To look on all mens lives as in a Glass, And take from those Examples for our Own,
so that our Humors and Conversations may be better'd, and improv'd; why may not _Pastoral_ be allow'd the same Priviledge, and be admitted to regulate and improve a _Shepherd's_ life by its _Bucolicks_? For since tis a product of the Golden Age, it will shew the most innocent manners of the most ancient Simplicity, how plain and honest, and how free from all varnish, and deceit, to more degenerate, and worse times: And certainly for this tis commendable in its kind, since its design in drawing the image of a Country and Shepherd's life, is to teach Honesty, Candor, and Simplicity, which are the vertues of _private_ men; as _Epicks_ teach the highest Fortitude, and Prudence, and Conduct, which are the vertues of _Generals_, and _Kings_. And tis necessary { 48} to Government, that as there is one kind of _Poetry_ to instruct the _Citizens_, there should be another to fashion the manners of the _Rusticks_: which if _Pastoral_, as it does, did not do, yet would it not be altogether frivolous, and idle, since by its taking prettinesses it can delight, and please. It can scarce be imagin'd, how much the most flourishing times of the _Roman_ Common- wealth, in which _Virgil_ wrote, grew better and brisker by the use of _Pastoral_: with it were _Augustus_, _Mecænas_, _Asinius Pollio_, _Alphenus Varus_, _Cornelius Gallus_, the most admired Wits of that happy Age, wonderfully pleas'd; for whatever is sweet, and ravishing, is contain'd in this sweetest kind of Poetry. But if we must slight every thing, from which no _profit_ is to be hop'd, all pleasures of the Eye and Ear are presently to be laid aside; and those excellent Arts, _Musick_, and _Painting_, with which the best men use to be delighted, are presently to be left off. Nor is it indeed credible, that so many excellent Wits, as have devoted themselves to Poetry, would ever have medled with it, if it had been so empty, idle, and frivolous, as some ridiculously morose imagine; who forsooth are better pleas'd with the severity of _Philosophy_, and her harsh, deform'd impropriety of Expressions. But the judgments of such men are the most contemptible in the world; for when by _Poetry_ mens minds are fashioned to generous { 49} Humors, Kindness, and the like: those must needs be strangers to all those good qualites, who hate, or proclaim _Poetry_ to be frivolous, and useless.