A Full Enquiry Into The Nature Of The Pastoral (1717) Part 8

The Affectation of the Thought show's it self rather more, I think, in the following Lines.

_And see, the Heav'ns to weep in Dew prepare.

And heavy Mists obscure the burd'ned Air On ev'ry Tree the Blossoms turn to Tears, And every Bough a weeping Moisture bears_.

But give me leave to quote the Thought once more and I have done.

_The Marble Weep's, and with a silent Pace, It's trickling Tears distil upon her Face.

Falsely ye weep, ye Rocks, and falsely Mourn!

For never will ye let the Nymph return!_

If any should have a Curiosity to see these Thoughts at large, for we have not quoted the whole of 'em, he may find 'em in _Congreve_'s Pastoral, call'd _The Mourning Muse of_ ALEXIS.

I shall trouble you with but one Thought more of those which we reduce under the Denomination of Refin'd, and that is the ANt.i.tHESIS. I do not just now remember a Line of this Nature in any Author but Mr. _PHILIPS_; otherwise, I avoid hinting at particular Faults in a Writer who is generally regular and correct, in his Sentiments.

_In vain thou seek'st the Cov'rings of the Grove, In the cool Shades to sing the Heats of Love_.

SECT. 2.

_Of_ SIMPLE THOUGHTS. _And the finest quoted out of_ SHAKESPEAR _and_ PHILIPS.

'Twould be well if Pastoral-Writers would leave aiming at such Thoughts as these, and endeavour to introduce the Simple Ones in their stead.

But what is most surprizing, is, that their false Thoughts are as seldom their own, as their true ones, and they steal all indifferently from _THEOCRITUS_ and _VIRGIL_. Which shows how necessary it is to be a thorough Critick, if you would be a good Poet.

Pastoral-Writers are sufficiently for Simplicity; nay so much, that they form their Storys or Fables so little and triffling as to afford no Pleasure; is it not strange then that they should be so averse to Simplicity in their Thoughts; where Simplicity would be the greatest Beauty in their Poetry? Pastoral-Writers have all sorts of false Thoughts but those which we may call the Too Simple. I do not indeed know any Author who has such a Thought unless it be our wide-thoughted _SHAKESPEAR_. And indeed 'tis scarce possible to rise to Simplicity enough, in Pastoral, much less to have a Thought too Simple.

_SHAKESPEAR_'s is this.

Des.) _Mine Eyes do itch, doth that boad Weeping?_

Emil.) _'Tis neither here nor there_.

Des.) _I have heard it said so: O these Men, these Men!

Dost thou in Conscience think, tell me_ Emilia, _That there be Women do abuse their Husbands, In such gross kind_? &c.

Oth.e.l.lo. Act. 4. Sc. last.

But if this pa.s.sage is too Simple, 'tis for Tragedy so, not for Pastoral; and because _DESDEMONA_ was a Senators Daughter, and Educated in so polite a place as _VENICE_; but in Pastoral, I think, we may Introduce a Character so Young, Simple and Innocent, that there is no Thought so Simple but will square with it; at least, we have no Instance of any such one as yet. The Simplicity of this Scene would be inimitable for Pastoral; and I think, it shows as great if not a greater Genius, in the Writing it, than any one in _SHAKESPEAR_. But a Scene so truly Simple and Innocent cannot well be represented. Besides, what is best writ is most open to the Ridicule of little Genius's; And more, I doubt, look upon this Scene in _OTh.e.l.lO_ as Comedy, than have a taste of that sweet Simplicity, that is in it, if we consider the Sentiments only in themselves.

Yet must we not carry the Reflection too far, of Pastoral-Writers having no such thing as the Simple in any of their Thoughts, for there are pa.s.sages in Mr. _PHILIPS Pieces_ truly Simple. And 'tis worthy Observation how beautiful a figure they make, tho' we don't consider 'em as being in a Pastoral. Such is the celebrated one, contain'd in the last of these Lines.

_I smooth'd her Coats, and stole a silent Kiss: Condemn me Shepherds if I did amiss_.

_Phllips Past_. 6.

