But give me leave to quote the Thought once more and I have done.
The Marble Weep's, and with a silent Pace,
It's trickling Tears distil upon her Face.
Falsely ye weep, ye Rocks, and falsely Mourn!
For never will ye let the Nymph return!
If any should have a Curiosity to see these Thoughts at large, for we have not quoted the whole of 'em, he may find 'em in Congreve's Pastoral, call'd The Mourning Muse of ALEXIS.
I shall trouble you with but one Thought more of those which we reduce under the Denomination of Refin'd, and that is the ANTITHESIS. I do not just now remember a Line of this Nature in any Author but Mr. PHILIPS; otherwise, I avoid hinting at particular Faults in a Writer who is generally regular and correct, in his Sentiments.
In vain thou seek'st the Cov'rings of the Grove, In the cool Shades to sing the Heats of Love.
SECT. 2.
Of SIMPLE THOUGHTS. And the finest quoted out of SHAKESPEAR and PHILIPS.
'Twould be well if Pastoral-Writers would leave aiming at such Thoughts as these, and endeavour to introduce the Simple Ones in their stead. But what is most surprizing, is, that their false Thoughts are as seldom their own, as their true ones, and they steal all indifferently from THEOCRITUS and VIRGIL. Which shows how necessary it is to be a thorough Critick, if you would be a good Poet.
Pastoral-Writers are sufficiently for Simplicity; nay so much, that they form their Storys or Fables so little and triffling as to afford no Pleasure; is it not strange then that they should be so averse to Simplicity in their Thoughts; where Simplicity would be the greatest Beauty in their Poetry? Pastoral-Writers have all sorts of false Thoughts but those which we may call the Too Simple. I do not indeed know any Author who has such a Thought unless it be our wide-thoughted SHAKESPEAR. And indeed 'tis scarce possible to rise to Simplicity enough, in Pastoral, much less to have a Thought too Simple. SHAKESPEAR's is this.
Des.) Mine Eyes do itch, doth that boad Weeping?