SOURCE: “Harmony and Pastoral in the Old Arcadia,” in ELH, Vol. 35, No. 3, September 1968, pp. 309-28.

In the following essay, Dipple examines Philip Sidney's use of pastoral setting and conventions in the Old Arcadia, and argues that Sidney ironically exploits pastoral connotations to dramatize the fall from harmony to disharmony and to illustrate the ultimate impracticability of the idealized pastoral world.

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Arcadia amonge all the Provinces of Grece was ever had in singuler reputation, partly for the sweetnes of the Aire and other naturall benefittes: But, principally, for the moderate & well tempered myndes of the people, who, (fynding howe true a Contentation ys gotten by following the Course of Nature, And howe the shyning Title of glory somuche affected by other Nacions, dothe in deede help litle to the happines of lyfe) were the onely people, which as by theire Justice and providence, gave neyther Cause nor hope...