But perhaps some may expect that I should vindicate the Use of Old-Words, on my own Account. But for that Reason I am the more careless in touching the Subject; because I would leave the World to a free and unbias'd Judgment of what I have done. Nor is this an Age, indeed, to begin to vindicate Old-Words in. The Method has been approv'd of in all Ages even in Epick Poetry and Tragedy, and should we go now to defend it in Pastoral? A Friend indeed of _SPENCER_'s wrote a Vindication of his Old-Words, but had _SPENCER_ been living be would doubtless have been ashamed of it's appearing in the World. 'Tis the Opinion of the best Judges that the Old-Words used by Mr. _Row_, even In the Tragedy of _JANE SHORE_ are a great Beauty to that Piece. And those who have objected against _SALLUST_ for affecting Old-Words, have made nothing out. Tho' History is to deliver plainly Matters of Fact, and not to flourish, and beautify it's self with foreign Ornaments, as Poetry is. There are not so many disapprove of _SALLUST_'s Old-Words, as commend him for adding a Majesty and Solemness to his Writings thereby. I might add (were there occasion for vindicating Old-Words) that we have render'd our _English_ Language unexpressive and bare of Words, by throwing out several useful Old-Words; as _Freundina_ a _She-Friend_; _Theowin_ a _She-Servant_, &c. But as no one has shewn Old-Words to be faulty, for so many hundred Years, 'twould be folly to trouble the Reader with a Vindication of 'em, at this Day. The only Question is, whether an Author has chose the Softest and Finest; or has shown by his Choice the weakness of his Judgment. SECT. 3. _Of Compound Words_. Another thing which occasions Softness in the Pastoral Language, if rightly managed, is the use of Compound Words. But there is nothing requires a greater Genius than to form Beautiful Compound Words in Epick Poetry, or more Exactness and Labour in Pastoral. In Epick Poetry 'tis absurd to make a Compound Word, unless it helps forward the Sence; and in Pastory, it must add to the Softness of the Dialect, and in some measure assist the Thought, yet it need not do it so much as in Epick Poetry; where a Writer of Genius will form such Compound Words as will each contain as much as a whole Line. As may be seen in _Homer_, and the _Greek_ Poets, especially. Among the _English_, _Milton_'s are often very fine. _Brandish'd aloft the horrid Edge came down, Wide-wasting_. The Compound Words, in Pastory, must be so easy and natural, as scarce to be observ'd from the other Language. They must run easy and smooth, and glide off the Tongue, and that will occasion their not being observ'd in the reading.