A Pastoral Writer will often be able, if he gives an Image in one Line, by a Compound Word in that Line to give another Image, or another Thought as full and as fine an one as that which the whole Line contains. But as this and the like Observations cannot be well understood without Instances quoted, I shall leave 'em to the Observation of those who intend to engage in Pastoral Writing; for that and nothing else, will put 'em upon a thorough Search into the Springs and Rules by which all former Pastoral Writers have excell'd. SECT. 4. _Of Turns of Words and Phrazes_. Another help to Softness, and the very greatest Beauty of all in the Pastoral Language, is, a handsome use of Phrazes. This must depend entirely on the Genius of the Writers, for there is no one Rule can be given for the attaining thereto. A Person who writes now may imitate _Ovid_ and _Spencer_ in this particular (if he can submit his Fancy to Imitation) and that is all the Assistance he can have. As for rural Phrazes, there are not above half a dozen in all the Counties or Dialects that I am acquainted with. All that we can do on this Head, is to leave the Reader to Observation. For I confess that I do not so much as know how I came by those few I myself have, farther than that by use and practising in an Uncommon Dialect, I happen'd on 'em at Unawares. However I may quote those which are the very finest of any in _Spencer_. Who is the only Writer in our Language that ever attempted tender Phrazes or Turns of Words. Yet there are two such Passages in _Creech_'s _Theocritus_, which I will also quote. _All as the Sheep, such was the Shepherd's Look; For pale and wan he was (alas the while!)_ &c. And again. _Ye Gods of Love, who pity Lover's Pain. (If any Gods the Pain of Lovers pity)_ &c. And again. _A simple Shepherd Born in_ Arcady, _Of gentlest Blood that ever Shepherd bore_, &c. Such beautiful Turns of Words as these are extremely scarce in _Spencer_; but he has not one but what is inimitably fine and natural. Let us now see the two Phrazes which _Creech_ has happen'd upon. Whose Language I have observ'd to be infinitely the best of any of our Pastoral writers, next to Spencer. This is one of them. A Shepherdess says to a persuading Swain. _You will deceive, you Men are all Deceit; And we so willing to believe the Cheat_. The other is this, to Diana; when she consents. _I liv'd your Vot'ry, but no more can live_. CHAP. III. _The Tender in Pastory distinguish'd from that in Epick poetry or Tragedy_. 'Tis strange to me that our Pastoral Writers should make no Distinction between their SOFT when they write Pastories, and when they write Epick Poetry. This in _Philips_ is the Epick Softness, or what we call the Beautiful sometimes in Epick Poetry in Opposition to the Sublime. _Breath soft ye Winds, ye Waters gently flow; Shield her ye Trees, ye Flow'rs around her grow_, &c. And this which also is the Sixth Pastory.