n Poetry; if he described her Behaviour, her soft Concern and
joyous Smiles, occasioned by every little Failure, and every Prospect of
Success.

But this is a Subject of so great Extent, that I have not time to
go thro' with it. Take therefore this general Rule for all. Those
Circumstances or Actions in the Fable, which show barely the
Delightfulness of the Country, are good. Those which give us a Sight
of also the Sprightliness and Vigour of it, are better; and those which
comprehend further, the Simplicity and the Tenderness of the young
Lasses, are best. And from hence a Writer or Reader will be able to make
a Judgment of any Circumstance that may occur.

SECT. 4.

_That this Variety of Actions does by no means impair the Simplicity of
Pastoral_.

There is nothing in Pastoral, of which Persons have a wronger Notion
than of the word Simplicity. Because the Poem should be simple, they
strip it of all Beauty and Delightfulness; that is, they lay the
Simplicity where it should not so much be (in the Fable) and deprive
it of all Simplicity, where 'twould be beautiful (in the Sentiments and
Diction.)

If all the Incidents or Actions, that are truly simple and delightful,
thro' the whole Number of _Theocritus_'s Idylls, were collected into
one Pastoral, so as to follow naturally each other, and work up to one
general End, I think that Pastoral would be more truly simple than any
we have at present. 'Tis true, a Poet may thrust into Pastoral as great
a multitude of Actions, and as surprizingly brought about, as we find
in Tragedy, but there is no necessity, because he must use a Number
sufficient to please, that therefore he must fall into that fault. Yet
for mine own part, I had rather see too much, than too little Action, as
I cannot help preferring a faulty Writer before a dull One.

But a Poet of Genius will diversify and adorn his Fable, as much as he
lawfully may; and as for the Simple, he will draw such soft and tender
Characters, as will furnish his Poem with enough of that, and of the
most delightful Kind. The generality of Pastoral Writers seem to
think they must make their Pieces simple, by divesting them of all the
Ornaments of Poetry; and the less and more inconsiderable Sketches they
are, the more Simple they are. A strange Conception sure of Simplicity.
While their Sentiments are false almost in every Line; either in their
own Nature; or with respect to Pastoral; or to the Person speaking; or
some ot