Here Cubbin answer’d Sophy, that these were pretty ways of making Verses, but his mind was of such a peculiar Turn, that it requir’d some greater Design, and more laborious to occupy it, or else it would not be sufficiently engag’d to be delighted.  Twould not be taken off from reflecting on what a stupid Dream is Life; and what trifling and impertinent Creatures all Mankind.  Unless, said He, I’m busy’d, and in a hurry, I can’t impose upon my self the Thought that I am a Being of some little significance in the Creation; I can’t help looking forward and discovering how little better I shall be if I write well, or ill, or not at all.  I would fain perswade my self, continued he, that a Shakespear and a Milton see us now take their Works in hand with Pleasure and read with Applause.

Tis certain, answer’d Sophy, that the less we know of Nature and our Selves, the more is Life delightful.  If we take all things as we see ’em, Life is a good simple kind of Dream enough, but if we awaken out of the dull Lethargy, we are so unhappy as to discover, that tis all and every thing Folly, and Nonsense and Stupidity.—­But we walk in a vain Shadow and disquiet our selves in vain.

Here Cubbin fell with his Face to the Ground, and said, I prethee now no more of this; your Book you open’d but forgot to give me the Contents.

Sophy recollected him; and told the Swain, That Book contain’d some Rules for his Direction.  But as I have not patience, added he, to make a Treatise of some hundred Pages, which consists of other Persons Hints, but flourish’d and dilated on; or the Rules and Observations of the Anciants set in a different Light; I shall first sum up the whole Discoverys the French or any other Criticks yet have made in Pastoral; and where they have left it I shall take the Subject, and try how far beyond I am able to carry it.  For after that, every single Thought will be the free Sentiment of my own Mind.  And I desire all to judge as freely as I write; and (if, after a strict Examination of the Rules, they see any Reason) to condemn as peremtorily; for we cannot get out of an Error too soon.

RUAEUS say’s, The Pastoral Sentiments must have a Connection Plain and Easy.  Affirming that tho’ Incoherence, may add a neglegence and simple loosness to Pastoral, yet ’tis not such a Negligence or Simplicity as Pastoral delight’s in.

DRYDEN observe’s, that the Dialect proper for Pastoral, must have a Relish of the Fascion of speaking in the Country.

FONTENELL that most excellent Frenchman takes Notice, that no Passion is so proper for Pastoral as that of Love.  He mean’s as to what we are to describe in our Swains; not mentioning those Passions that Poem is to raise in the Reader.

RAPIN observe’s, The Fable should be One.  The Swains not abusive, or full of Raillery.  The Sence should not be extended or long.  This Author has other Observations new, but you may guess of what a Nature, when he confesses He walk’d but as Theocritus and Virgil lead him.  Therefore he cannot have carried the Poem to any Perfection beyond the Condition they left it in; and so much any Reader may see from the Authors themselves, without reading a large Volume to find it out.