De Carmine Pastorali (1684) by René Rapin
page 40 of 69 (57%)
page 40 of 69 (57%)
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Another qualification and excellence of _Pastoral_ is to imitate
_Timanthes's_ Art, of whom _Pliny_ writes thus; _Timanthes was very Ingenious, in all his peices more was to be understood than the Colours express'd, and tho his Art was very extraordinary yet his Fancy exceeded it_: In this _Virgil_ is peculiarly happy, but others, especially raw unexperienced Writers, if they are to describe a Rainbow, or a River, pour out their whole stock, and are unable to contain: Now 'tis properly requisite to a Pastoral that there should be a great deal coucht in a few words, and every thing it says should be so short, and so close, as if its chiefest excellence was to be spareing in Expression: such is that of _Virgil_; These Fields and Corn shall a Barbarian share? See the Effects of all our Civil War. How short is that? how concise? and yet how full of sense in the same _Eclogue_. I wonder'd why all thy complaints were made, Absent was _Tityrus_: And the like you may every where meet with, as _Mopsus_ weds _Nisa_, what may'nt Lovers hope? and in the second _Eclogue_, {40} Whom dost thou fly ah frantick! oft the Woods Hold Gods, and _Paris_ equal to the Gods. |
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