Therefore it must do as _Tully_ says his friend _Atticus_ did, who entertaining his acquaintance with Leeks and Onions, pleas'd them all very well, because he had them serv'd up in wicker Chargers, and clean Baskets; So let an _Eclogue_ serve up its fruits and flowers with some, tho no costly imbellishment, such as may answer to the wicker Chargers, and Baskets; which may be provided at a cheap rate, and are agreeable to the Country: yet, (and this rule if you aim at exact simplicity, can never be too nicely observ'd,) you must most carefully avoid all paint and gawdiness of Expression, and, (which of all sorts of Elegancies is the most difficult to be avoided) { 44} you must take the greatest care that no scrupulous trimness, or artificial finessess appear: For, as _Quintilian_ teaches, _in some cases diligence and care most most troublesomly perverse_; and when things are most sweet they are next to loathsome and many times degenerate: Therefore as in Weomen a careless dress becomes some extreamly. Thus _Pastoral_, that it might not be uncomely, ought sometimes to be negligent, or the finess of its ornaments ought not to appear and lye open to every bodies view: so that it ought to affect a studied carelessness, and design'd negligence: And that this may be, all gawdiness of Dress, such as Paint and Curls, all artificial shining is to be despis'd, but in the mean time care must be taken that the Expression be bright and simply clean, not filthy and disgustful, but such as is varnisht with Wit and Fancy: Now to perfect this, _Nature_ is chiefly to be lookt upon, (for nothing that is disagreeable to Nature can please) yet that will hardly prevail naked, by it self, and without the polishing of Art.
Then there are three things in which, as in its parts, the whole _Character_ of a _Pastoral_ is contain'd: _Simplicity_ of Thought and expression: _Shortness_ of Periods full of sense and spirit: and the _Delicacy_ of a most elegant ravishing unaffected neatness.
Next I will enquire in to the _Efficient_, and then into the _Final_ Cause of _Pastorals_.
{ 45} _Aristotle_ assigns two efficient Causes of _Poetry_, The natural desire of Imitation in Man whom he calls the most imitative Creature; and Pleasure consequent to that Imitation: Which indeed are the _Remote_ Causes, but the _Immediate_ are _Art_ and _Nature_; Now according to the differences of _Genius's_ several _Species_ of Poetry have been introduced. For as the _Philosopher_ hath observ'd, *diespathê kata ta oikeia êthê hê poiêsis* Thus those that were lofty imitated great and Illustrious; those that were low spirited and groveling mean Actions: And every one, according to the various inclination of his _Nature_, follow'd this or that sort of _Poetry_: This the _Philosopher_ expresly affirms, And _Dio Chrysostomus_ says of _Homer_ that he received from the Gods a Nature fit for all sorts of Verse: but this is an happiness which none partake but, as he in the same place intimates, Godlike minds.