——My wrongs will tear their Way, And rush at once upon thee.
Jane Shore: Act 1.
And this is extreamly frequent, especially in Jane Shore. And nothing can be more Beautiful in Heroick Language; and this Author has some Sentiments dress'd, by this Figurative Way, as finely as most of Shakespear's; As this
Care only wakes, and moping Pensiveness;
With Meagre, discontented Looks they sit,
And watch the wasting of the Mid-night Taper.
Now what is this but imaging almost every thing, or turning as many
Thoughts as possible into Images?
Now if the Thoughts in strong Lines, (as they call 'em) appear best in Imagery, how much more will Pastoral Thoughts. The former have Passion and Heat to support 'em, the latter are entirely Simple. And If Heroick Writers are fond of Images, how much more should Pastoral Writers avoid a long Series of bare Thoughts, and endeavour to Address the Mind of the Reader with a constant Variety of Pictures.
What I have here delivered may seem trifling to the Reader. But if he looks into the modern Pastoral-Writers he'll observe that the Scarcity of Images goes a great way towards making their Pieces flat and insipid. And 'tis impossible indeed to have a sufficient Variety of Images in a Pastoral that is compos'd by nought but a mournful Speech or Complaint. Therefore a Writer who would not only write regular, but also delightful Pastorals, should doubtless run very much upon Description.
I need not make the Distinction between an Epick and a Pastoral Writer's manner of Imaging. They are widely different; nor can a Pastoral Image so many Things as an Epick Writer. For he cannot consider Things as Persons, nor use the other Methods that Heroick Poetry takes to effect it.
CHAP. V.
Of the Thoughts. And which are proper for Pastoral, which not.