to affect a studied carelessness, and design’d negligence:  And that this may be, all gawdiness of Dress, such as Paint and Curls, all artificial shining is to be despis’d, but in the mean time care must be taken that the Expression be bright and simply clean, not filthy and disgustful, but such as is varnisht with Wit and Fancy:  Now to perfect this, Nature is chiefly to be lookt upon, (for nothing that is disagreeable to Nature can please) yet that will hardly prevail naked, by it self, and without the polishing of Art.

Then there are three things in which, as in its parts, the whole Character of a Pastoral is contain’d:  Simplicity of Thought and expression:  Shortness of Periods full of sense and spirit:  and the Delicacy of a most elegant ravishing unaffected neatness.

Next I will enquire in to the Efficient, and then into the Final Cause of Pastorals.

{45} Aristotle assigns two efficient Causes of Poetry, The natural desire of Imitation in Man whom he calls the most imitative Creature; and Pleasure consequent to that Imitation:  Which indeed are the Remote Causes, but the Immediate are Art and Nature; Now according to the differences of Genius’s several Species of Poetry have been introduced.  For as the Philosopher hath observ’d, diespathe kata ta oikeia ethe he poiesis Thus those that were lofty imitated great and Illustrious; those that were low spirited and groveling mean Actions:  And every one, according to the various inclination of his Nature, follow’d this or that sort of Poetry:  This the Philosopher expresly affirms, And Dio Chrysostomus says of Homer that he received from the Gods a Nature fit for all sorts of Verse:  but this is an happiness which none partake but, as he in the same place intimates, Godlike minds.

Not to mention other kinds of Poetry, what particular Genius is requir’d to Pastoral I think, is evident from the foregoing Discourse, for as every part of it ought to be full of simple and inartificial neatness, so it requires a Wit naturally neat and pleasant, born to delight and ravish, which are the qualifications certainly of a great and most excellent Nature:  For whatsoever in any kind is delicate and elegant, that is usually most excellent:  And such a Genius that hath a sprightfulness of Nature, and is well instructed {46} by the rules of Art, is fit to attempt Pastorals.

Of the end of Pastorals tis not so easy to give an account:  For as to the end of Poetry in General:  The Enemies of Poets run out into a large common place, and loudly tell us that Poetry is frivolous and unprofitable.  Excellent men! that love profit perchance, but have no regard for Honesty and Goodness; who do not know that all excellent Arts sprang from Poetry at first.