_Pastoral_, upon bare Contemplation, might seem easily to be hit, but upon trial 'twill be found a very hard task: Nor was the difficulty to be dissembled, lest _Ignorance_ should betray some into a rash attempt. Now I must come to the very Rules; for as nothing excellent can be brought to perfection without _Nature_, (for Art unassisted by that, is vain, and ineffectual,) so there is no _Nature_ so excellent, and happy, which by its own strength, and without _Art_ and _Use_ can make any thing excellent, and great. But tis hard to give _Rules_ for that, for which there have been none already given; for where there are no footsteps nor path to direct, I cannot tell how any one can be certain of his way. Yet in this difficulty I will follow _Aristotle's_ Example, who being to lay down Rules concerning _Epicks_, propos'd _Homer_ as a Pattern, from whom he deduc'd the whole Art: So I will gather from _Theocritus_ and _Virgil_, those Fathers of _Pastoral_, what I shall deliver on this account. For all the Rules that are to be given of any Art, are to be given of it as excellent, and perfect, and {53} therefore ought to be taken from them in whom it is so. The first Rule shall be about the _Matter_, which is either the _Action_ of a _Shepherd_, or contriv'd and fitted to the _Genius_ of a Shepherd; for tho _Pastoral_ is simple, and bashful, yet it will entertain lofty subjects, if it can be permitted to turn and fashion them to its own proper Circumstances, and Humor: which tho _Theocritus_ hath never done, but kept close to _pastoral_ simplicity, yet _Virgil_ hath happily attempted; of whom almost the same _Character_ might be given, which _Quintilian_ bestow'd on _Stesichorus_, who _with his Harp bore up the most weighty subjects of_ Epick _Poetry_; for _Virgil_ sang great and lofty things to his Oaten Reed, but yet suited to the Humor of a Shepherd, for every thing that is not agreeable to that, cannot belong to _Pastoral_: of its own nature it cannot treat of lofty and great matters. Therefore let _Pastoral_ be smooth and soft, not noisy and bombast; lest whilst it raiseth its voice, and opens its mouth, it meet with the same fate that, they say, an _Italian_ Shepherd did, who having a very large mouth, and a very strong breath, brake his Pipe as often as he blow'd it. This is a great fault in one that writes _Pastorals_: for if his words are too sounding, or his sense too strong, he must be absurd, because indecently loud. And this is not the rule of an unskilful {54} impertinent Adviser, but rather of a very excellent Master in this _Art_; for _Phoebus_ twitcht _Virgil_ by the Ear, and warn'd him to forbear great Subjects: but if it ventures upon such, it may be allow'd to use some short _Invocations_, and, as _Epicks_ do, modestly implore the assistance of a Muse. This _Virgil_ doth in his _Pollio_, which is a Composure of an unusual loftiness: _Sicilian_ Muse begin a loftier strain.