But I digrefs: To return therefore to the Epigram, it will not be ungrateful perhaps to give you a Summary Account of its Rife.

The Epigram had both its Rife and its Name from Infcriptions that were us'd to be either engrav'd or hung on Pillars, on Walls, Buildings, Statues, Trophies, Shields, Ships, and the like. And this at first was the general Meaning of the Word Epigram, which was afterwards brought to a more reftrain'd Senfe. This Word was originally appropriated to the Infcriptions of Gifts offer'd in the Temples; thence it came to those which were hung up at the TempleGates; foon after it was transfer'd to thofe Infcriptions which were to adorn Publick Buildings; then to the Statues of the Gods or Heroes, or Men of Eminence, either Living or Dead. And these Infcriptions were fometimes compriz'd in one Word, fometimes in two, and at other Times of feveral, and that both in Profe and in Verfe.

The Shortnefs of these Infcriptions took extremely, because we are pleas'd to know that quickly of which we defire to be inform'd; and their being put into Verfe, made them yet more agreeable; both by the Harmony of their Numbers, and their aptnefs to be retain'd by the Memory. Thefe were the Motives that made People touch upon all manner of Subjects in this fhort Way; if they had occafion to write to a Friend in a grave or merry Manner, or even to their Miftreffes, when the Poets had found this general Propenfion to this fhort Way of Writing, they affum'd it into their Province as their Right. Thus came the Word Epigram to be given to any fhort Copy of Verfes.

The Epigram is indeed originally a Sort of Poetry in Miniature, for it takes in all Subjects, both of the greater and leffer Poefy: As Praife, Difpraife, Perfuafion: Nay, Voffius and fome others have extended

it in fome Measure to the Subjects of the Epic, Tragic and Comic Poems, which Voffius thus expreffes. It has this in common with the Epic, that it praifes the Gods, Heroes, and Men of eminent Worth, as well as Trees, Cities, and the like. This it has common with Tragedy, that it relates those Things which beget Grief, Pity, and Admiration (but by the Way Voffius is out in this, for Admiration is not a tragical Paffion.) Grief, by treating of cruel Events; Pity, by the Recital of them when they happen to fuch us do not deserve them, or between Relations, efpecially Parents and Children, Brothers and Sifters, and the like. Admiration, by treating of future Events, especially when beyond our expectation one produces another, as in the Life of Oedipus. Laftly, it has this in common with the old Comedy, that it lashes Men either by their own, or else by fictitious Names.

I have given you the most agreeable Side or Profile of this fhort Poem, (which Sir William Temple calls the Chips or Scraps of Poetry) I shall now add what the admirable Boileau fays upon it in his Art of Poetry.

The Epigram, with little Art compos'd,
Is one good Sentence in a Diftich clos'd.

So that he allows but two Verses to make an Epigram, contrary not only to Martial's Practice in many, but even of Catullus. But to go on with this admirable French Critic and Poet.

Thefe Points, which by Italians firft were priz'd
Our antient Authors knew not, or defpis'd:
To their falfe Pleafures, quickly they invite
The Vulgar, dazled with their glaring Light.

G 4

But

But public Favour fo increas'd their Pride,
They overwhelm'd Parnaffus with their Tide.
The Madrigal at first they overcome,
And the proud Sonnet fell by the fame Doom.
With them grave TRAGEDY adorn'd her Flights,
And mournful Elegy her Funeral Rites.
A Hero never fail'd them on the Stage,
Without his Point, a Lover durft not rage.
The amorous Shepherds took more care to prove,
True to their Point, than faithful to their Love.
Each Word, like Janus, had a double Face,
And Profe, as well as Verfe, allow'd it Place.
The Lawyer with Conceits adorn'd his Speech,
The Parfon without quibling cou'd not Preach.
At laft affronted Reafon look'd about,

And from all ferious Matters but them out;
Declar'd that none fhou'd use them without Shame,
Except a Scattering in the Epigram;

Provided that by Art, and in due Time,

They turn'd upon the Thought, and not the Rhime.
Thus, in all Parts, Disorders did abate,

Yet Quiblers in the Court had leave to prate;
Infipid Fefters, and unpleafant Fools,

A Corporation of dull punning Tools.

