he present Wars, the Maidens were forc't to keep close
within the Towns; the Shepherds met, and sang these kind of Songs,
which are now call'd _Bucolicks_, to _Diana_; to whom they could not
give the usual worship by reason of the Wars: But _Donatus_ says, that
this kind of Verses was first sung to _Diana_ by _Orestes_, when he
wandred about _Italy_; after he fled from _Scythia Taurica_, and had
{13} taken away the Image of the Goddess and hid it in a bundle of
sticks, whence she receiv'd the name of _Fascelina_, or _Phacelide_
*apo tou phakelou* At whose Altar, the very same _Orestes_ was
afterward expiated by his Sister _Iphigenia_: But how can any one
rely on such Fables, when the inconsiderable Authors that propose them
disagree so much amongst themselves?

Some are of Opinion that the Shepherds, were wont in solem and set
Songs about the Fields and Towns to celebrate the Goddess _Pales_; and
beg her to bless their flocks and fields with a plenteous encrease and
that from hence the name, and composure of _Bucolicks_ continued.

Other prying ingenious Men make other conjectures, as to this mazing
Controversy thus _Vossius_ delivers himself; _The Antients cannot be
reconcil'd, but I rather incline to their opinion who think_ Bucolicks
_were invented either by the_ Sicilians _or_ Peloponesians, _for both
those use the_ Dorick _dialect, and all the_ Greek Bucolicks _are writ
in that_: As for my self I think, that what _Horace_ says of _Elegies_
may be apply'd to the present Subject.

But who soft Elegies was the first that wrote
Grammarians doubt, and cannot end the doubt:

For I find nothing certain about this matter, since neither _Valla_ a
diligent inquirer after, and a good judge in such things, nor any of
the late writers produce any thing upon which I can safely rely; yet
what beginning this kind of Poetry {14} had, I think I can pretty well
conjecture: for tis likely that first Shepherds us'd Songs to recreate
themselves in their leisure hours whilst they fed their Sheep; and
that each man, as his wit served, accommodated his Songs to his
present Circumstances: to this Solitude invited, and the extream
leisure that attends that employment absolutely requir'd it: For as
their retirement gave them leisure, and Solitude a fit place for
Meditation, Meditation and Invention produc'd a Verse; which is
nothing else but a Speech fit to be sung, and so Songs began: Thus
_Hesiod_ was made a Poet, for he acknowledge