Now let us inquire into the nature of _Pastoral_, in what its excellencies consist, and how it must be made to be exact: And this must needs be a hard Task, since I have no guide, neither _Aristotle_ nor _Horace_ to direct me; for both they, whatever was the matter, speak not one word of this sort of Verse. And I am of opinion that none can treat well and clearly of any kind of _Poetry_ if he hath no helps from these two: But since they lay down some general Notions of _Poetry_ which may be useful in the present case, I shall follow their steps as close as possible I can.
Not only _Aristotle_ but _Horace_ too hath defin'd that _Poetry_ in general is Imitation; I mention only these two, for tho _Plato_ in his Second Book _de Rep._ and in his _Timæus_ delivers the same thing, I shall not make use of his Authority at all: Now as _Comedy_ according to _Aristotle_ is the _Image and Representation of a gentiel and City Life_, so is _Pastoral Poetry_ of a County and _Sheapards_ Life; for since _Poetry_ in general is Imitation; its several _Species_ must likewise Imitate, take _Aristotles_ own words _Cap._ 1. *pasai tynchanousin ousa mimêseis*; And these _Species_ are { 17} differenc't either by the subject matter, when the things to be imitated are quite different, or when the manner in which you imitate, or the mode of imitation is so: *en trisi dê tautais diaphorais hê mimêsis estin, en hois kai ha, kai hôs*: Thus tho of _Epick_ Poetry and _Tragedy_ the Subject is the same, and some great illustrious Action is to be _imitated_ by both, yet since one by representation, and the other by plain narration imitates, each makes a different _Species_ of imitation. And _Comedy_ and _Tragedy_, tho they agree in this, that both represent, yet because the Matter is different, and _Tragedy_ must represent some brave action, and _Comedy_ a humor; these Two sorts of imitation are _Specifically different_. And upon the same account, since _Pastoral_ chooses the mannes of Sheapards for its imitation, it takes from its matter a peculiar difference, by which it is distinguish'd frõ all others.
But here _Benius_ in his comments upon _Aristotle_ hath started a considerable query: which is this; Whether _Aristotle_, when he reckons up the different _Species_ of Poetry _Cap_ 1. doth include _Pastoral,_ or no? And about this I find learn'd men cannot at all agree: which certainly _Benius_ should have determin'd, or not rais'd: some refer it to that sort which _was sung to Pipes_, for that _Pastorals_ were so _Apuleius_ intimates, when at the marriage Feast of _Phyche_ He brings in _Paniscus_ singing _Bucolicks_ to his Pipe; But since they did not seriously enough consider, what _Aristotle_ { 18} meant by that which he calls *aulêtikên* they trifle, talk idly, and are not to be heeded in this matter; For suppose some _Musitian_ should sing _Virgils Ænæis_ to the Harp, (and _Ant. Lullus_ says it hath been done,) should we therefore reckon that divine and incomparable Master of _Heroick_ Poetry amongst the _Lyricks_?