; that taking Theo-> critus for his original, he found paftoral far advanced towards perfection, and that having so great a rival, he must have proceeded with uncommon caution. If we fearch the writings of Virgil, for the true definition of a paftoral, it will be found a poem in which any action or passion is represented by its effects· upon a country life. Whatsoever therefore may, according to the common course of things, happen in the country, may afford a subject for a paftoral poet. In this definition it will immediately occur to those who are versed in the writings of the modern criticks, that there is no mention of the golden age. I cannot indeed eafily discover why it is thought neceffary to refer descriptions of a rural state to remote times, nor can I perceive that any writer has confiftently preserved the Arcadian manners and fentiments. The only reason, that I have read, on which this rule has been founded, is, that, according to the customs of modern life, it is improbable that fhepherds should be capable of harmonious numbers, or delicate sentiments; and therefore the reader must exalt |