{56} Let the third Rule be concerning the _Expression_, which cannot
be in this kind excellent unless borrow'd from _Theocritus's_
_Idylliums_, or _Virgil's_ _Eclogues_, let it be chiefly simple, and
ingenuous: such is that of _Theocritus_,
A Kid belongs to thee, and Kids are good,
Or that in _Virgil's_ seventh Eclogue,
This Pail of Milk, these Cakes (_Priapus_) every year
Expect; a little Garden is thy care:
Thou'rt Marble now, but if more Land I hold,
If my Flock thrive, thou shalt be made of Gold,
than which I cannot imagine more simple, and more ingenuous
expressions. To which may be added that out of his _Palemon_,
And I love _Phyllis_, for her Charms excell;
At my departure O what tears there fell!
She sigh'd, Farewell Dear Youth, a long Farewell.
Now, That I call an ingenuous Expression which is clear and smooth,
that swells with no insolent words, or bold metaphors, but hath
something familiar, and as it were obvious in its Composure, and not
disguis'd by any study'd and affected dress: All its Ornament must be
like the Corn and fruits in the Country, easy to {57} be gotten, and
ready at hand, not such as requires Care, Labor, and Cost to be
obtain'd: as _Hermogenes_ on _Theocritus_ observes; _See how easie and
unaffected this sounds_,
Pines murmurings, Goatherd, are a pleasing sound,
_and most of his expressions, not to say all, are of the same
nature_: for the ingenuous simplicity both of Thought and Expression
is the natural _Characteristick_ of _Pastoral_.
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