But we have greatly more Simple Thoughts in other Pieces than in Pastorals. The finest of all which, is this famous one in _OTh.e.l.lO_.

_Why I should fear I know not, Since Guiltiness I know not: But yet I feel I fear_.

Yet need we not much wonder at the scarcity of these Simple Thoughts; since there is nothing requires so great a Genius as finely to touch the SIMPLE; and the greatest Genius's never attempt Pastoral; it being a Form so mean, little and trifling, without the Ornaments of Poetry, FABLE, MANNERS, MORAL, &c. and of a confused Imperfect Nature.

CHAP. VII.

_Of COMPARISONS in Pastoral. And how much our modern Pastoral-Writers have fail'd therein_.

SIMILIES in Pastoral must be managed with an exceeding deal of Care, or they will be faulty. As a Poet may range Nature for Comparisons; this gives a Pastoral-Writer a very easy Opportunity of introducing rural Thoughts. _VIRGIL_ therefore, and those Swains who have written Pastorals more by Art and Imitation than Genius, generally heap three or four SIMILIES together for the same thing; and which is of no Moment; nor wanted any Comparison.

As I have hinted that _Theocritus_ had a Genius capable of writing a perfect Set of Pastorals, his Similies are infinitely the best of any Swain's. The chief Rule, I think, to be observ'd is (if Rules can be given for such Things as these) that SIMILIES be contain'd in three or four Words. As this of _PHILIPS_'s.

_Whilon did I, all as this_ Pop'lar _fair, Up-raise my heedless Head devoid of Care_, &c.

Or at most they ahould not exceed a Line. As this is a very Beautiful one In the same Author. And also in his 1st Pastoral.

_A Girland, deck't with all the Pride of_ May, _Sweet as her Breath, and as her Beauty gay_, &c.

I shall not give my Opinion of the following Similies; yet I might say that I think 'em not altogether so fine as the foregoing two. Altho'

they contain delightful Images

_As Milk-white Swans on Silver Streams do show, And Silver Streams to grace the Meadows flow; As Corn the Vales and Trees the Hills adorn, So thou to thine an Ornament was't born_.

_Past_. 3.

The next relates to the Sweetness of _Colinet_'s Voice.

_Not half so sweet are Midnight Winds, that move In drowsy Murmurs o're the waving Grove; Nor dropping Waters, that in Grotts distil, And with a tinkling Sound their Caverns fill_.

_Past_. 4.

Methinks thus dressing a Thought so pompous in SIMILIES, raises so our Expectation, that we are fit to smile when the last Line comes.

There are also another kind of Similies, which being heapt in the same manner, seem to be design'd by _VIRGIL_, and those who have taken their Thoughts from him, rather to fill up s.p.a.ce with somthing Pastoral, than to be the natural Talk of Shepherds. For Swains are not suppos'd to r.e.t.a.r.d their Storys by many or long SIMILIES; their Talk comes from the Heart, Unornamental; but Similies, in Pastoral, are for Ornament. But I must show what kind of Thoughts I mean, which I also account SIMILIES, but they have a peculiar Turn given to 'em. I remember but two in Mr.

_PHILIPS_ Pastorals.

_First then shall lightsome Birds forget to fly, The briny Ocean turn to pastures dry, And every rapid River cease to flow, 'Ere I unmindful of_ Menalcas _grow_.

The other is this.

_While Mallow Kids; and Endive Lambs pursue; While Bees love Thyme; and Locusts sip the Dew;_ _While Birds delight in Woods their Notes to strain, Thy Name and sweet Memorial shall remain_.

But now I have given Examples of those Similies which seem faulty; and quoted at the beginning of the Section, some that are good; I will bring an Instance of a SIMILIE, which is more delightful to the Fancy than all these put together; and which show's that _Theocritus_ thought 'twas a small thing to put down Pastoral Thoughts or Images, if he did not cull the most pleasurable in Nature. _CREECH_ has translated it very well.

_DAPHNIS_ had conquer'd _MENALCAS_ in Singing.

_The Boy rejoyc'd, he leap'd with youthful Heat, As sucking Colts leap when they swig the Teat; The other griev'd, he hung his bashful Head, As marry'd Virgins when first laid in Bed_.