The _Aminta_, and _Pastor Fido_, abound in beautiful sentiments, and passages of the most tender and natural simplicity; but it is seldom we find a single page, in which this pleasing impression is not effaced by some affected and forced conceit. Nothing can be more delicately beautiful, or more agreeable to the true simplicity of pastoral, than _Amyntas's_ recounting to _Tircis_ the rise of his passion for Silvia. The description of their joint occupations and sports, till love insensibly arose in the breast of _Tircis_; the natural and innocent device he employed to obtain a kiss from _Silvia_; the discovery of his affection, and his despair on finding her heart insensible to his passion, are proofs that _Tasso_ was a true poet, and knew [how] to touch those strings, with which our genuine feelings must ever harmonize. In elegant and just description he is equally to be admired. The scene in which _Tircis_ describes the lovely _Silvia_ bound naked to a tree by a brutal satyr, and released by _Amyntas_, whose passion she treated with scorn, is one of the most beautiful pieces of poetic painting. But, when _Amyntas_, unloosing his disdainful mistress, addresses himself to the tree, to which she was tied; when he declares its rugged trunk to be unworthy of the bonds of that beautiful hair, which encircled it, and reproaches its cruelty in tearing and disfiguring those charming tresses, we laugh at such despicable conceits, and lament that vicious taste, to which even a true poet found himself (we presume against his better judgment) so often compelled to sacrifice. So likewise when, forgetting nature, he resorts to the ordinary cant of pastoral, the language and thoughts of _Theocritus_ and _Virgil_, and even superadds to those common-places, the false refinement, which in his age delighted his countrymen, we turn with dissatisfaction from his page. If we compare him, where the similarity of the subject allows a comparison, with the Scotish poet, how poor does the Italian appear in the competition! Thus, let the first scene of the _Aminta_, between _Silvia_ and _Daphne_, be compared with the scene between _Jenny_ and _Peggy_, in the _Gentle Shepherd_. The subject of both is the preference between a single and a married life: DAPHNE. But whence can spring thy hate? SILVIA. Whence? from his love. DAPHNE. Too cruel offspring of so kind a sire! When was it heard that e'er the tender lamb Produced a tiger, or the rook a swan?-- Sure you deceive yourself, or jest with me. SILVIA. How can I choose but hate his love, Which hates my chastity? DAPHNE. Now tell me, should another thus address thee, Would'st thou in such harsh kind receive his love? SILVIA. In such harsh kind I ever would receive The traitor who would steal my virgin jewel. Whom you term lover I account a foe. DAPHNE.