The Italians, as Bonarelli, Guarini, Cavalier Marino; the Spaniards, as Luis de Gongora, Camoens, have little of natural in their Paftorals, their Idyllia, and their Eclogues; and Ronfard, amongst the French, hath nothing tender or delicate. The French Tongue, however perfect it pretends to be, hath produc'd nothing in this Kind of Verfe, comparable to the Eclogues of Virgil; neither yet, it seems, has it Force enough to exprefs Things fo naturally to the Life, and to fuftain that great Simplicity of the bucolique Verfe, fo nobly as the Greek and Latin Tongue; for the Greek and Latin have a certain Character of Majefty that shines even in the smallest Things. The Idea of Paftoral Comedies, for which the Italians have had fo great liking, is taken from the Cyclops of Euripides. The Greeks, faith Horace, began to bring Satyrs on the Theatre, to temper the Austerity of their Tragedy.

XXVIII.

The principal End of Satyr, is to instruct the People, by difcrediting Vice. It may therefore be of great Advantage in a Stage, when taught to keep within its Bounds. But as Flatterers embroil themselves with the Publick, whilft they ftrive too much to please Particulars; fo it happens, that the Writers of Satyr difoblige fometimes Particulars, whilst they endeavour too much to please the Publick: And as downright Praises are too grofs, Satyr that takes off the Mask, and reprehends Vice too openly, is not very delicate; but though it be more difficult to praise, than to blame, because it is easier to difcover in People what may be turn'd into ridiculous,

than

than to understand their Merit; 'tis requifite notwithstanding equally to have a Wit for the one, as for the other. For the fame Delicacy of Wit, that is neceffary to him who praiseth, to purge his Praises from what is deform'd, is necessary to him who blameth, to clear the Satyr from what is Bitter in it. and this Delicacy which properly gives the Relish to Satyr, was heretofore the Character of Horace; for it was only by the Way of Jest And Merriment that he exercis'd his Cenfure. For he knew full well, that the Sporting of Wit, hath more Effect than the strongest Reafons, and the most fententious Difcourfe, to render Vice ridiculous. In which Juvenal, with all his Serioufnefs, has fo much ado to fucceed. For indeed that violent Manner of Declamation which throughout he makes ufe of, has, most commonly, but very little Effect; he fcarce perfwades at all, because he is always in Choler, and never fpeaks in cold Blood. 'Tis true, he has fome common Places of Morarality, that may ferve to dazzle the weaker Sort of Apprehenfions. But with all his strong Expreffions, energetick Terms, and great Flashes of Eloquence, he makes little Impreffion; because he has nothing that is delicate, or that is natural. It is not a true Zeal that makes him talk against the Mifdemeanors of his Age, 'tis a Spirit of Vanity and Oftentation. Perfius, who to the Gravity and Vehemence of Juvenal had join'd Obfcurity, caus'd by the AffeEtation he had to appear learned, has no better Succefs; because he yields no Delight: Not but that he has, however, fome Touches of an hidden Delicacy; but these Strokes are always wrap'd up in fuch a profound Learning, that there needs a Comment to unfold them;

he

he speaks not but with Sadness, what by Horace is faid with the greatest Mirth imaginable, whom fometimes he would imitate; his Morofenefs fcarce ever leaves him; he speaks not of the leaft Things but in a Heat; and he never Sports, but after the moft ferious Manner in the World. The Satyr which Seneca made on the Apotheofis of the Emperor Claudius, is of a much different Character, 'tis one of the most delicate Pieces of Antiquity: and the Author, who otherwise throughout fuftains the Gravity of a Philofopher by the cold Blood of his Temperament, and by all the Grimaces and Severity of his Morals, feems so much the more pleasant in this, as he is more grave and more ferious in all his other Works. Moft part of the Dialogues of Lucian, are Satyrs of this Kind; the Author is a pleasant Buffoon, who makes Sport with the most serious Matters, and infolently plays upon whatever is great in the World. He is on all Occasions infinitely witty; but this, I confefs, is a Kind of foolish Character. We have two modern Satyrs writ in Profe, much-what of the fame Air, which furpafs all that has been writ of this Kind in these latter Ages. The first is Spanish, compos'd by Cervantes, Secretary to the Duke of Alva. This great Man having been flighted, and received fome Difgrace by the Duke of Lerma, chief Minister of State to Philip III, who had no refpect for Men of Learning, writ the Romance of Don Quixot, which is a most fine and ingenious Satyr of his own Country; because the Nobility of Spain, whom he renders ridiculous by this Work, were all bit in the Head, and intoxicated with Knighterrantry. This is a Tradition I have from one of my Friends, who learn'd this Secret

from

from Don Lope, whom Cervantes had made the Confident of his Refentment. The other Satyr is French, made in the Time of the League, where the Author very pleasantly teaches the Publick the Intentions of the Houfe of Guife for Religion: Throughout this Work is fpread a Delicacy of Wit, that fails not to fhine amongst the rude and groffer Ways of Expreffions of thofe Times: And the little Verfes fcattered here and there in the Work, are of a Character that is most fine, and most natural. The Satyr of Rabelais, however witty it be, nevertheless is stuff'd with fo much Ribaldry, and is fo little conformable to the Refinedness of this prefent Age we live in, that I think it not worthy to be read by Gentlemen, no more than the Satyrs of Regnier, though he has Wit enough; for he is too Impudent, and obferves no Decency.

XXIX.

The Elegy, by the Quality of its Name, is deftined to Tears and Complaints: And therefore ought to be of a doleful Character. But afterwards it has been us'd in Subjects of Tendernefs, as in Love-matters, and the like. The Latins have been more fuccessful therein (by what appears to us) than the Greeks. For little remains to us of Philetas and Tyrtaus, who were famous in Greece for this Kind of Verse. They who have writ Elegy beft amongst the Latins, are Tibullus, Propertius, and Ovid. Tibullus is elegant and polite, Propertius noble and high; but Ovid is to be preferr'd to both; because he is more natural, more moving, and more paffionate; and thereby he has better exprefs'd the Character of Elegy than the

others.

others. Some Elegies are left us of Catullus, of Mecanas, and Cornelius Gallus, which are of a great Purity, and are exceedingly delicate; but the Verfe of Catullus and Mecanas have too much Softnefs, and a Negligence too affected: Thofe of Cornelius Gallus, are more round, and fupport themfelves better. In thefe latter Ages have appear'd a German named Lotichius, an Italian called Molfa, a Flemming call'd Sidronius, who have writ Elegies, with great Elegancy. I fpeak not of the French Elegy, it is a Kind of Verfe which they diftinguish not from heroick; and they call indifferently Elegy, what they please, whereby the Distinction of the true Character of this Verse seems not yet well established amongst them.

XXX.

The Ode ought to have as much Nobleness, Elevation, and Transport, as the Eclogue has of Simplicity and Modefty. 'Tis not only the Wit that heightens it, but likewife the Matter. For as its Ufe is to fing the Praises of the Gods, and to celebrate the illuftrious Actions of great Men, fo it requires to fuftain all the Majefty of its Character, an exalted Nature, a great Wit, a daring Fancy, an Expreffion noble and fparkling, yet pure and correct. All the Brisknefs and Life, which Art has by its Figures, is not fufficient to heighten Ode fo far as its Character requires. But the reading alone of Pindar, is more capable to inspire this Genius than all my Reflections. He is great in his Designs, vaft in his Thoughts, bold in his Imaginations, happy in his Expreffions, eloquent in his Difcourfe: but his great Viva