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.