Paˊstoral

Mons. Fontenell says, pastoral is the most antient sort of poetry, because a shepherd’s life is the most antient way of living. He says, that pastoral should not be so rude as the country-conversation, nor so polite as that of the court.

Another Author says, shepherds should never go out of their woods, and all the similies in pastoral should be taken from there; all the sentiments should be tender and natural, soft and easy.

Blank Verse will agree very well with pastoral, and being a nearer resemblance of the natural way of speech than rhime, must be most agreeable to that sort of poesy, which comes nearest to nature, as pastoral does.