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?
{ 40} Whom dost thou fly ah frantick! oft the Woods Hold Gods, and _Paris_ equal to the Gods.
This Grace _Virgil_ learn'd from _Theocritus_, allmost most all whose Periods; especially in the third _Idyllium_, have no conjunction to connect them, that the sense might be more close, and the Affection vehement and strong: as in this
Let all things change, let Pears the Firs adorn Now _Daphnis_ dyes.
But when she saw, how great was the surprize! &c.
And any one may find a great many of the like in _Theocritus_ and _Virgil_, if with a leisurely delight he nicely examines their delicate Composures: And this I account the greatest grace in _Pastorals_, which in my opinion those that write _Pastorals_ do not sufficiently observe: 'Tis true Ours (the _French_) and the _Italian_ language is to babling to endure it; This is the Rock on which those that write _Pastorals_ in their _Mother_ tongue are usually split, But the _Italians_ are inevitably lost; who having store of _Wit_, a very subtle invention and flowing fancy, cannot contain; everything that comes into their mind must be poured out, nor are they able to endure the least restraint: as is evident from _Marinus's_ _Idylliums_, and a great many of that nation who have ventur'd on such composures; For unless there are many { 41} stops and breakings off in the series of a _Pastoral_, it can neither be pleasing nor artificial: And in my Opinion _Virgil_ excells _Theocritus_ in this, for _Virgil_ is neither so continued, nor so long as _Theocritus_; who indulges too much the garrulity of his _Greek_; nay even in those things which he expresseth he is more close, and more cautiously conceals that part which ought to be dissembled: And this I am sure is a most admirable part of Eloquence; as _Tully_ in his Epistle to _Atticus_ says, _'Tis rare to speak Eloquently, but more rare to be eloquently silent_: And this unskillful _Criticks_ are not acquainted with, and therefore are wont oftner to find fault with that which is not fitly exprest, than commend that which is prudently conceal'd: I could heap up a great many more things to this purpose, but I see no need of such a trouble, since no man can rationally doubt of the goodness of my Observation. Therefore, in short, let him that writes Pastorals think brevity, if it doth not obscure his sense, to be the greatest grace which he can attain.