the
Hero or Heroine is not drawn into the Piece. I mean, where all that
we see of the Mind of the Chief Character, is his Mind or Temper, as
alter'd entirely, by some foreign or accidental Means. As, Who will tell
me what Hamlet's natural Temper was? Throughout that admirable Tragedy,
we see not his bare Temper once; but before he appear's, he's in wild
Distraction, which proceed's from former Accidents. This Method Mr.
_Row_ too has taken, especially in that ingenious Tragedy, call'd _JANE
SHORE_. We do not see any thing of her Temper but Grief and Sorrow; but
Grief cannot be natural to any Person's Mind, but must be accidental.
However, I think, this Method may be, at least, very good; whether 'tis
the best, I leave others to determine.

But as to the Fault, whether 'tis in the Action, or out of it, is of no
moment to the Perfectness of a Pastoral. Tho' I must needs say, I am for
what Aristotle call's the Peripatie, or change of Fortune in Pastoral;
but I think the Action that produces the Change may be either in the
Poem, or have happen'd some time before, but so that it's Influence does
not reach the Persons till they have been a while engaged in the Actions
of the Tragedy or Pastoral.

SECT. _Last_.

Here Sophy closed his Book; for the Heat of the Day came on, and an
House or an Arbour began to be more agreeable than the open Fields.
Sophy told the Swain he would meet him there agen in the Evening, and
read him some more of the Minutes he had put down for his Direction, and
withdrew; and the Shepherd drove his Lambs to the Covert of the Shades.

Accordingly, as the day began to decline, the Critick again appear'd;
and opening his Book, pursued the Argument he had made some Progress in.

_The End of the first Part_.

PART II.

CHAP. I.

_Of the Pastoral CHARACTERS or MANNERS, in general_.

I should but tire the Reader, if I endeavour'd to prove that Pastoral
does require the Manners, or Characters to be preserved. If our Method
of ordering Pastoral be admitted, the Necessity thereof will be easily
perceived. But If any one prefer's the ordinary Method, I must tell him,
that 'tis not proper to draw Characters in a Piece of an hundred Lines.

It is to be observ'd, that tho' a Fable and Moral are essential to every
Poem; yet a Poem may subsist without the Manners. In Epick Poetry the
Machinery, the sublime Descriptions, &c. are such strong and Poetical
Ornaments, that a very fine Piece of