Of Juniper, ’tis an unwholsome shade: 

Than which in my opinion nothing can be more simply; nothing more rustically said; and this is the reason I suppose why Macrobius says that this kind of Poetry is creeping and upon mean subjects; and why too Virgils Tityrus lying under his shady Beech displeaseth some; Excellent Criticks indeed, whom I wish a little more sense, that they might not really be, what they would not seem to be, Ridiculous:  Theocritus excells Virgil in this, of whom Modicius says, Theocritus deserves the greatest commendation for his happy imitation of the simplicity of his Shepherds, Virgil hath mixt Allegories, and some other things which contain too much learning, and deepness of Thought for Persons of so mean a Quality:  Yet here I must obviate their mistake who fancy that this sort of Poetry, because in it self low and simple, is the proper work of mean Wits, and not the most sublime and excellent perfections:  For as I think there be can nothing more elegant than easy naked simplicity, so likewise nothing can require more strength of Wit, and greater pains; and he must be of a great and clear judgment, who attempts Pastoral, and comes of with Honor.  For there is no part of Poetry that requires more spirit, for if any part is not close and well compacted the whole Fabrick will be ruin’d, and the {39} matter, in it self humble, must creep; unless it is held up by the strength and vigor of the Expression.

Another qualification and excellence of Pastoral is to imitate Timanthes’s Art, of whom Pliny writes thus; Timanthes was very Ingenious, in all his peices more was to be understood than the Colours express’d, and tho his Art was very extraordinary yet his Fancy exceeded it:  In this Virgil is peculiarly happy, but others, especially raw unexperienced Writers, if they are to describe a Rainbow, or a River, pour out their whole stock, and are unable to contain:  Now ’tis properly requisite to a Pastoral that there should be a great deal coucht in a few words, and every thing it says should be so short, and so close, as if its chiefest excellence was to be spareing in Expression:  such is that of Virgil;

  These Fields and Corn shall a Barbarian share? 
  See the Effects of all our Civil War.

How short is that? how concise? and yet how full of sense in the same Eclogue.

  I wonder’d why all thy complaints were made,
  Absent was Tityrus: 

And the like you may every where meet with, as

  Mopsus weds Nisa, what may’nt Lovers hope?

and in the second Eclogue,

  {40} Whom dost thou fly ah frantick! oft the Woods
  Hold Gods, and Paris equal to the Gods.

This Grace Virgil learn’d from Theocritus, allmost most all whose Periods; especially in the third Idyllium, have no conjunction to connect them, that the sense might be more close, and the Affection vehement and strong:  as in this