The Composure will be more suitable to the Genius of a Shepherd, if
now and then there are some short turns and digressions from the
purpose: Such is that concerning _Pasiphae_ in _Silenus_, although tis
almost too long; but we may give _Viogil_ a little leave, who takes so
little liberty himself.
{65} Concerning _Descriptions_ I cannot tell what to lay down, for in
this matter our Guides, _Virgil_, and _Theocritus_, do not very well
agree. For he in his first _Idyllium_ makes such a long immoderate
description of his _Cup_, that _Criticks_ find fault with him, but no
such description appears in all _Virgil_; for how sparing is he in his
description of _Meliboeus's_ Beechen Pot, the work of Divine
_Alcimedon_? He doth it in _five_ verses, _Theocritus_ runs out into
_thirty_, which certainly is an argument of a wit that is very much at
leisure, and unable to moderate his force. That _shortness_ which
_Virgil_ hath prudently made choice of, is in my opinion much better;
for a Shepherd, who is naturally incurious, and unobserving, cannot
think that tis his duty to be exact in particulars, and describe every
thing with an accurate niceness: yet _Roncardus_ hath done it, a man
of most correct judgment, and, in imitation of _Theocritus_, hath,
considering the then poverty of our language, admirably and largely
describ'd _his_ Cup; and _Marinus_ in his Idylliums hath follow'd the
same example. He never keeps within compass in his Descriptions, for
which he is deservedly blam'd; let those who would be thought
accurate, and men of judgment, follow _Virgil's_ prudent moderation.
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