is the ANTITHESIS. I do not
just now remember a Line of this Nature in any Author but Mr. _PHILIPS_;
otherwise, I avoid hinting at particular Faults in a Writer who is
generally regular and correct, in his Sentiments.

_In vain thou seek'st the Cov'rings of the Grove,
In the cool Shades to sing the Heats of Love_.

SECT. 2.

_Of_ SIMPLE THOUGHTS. _And the finest quoted out of_ SHAKESPEAR _and_
PHILIPS.

'Twould be well if Pastoral-Writers would leave aiming at such Thoughts
as these, and endeavour to introduce the Simple Ones in their stead.
But what is most surprizing, is, that their false Thoughts are as seldom
their own, as their true ones, and they steal all indifferently from
_THEOCRITUS_ and _VIRGIL_. Which shows how necessary it is to be a
thorough Critick, if you would be a good Poet.

Pastoral-Writers are sufficiently for Simplicity; nay so much, that
they form their Storys or Fables so little and triffling as to afford
no Pleasure; is it not strange then that they should be so averse to
Simplicity in their Thoughts; where Simplicity would be the greatest
Beauty in their Poetry? Pastoral-Writers have all sorts of false
Thoughts but those which we may call the Too Simple. I do not indeed
know any Author who has such a Thought unless it be our wide-thoughted
_SHAKESPEAR_. And indeed 'tis scarce possible to rise to Simplicity
enough, in Pastoral, much less to have a Thought too Simple.
_SHAKESPEAR_'s is this.

Des.) _Mine Eyes do itch, doth that boad Weeping?_

Emil.) _'Tis neither here nor there_.

Des.) _I have heard it said so: O these Men, these Men!
Dost thou in Conscience think, tell me_ Emilia,
_That there be Women do abuse their Husbands,
In such gross kind_? &c.

Othello. Act. 4. Sc. last.

But if this passage is too Simple, 'tis for Tragedy so, not for
Pastoral; and because _DESDEMONA_ was a Senators Daughter, and Educated
in so polite a place as _VENICE_; but in Pastoral, I think, we may
Introduce a Character so Young, Simple and Innocent, that there is no
Thought so Simple but will square with it; at least, we have no Instance
of any such one as yet. The Simplicity of this Scene would be inimitable
for Pastoral; and I think, it shows as great if not a greater Genius,
in the Writing it, than any one in _SHAKESPEAR_. But a Scene so truly
Simple and Innocent cannot well be represented. Besides, what is best
writ is most open to the Ridicule of lit