Page:Alexander Pope - Pastorals - en it fr.djvu/28

 A

DISCOURSE

ON

PASTORAL POETRY.

There are not, I believe, a greater number of any sort of Verses than of those which are called Pastorals; nor a smaller, than of those which are truly so. It is therefore necessary to give some account of this kind of Poem, and it is my design to comprize in this short paper the substance of those numerous dissertations that Criticks have made on the subject, without omitting any of their rules in my own favour. You will also find some points reconciled, about which they seem to differ, and a few remarks which I think have escaped their observation.

The original of Poetry is ascribed to