tied; for they being enfeebled by the meanes of their
subject, either creep, or fall flat. _Virgil_ keeps himself up by his
choice and curious words, and tho his matter for the most part (and
_Pastoral_ requires it) is mean, yet his expressions never flag, as is
evident from these lines in his _Alexis_:

The glossy Plums I'le bring, and juicy Pear,
Such as were once delightful to my Dear:
I'le crop the Laurel, and the Myrtle tree,
Confus'dly set, because their Sweets agree.

For since the matter must be low, to avoid being abject, and
despicable, you must borrow some light from the Expression; not such
as is dazling, but pure, and lambent, such as may shine thro the whole
matter, but never flash, and blind. {58} The words of such a _Stile_
we are usually taught in our Nurses armes, but 'tis to be perfected
and polished by length of time, frequent use, study, and diligent
reading of the most approved Authors: for Pastoral is apt to be
slighted for the meaness of its Matter, unless it hath some additional
Beauty, be pure, polisht, and so made pleasing, and attractive.
Therefore never let any one, that designs to write _Pastorals_,
corrupt himself with foreign manners; for if he hath once vitiated the
healthful habit, as I may say, of Expression, which _Bucolicks_
necessarily require, 'tis impossible he should be fit for that task.
Yet let him not affect pompous or dazling Expressions, for such belong
to _Epicks_, or _Tragedians_. Let his words sometimes tast of the
Country, not that I mean, of which _Volusius's_ Annals, upon which
_Catullus_ hath made that biting _Epigram_, are full; for though the
Thought ought to be rustick, and such as is suitable to a Shepherd,
yet it ought not to be Clownish, as is evident in _Corydon_, when he
makes mention of his Goats.

Young sportive Creatures, and of spotted hue,
Which suckled twice a day, I keep for you:
These_ Thestilis _hath beg'd, and beg'd in vain,
But now they're Hers, since You my Gifts disdain.

For what can be more Rustical, than to design those _Goats_ for
_Alexis_, at that very time when {59} he believes _Thestylis's_
winning importunity will be able to prevail? yet there is nothing
Clownish in the words. In short, _Bucolicks_ should deserve that
commendation which _Tully_ gives _Crassus_, of whose Orations he would
say, _that nothing could be more free from childish painting, and
affected finery_. So let the Expression in _Pastoral_ be without g