The Style of Pastorals is likewise of the humble Kind, but still distinct from what I have now been instancing in. The one, as I said, is suited to Comedy, Satire, and Epistles; the other to Bucolics: The former represents common Life, and more especially as it appears within the City; the latter draws all its Images from the Country; that looser and freer, this sweeter and more elaborate. But of these Things more hereafter, when we come to treat of this delightful Species of Poetry separately. At present let it be observ'd, that there is a middle Kind of Style between the Sublime and the Humble, suitable to every Branch of Poetry. This of Ovid is a Specimen of it:
[121] Arma gravi numero, violentaque tela parabam Edere, materia conveniente modis. Par erat inferior versus; risisse Cupido Dicitur, atque unum surripuisse pedem. Quis tibi, sæve Puer, dedit hoc in carmina juris? Pieridum vates, non tua turba, sumus.
Whilst I to sing in lofty Verse prepare, The bloody Triumphs of destructive War, The Urchin Cupid mock'd my rash Design, And stole one Foot from each alternate Line. But who, my Boy, gave thou this great Command? We are the Muses, not the Lovers Band.
Innumerable are the Instances of this middle Style among the Poets, especially in Virgil's Georgics, which are chiefly writ in that Way. For it is to be particularly observ'd, that, because the Matter of a Poem is low, it by no means follows the Thoughts and Diction must be so too, and that there's no necessary Connexion between a common Subject and a vulgar Style. To prescribe Rules for Sowing, Harvest, and other Matters of Husbandry, is a slight Subject, but not therefore to be treated with the Unpoliteness of a Clown. Tho' the Poem be preceptive in its Nature, it may be elegant in its Manner; it may be employ'd upon Things of small Moment, yet they may be cloath'd with Ornament, and heighten'd by Description. But Comedy, and the looser kind of Satire, as they regard only the Manners of Men in common Life, are chiefly adapted to the low Style.
It then becomes faulty, when any Thing of a sublime Nature, at least above the common Level, is introduced with some low creeping Expression. Thus Ovid, where he speaks of the Council of the Gods:
[122] —tenuere silentia cuncti.
The great Immortals held their Tongues.
And describing Phaeton run away with by the Horses of the Sun:[123]
[124] Succutiturque alte, similisque est currus inani.
The Driver thrown, the Car as empty flies.