lously morose imagine; who forsooth are
better pleas'd with the severity of _Philosophy_, and her harsh,
deform'd impropriety of Expressions. But the judgments of such men are
the most contemptible in the world; for when by _Poetry_ mens minds
are fashioned to generous {49} Humors, Kindness, and the like: those
must needs be strangers to all those good qualites, who hate, or
proclaim _Poetry_ to be frivolous, and useless.

{50} _The Third_ PART

_Rules for writing_ Pastorals.

In delivering Rules for writing _Pastorals_, I shall not point to the
_streams_, which to look after argues a small creeping _Genius_, but
lead you to the _fountains_. But first I must tell you, how difficult
it is to write _Pastorals_, which many seem not sufficiently to
understand: For since its matter is low, and humble, it seems to have
nothing that is troublesome, and difficult. But this is a great
mistake, for, as _Horace_ says of _Comedy_, "It is by so much the more
difficult, by how much the less pardonable are the mistakes committed
in its composure": and the same is to be thought of every thing, whose
end is to please, and delight. For whatsoever is contriv'd for
pleasure, and not necessarily requir'd, unless it be exquisite, must
be nauseous, and distastful; as at a Supper, scraping Musick, thick
Oyntment, or the like, because the Entertainment might have been
without all these; For the sweetest things, and most delicious, are
most apt to satiate; for tho the sense may sometimes be pleas'd, yet
it presently disgusts that which is {51} luscious, and, as _Lucretius_
phraseth it,

E'en in the midst and fury of the Joys,
Some thing that's better riseth, and destroys.

Beside, since _Pastoral_ is of that nature, that it cannot endure too
much negligence, nor too scrupulous diligence, it must be very
difficult to be compos'd, especially since the expression must be
neat, but not too exquisite, and fine: It must have a simple native
beauty, but not too mean; it must have all sorts of delicacies, and
surprizing fancies, yet not be flowing, and luxuriant. And certainly,
to hit all these excellencies is difficult enough, since Wit, whose
nature it is to pour it self forth, must rather be restrain'd than
indulg'd; and that force of the Mind, which of it self is so ready to
run on, must be checkt, and bridled: Which cannot be easily perform'd
by any, but those who have a very good Judgment, and practically
skill'd in Arts, and Sciences