Therefore let _Pastoral_ be smooth and soft, not noisy and bombast;
lest whilst it raiseth its voice, and opens its mouth, it meet with
the same fate that, they say, an _Italian_ Shepherd did, who having a
very large mouth, and a very strong breath, brake his Pipe as often as
he blow'd it. This is a great fault in one that writes _Pastorals_:
for if his words are too sounding, or his sense too strong, he must be
absurd, because indecently loud. And this is not the rule of an
unskilful {54} impertinent Adviser, but rather of a very excellent
Master in this _Art_; for _Phoebus_ twitcht _Virgil_ by the Ear, and
warn'd him to forbear great Subjects: but if it ventures upon such, it
may be allow'd to use some short _Invocations_, and, as _Epicks_ do,
modestly implore the assistance of a Muse. This _Virgil_ doth in his
_Pollio_, which is a Composure of an unusual loftiness:
_Sicilian_ Muse begin a loftier strain.
So he invocates _Arethusa_, when _Cornelius Gallus Proconsul of
AEgypt_ and his _Amours_, matters above the common reach of _Pastoral_,
are his Subject.
One Labor more O _Arethusa_ yield.
Why he makes his application to _Aretheusa_ is easy to conjecture,
for she was a _Nymph_ of _Sicily_, and so he might hope that she could
inspire him with a _Genius_ fit for _Pastorals_ which first began in
that _Island_, Thus in the seventh and eighth _Eclogue_, as the matter
would bear, he invocates the Nymphs and Muses: And _Theocritus_ does
the same,
Tell Goddess, you can tell.
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