Page:Monsieur Bossu's Treatise of the epick poem - Le Bossu (1695).djvu/335

 lar Things of which they have had a Sense; while others raising themselves higher, reduce all things into general Ideas: The Minds of the latter have work'd and reflected upon their Sentiments and experiments, it happens that what they have seen hath led them to what they have not seen; whereas those of an inferior Order, not pursuing their Ideas beyond what they have a Sense of, it may happen that what resembles it most may still be new to them. Hence proceeds the insatiable Desire of the Multitude to see the same Objects, and their admiring always almost the same Things.

A Consequence of this Disposition of Mind is the adding to the Things that are related any Circumstances whether useful or not. This happens because the Mind has been extreamly struck with the particular Action, and with all that attended it. Contrary to this a great Genius, despising all these petty Circumstances, fixes on what is most essential in Things, which commonly may be related without the Circumstances.

'Tis truer than it seems, that in such Composures wher in Passion is to be describ'd, 'tis better to imitate the way of speaking used by Men of indifferent Capacity, than the Stile of more refined Wits. I must own that thus there is little related besides Actions and we do not rise to Reflections; but nothing is more graceful than Actions, so display'd as to bring their Reflection along with them. Such is this admirable Touch in Virgil; Galatæa throws an Apple at me, then runs to hide her self behind the Willows, and first would be perceiv'd. The Shepherd does not tell you what is Galatæa's Design, though he is fully sensible of it; but the Action has made a deep pleasing Impression on his Mind, and, according as he represents it, 'tis impossible but you must guess its meaning. Now the Mind is delighted with sensible Ideas, because it easily admits of them, and it loves to penetrate, provided it be without Effort; whether it be that it loves to Act but to a certain Degree, or that a little Penetration indulges its vanity. So the Mind hath the double Pleasure, first of getting an easie Idea, then of penetrating, whenever such Cases as that of Galatæa are laid before it. The Action, and, in a manner, the Soul of the Action all at once strike the Eyes of the Mind; it can see nothing more in the matter, nor more quickly, neither can it ever be put to less expence.

In Virgil's second Eclogue, Corydon, to commend his Pipe, tells us that Damætas gave it him when he died, and said to him, Thou art the second Master it hath had, and Amyntas was jealous, because it was not bequeath'd him: All these Circumstances are altogether Pastoral: It might not perhaps be disagreable to bring in a Shepherd who is puzzled in the midst of his Story, and who finds some difficulty in recovering himself; but this wou'd require some Art in the management.