SECT. 4.
Of Turns of Words and Phrazes.
Another help to Softness, and the very greatest Beauty of all in the Pastoral Language, is, a handsome use of Phrazes. This must depend entirely on the Genius of the Writers, for there is no one Rule can be given for the attaining thereto. A Person who writes now may imitate Ovid and Spencer in this particular (if he can submit his Fancy to Imitation) and that is all the Assistance he can have. As for rural Phrazes, there are not above half a dozen in all the Counties or Dialects that I am acquainted with.
All that we can do on this Head, is to leave the Reader to Observation.
For I confess that I do not so much as know how I came by those few
I myself have, farther than that by use and practising in an Uncommon
Dialect, I happen'd on 'em at Unawares.
However I may quote those which are the very finest of any in Spencer.
Who is the only Writer in our Language that ever attempted tender
Phrazes or Turns of Words. Yet there are two such Passages in Creech's
Theocritus, which I will also quote.
All as the Sheep, such was the Shepherd's Look;
For pale and wan he was (alas the while!) &c.
And again.
Ye Gods of Love, who pity Lover's Pain. (If any Gods the Pain of Lovers pity) &c.
And again.
A simple Shepherd Born in Arcady, Of gentlest Blood that ever Shepherd bore, &c.
Such beautiful Turns of Words as these are extremely scarce in Spencer; but he has not one but what is inimitably fine and natural.
Let us now see the two Phrazes which Creech has happen'd upon.
Whose Language I have observ'd to be infinitely the best of any of our
Pastoral writers, next to Spencer. This is one of them. A Shepherdess
says to a persuading Swain.
You will deceive, you Men are all Deceit;
And we so willing to believe the Cheat.
The other is this, to Diana; when she consents.
I liv'd your Vot'ry, but no more can live.