Nor, when each foft engaging Mufe is thine, 60 Of thee more worthy were the task to raise A lasting Column to thy Country's Praise, To fing the Land, which yet alone can boast That Liberty corrupted Rome has lost; Where Science in the arms of Peace is laid, 65 And plants her Palm beneath the Olive's shade. Such was the Theme for which my lyre I ftrung, Such was the People whofe exploits I fung; Brave, yet refin'd, for Arms and Arts renown'd, With diff'rent bays by Mars and Phoebus crown'd, Dauntless oppofers of Tyrannic Sway, But pleas'd, a mild AUGUSTUS to obey. If these commands fubmiffive thou receive, Immortal and unblam'd thy name shall live ; Envy to black Cocytus fhall retire, And howl with Furies in tormenting fire; 70 75 GEORGE LYTTELTON. PASTORALS, WITH A Difcourfe on PASTORAL. Written in the Year MDCCIV. Rura mihi et rigui placeant in vallibus amnes, VIRG. A DISCOURSE ON PASTORAL POETRY. HERE are not, I believe, a greater num TH ber of any fort of verfes than of those which are called Paftorals; nor a smaller, than of those which are truly fo. It therefore feems necefiary to give fome account of this kind of Poem, and it is my design to comprize in this short paper the substance of thofe numerous differtations the Critics have made on the fubject, without omitting any of their rules in my own favour. You will also find fome points reconciled, about which they feem to differ, and a few remarks, which, I think, have escaped their obfervation. The original of Poetry is afcribed to that Age which fucceeded the creation of the world: and as the keeping 'of flocks feems to have been the first employment of mankind, the most ancient fort of poetry was probably pastoral. It is natural to imagine, that the leisure of those antient fhepherds admitting and inviting fome a Written at fixteen years of age. P. P. |