Purney, Thomas, 1695-ca. 1727. Pastorals: After the simple manner of Theocritus. By Mr. Purney. London: printed for J. Brown, and R. Burleigh, 1717 [1716]. 63,[1]p.; 8⁰. ( OTA K099729.000)

    • PASTORALS. After the simple Manner of THEOCRITUS.

    By Mr. PVRNEY.

    〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉Theoc.

    LONDON: Printed for J. BROWN, at the Black Swan without Temple-Bar, and R. BURLEIGH, in Amen-Corner. 1717. Price One Shilling.

    • ADVERTISEMENT Concerning the LANGUAGE.

    MR. Dryden much admires Shakespear's Tempest; In that Comedy, new PERSONAGES are introduced; for whom, he thinks, the Poet has invented a Language equally uncommon. True it is, that such is the•recept of a CRITICK, in no small repute. Be〈◊〉Language, says Quinctilian, alway suited to the[Page] Matter. True it also is, that† See DION. HALICARN: who admires him on that Account. Homer used the most rustick Words, drawn from the Beotians; Virgil, from Ennius, in his HEROICKS, render'd his Language uncommon; Milton, Shakespear, Spencer, and our contemporary Pastoral Writers, by reviving the antiquated English terms, by chusing and culling the finest Words of our Glorious ANCESTORS. In the Steps of these, our Swain has ventur'd to tread; and where the Phrase in use was not suited to the softness and simplicity of his CHARACTERS, as he is acquainted with the Dialect of most Counties in England, has from thence drawn the tenderest Expressions, as he thought, and best adapted to the simplicity of his sentiments. Induced, I suppose, to take these Liberties in Pastoral, by what that excellent Judge of Poetry Mr. Addison, has laid down on that Poem. How beautiful, says he, is the old Pastoral BALLAD, beginning thus,

    § See Guardians. N: 22, 23, 30 and 40.
    RAGER go vetch tha
    * Or Cows.
    Kee, or else tha Zun
    Will quite be go, be vore c'have half a don.

    And into Language how much finer than the Author's, has he turn'd a Thought of Virgil. [Page]

    And what that hight, which girds the Welkin sheen,
    Where twelve gay Signs in meet array are seen.

    This great Man adds, that by imitating the rusticity of the Dorick, by the help of the old obsolete Roman Language, Virgil might have attain'd as much of the Air of Theocritus, as Phillips hath that of Spencer, by using the antiquated ENGLISH.

    Fewer Old-words, indeed, has our present Writer admitted, than are found, either in Spencer, or the incomparable Pastorals of Mr: Phillips: But in return, has often made use of those once introduced. As his CHARACTERS are particularly simple and tender, much also has he imitated Spencer's manner, of changing the vulgar dress, as 'twere, of his Words, yet leaving the Main Body so as to be known. Homer's manner of performing this Aristotle shows in the 21 Chap. of his Poesie: He used for〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; and for〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. Virgil did it, by changing ILLI into OLLI, and the like. Milton by altering HERMIT into EREMITE; ENTERPRIZE into EMPRIZE, &c. And Spencer by affixing y and a before, and en, et, ie, after his Words; which gives an inexpressible softness to, without hiding the Language.

    [Page]

    This Liberty every good heroick Writer has taken; And well knew Spencer, that Pastoral still more required it. He has given us, in his Fairy-Queen, a new Language: The reason must be, because his Scene lyes in a new Place. But how much more has he done it in his Pastorals.

    * Among other places, in the Preface to her HOMER. D'acier, and many Frenchmen, complain of the penury and stiffness of their Language, thro' the want of this. And Mr. Addison observes, that the ancient Romans did the like. Yet must I confess, that even among the Pastoral Writers, no one but Theocritus, Spencer, and our present British Swains, durst ever venture themselves in this Pastoral Path, being affraid and unwilling to forgo that Honour which either a refin'd Language or a sublime one procures: But then must we add, that from thence it is, that no Critick, but who dares not stir a step without Leading-strings, as Scaliger, Rapin, &c, has ever allow'd any else to be Pastoral Writers.

    But is any One dissatisfied with our rural STILE, read he a full Vindication of one much more so: such he'll find before† Folio Edition. Spencer's Pastorals; and by his Friend Mr. Harvey. For who knows not,[Page] that his Language was equally uncommon in his Day, and in Our's; Our TONGUE receiving no visible Alteration in one hundred Years. This appears from Ben. Johnson, Hooker, Our Common-Prayer Book, &c.

    The Reader will observe I here only bring some few Authorities; The reason that I my self decline laying down any thing concerning the true Pastoral Language is, because we shall see, I believe, a Discourse in a short time on the Nature of this kind of Poetry. Where that TENDER in the Language, which is agreeable to Pastoral, will be considered; and distinguish'd from the TENDER which is suitable to the Epick, and that which the Tragick Poem requires.

    Conclude we then with what the Learned Basil Kennet says, in his Life of Theocritus, after speaking of his rustick Stile. As for our selves, SAYS HE, the SCOTCH-SONGS, which pass with so much Applause, show, that it is not impossible to revive this old Conduct among Us with Success.

    [Page]

    POSTSCRIPT.

    AS for the MORAL and ACTIONS in each of the following Pastorals, (for Action is the only Unity to be kept in that Poem) they lye obvious to every Eye. But as the Pastoral does not paint the CHARACTERS so lively as the tragick or epick Poem, those of our Shepherdesses are specified in the Arguments. And this for the ease of the SOFT-SEX, whose Favour and Approbation our young SWAIN seems particularly desirous of.

    • POSTSCRIPT.

    AS for the MORAL and ACTIONS in each of the following Pastorals, (for Action is the only Unity to be kept in that Poem) they lye obvious to every Eye. But as the Pastoral does not paint the CHARACTERS so lively as the tragick or epick Poem, those of our Shepherdesses are specified in the Arguments. And this for the ease of the SOFT-SEX, whose Favour and Approbation our young SWAIN seems particularly desirous of.

  • PAPLET: OR, Love and Innocence.
  • LALLET: OR, The Tender Shepherdess.

    • N. B. THE Writer of these Pieces, has several of the like by him. His Friends were very importunate for their attending these into the World. But he thought if he could find Pardon for thrusting two upon the TOWN, 'twould be Honour enough. Nor had he consented so far but thro' their representing to him, that Innocence and Simplicity were here set in an engaging Light. And would any one, thro' this slight Attempt, have a kinder Thought of that harmless Modesty in our CHARACTERS; or be hereby induced to desire our Age might, in some measure, resemble those drawn; our young Swain would think his first Step not entirely taken amiss.

    • FINIS.