So Revenge, if admitted, must be very ingeniously manag'd, or 'twill be intolerable. There is a cunning Thought in _Tasso_, that may perhaps let the Reader something into the Manner in which I would have it order'd. A Female Warriour, opposed to her Lover in Aims, for his Inconstancy shoot's a Dart at him, yet wishes it may not strike him. But what comes nigher to the explaining the manner of introducing Revenge into Pastoral, is what we find in the sixth Idyll of _Theocritus_. _Polyphemus's_ Mistress had been unkind; and how do's he propose to take Revenge: Why, he will not take notice of her as she walk's before his Cave to be seen, and pelt's his flock. After which follow's the most simple, and I had almost said, finest Thought in any Pastoral-Writer. The whole Beauty of which no one will conceive, but who has a Soul as tender as _Theocritus_ had, and could touch the _Soft_ as well. Poliphemus threaten's several Punishments, after which, follows this. 'Tis as fine in _Creech's_ Version as the Original. _Besides, my Dog, he is at my Command, Shall bark at her, and gently bite her Hand_. What I have said of this, might be said of the other Passions; but I shall insist no longer on this Head. As for the Passions most proper for Pastoral, they are discuss'd elsewhere. SECT. 3. _What degree of Knowledge we may attribute to our Swains_. The difference between the Knowledge of our Shepherds, and that of politer Persons, must not proceed in the least from any difference in their Natural Endowments, but entirely from the manner of their Educations. The Poet therefore, has nothing to do in this Case, but to consider what is most probable for Nature to effect, unassisted by Art. As for a Shepherd's knowing what the ancient Poets have deliver'd, concerning the different Ages, and other things, I shall not determine whether 'tis natural or not: because not only _Theocritus_, whose Shepherds are as well vers'd in History as other Men, and _Virgil_, whose Shepherds are often Philosophers, have gone in this way, but our Countryman Mr. Phillips also, whose excellency is his Correctness. (Lang.) _Thrice happy Shepherds now! for_ Dorset _loves The Country Muse, and our delightful Groves. While_ Anna _reigns. O ever may she reign!_ And bring on Earth a Golden-Age again. _Pastor_. 6. I shall leave the Reader also to determine concerning the following piece of Knowledge. (Hob.) _Full fain, O blest_ Eliza! _would I praise Thy Maiden Rule, and Albion's Golden Days_. Then gentle _Sidney_ liv'd, the Shepherds Friend: _Eternal Blessings on his Shade descend!_ The same is to be said of other the like Passages, but the most ordinary Capacity may judge what Knowledge is, or is not, consistent with the Banner of a Shepherd's Education. CHAP. IV. _How to form the Pastoral Characters, and the great Difficulty of doing it_.