'Tis not, but that fometimes a dextrous Mufe
May with Advantage a turn'd Senfe abufe,
And, on a Word, may trifle with Address.
But above all avoid the fond Excefs,

And think not when your Verse and Senfe are Lame,
With a dull Point to tag your Epigram.

Thus far Boileau on the Epigram, by which you may eafily form your Tafte, not only of that little Poem itself, but of that vicious Mixture, which our Writers too commonly make of it in the fublimer Parts of Poetry.

But

But to give you Rules yet more plain and peculiar, I fhall quote thofe in my English Grammar.

}

The Epigram in Shortnefs takes Delight,
And tho all Subjects are its proper Right,
Yet each in One alone can only write.
Two Parts this little Whole muft ftill compofe,
Recital of the Subject, and the Close.
To make this Poem perfect, be your Care
That Beauty, Point, and Brevity appear.
That you the needful Brevity may claim,
Let one thing only be your lawful Aim.
And in few Words that only thing exprefs,
But Words that Force, and Energy confefs.
BEAUTY's harmonious Symmetry of Parts,
Which to the Whole an Excellence imparts;
Adorn'd with fweet Simplicity and Truth,
The Diction fill Polite and ne'er uncouth:
This BEAUTY Sweetness always must comprize,
Which from the Subject well exprefs'd will rife.
The POINT in the Conclufion takes its Place,
And is the Epigram's peculiar Grace.
Some unexpected, and fome biting Thought,
With poinant Wit, and sharp Expreffion fraught.
From two to twenty Verfes it extends,

But beft when two or four it not tranfcends.

But I think I have been long enough on fo fhort, -a Poem, and indeed on a Poem, for which I have very little Efteem. I fhall now advance to the Paftoral; much more Excellent in all its Parts, and more juftly claiming the Name of Poetry, as being indeed an Imitation, without which LAUDON has formerly made it out that this Art cannot fubfift.

Though the Original of PASTOR AL, both as to..... the Time of its appearing in the World, and its InG 5 ventors,

Recommended by Ifaac Bickerstaff.

ventors, be very uncertain, and therefore very obscure; yet I fhall endeavour to give you as good an Account of that Particular, as I can any way furnish myself with from the moft curious inquifitive Authors.

To fay nothing of its Divine Original from Apollo when he kept the Flocks of Admetus, or of Mercury when he was a Shepherd, or even of Pan, though the Rural Harmony is attributed by Virgil himself to that God, that I may not entertain you with more Fables invented by the Poets of this Kind to raise the Dignity of their Verfe. The Invention of this Paftoral Poem is attributed by fome to Daphnis, who was a Sicilian Shepherd the Son of Mercury and a Nymph, and bred up by the Nymphs, and who was an excellent Mufician, which it was the Cuftom of the Sicilian Shepherds to be even in the Time of Diodorus Siculus, who attributes this Poem to Daphne,

Diomedes tells us, that the PASTORAL POEM, as fome thought, was born at Laconia, but according to others, in Sicily. For on this Head there were feveral Difputes between the Lacedemonians and the Sicilians. As to the Canto, of its Rife in Laconia they give you this Account, that upon the Approach of Xerxes into Greece, it was a received Opinion that all the Inhabitants fled into various Parts for fear of the Barbarians, and the Virgins being confin'd by the fame Fear to their lurking Holes, could not perform the fame Chorus and Ceremony ufually at that Tine paid to Diana Cariate, no Creature appearing to the celebrating of the Solemnity; upon which the Country Shepherds repaired to the City, that the Sacred Rites should not be broke off; and hence the Name and Poem had its rife.

Its Origin in Sicily is thus related: Sicily, before Hiero had taken Syracufe, was afflicted with a Plague or Epidemic Diftemper; they at laft appeas'd Diana by frequent and daily Ceremonies, efpecially the Country People; whence it grew into a Custom that the Rural Inhabitants at certain Times in Company enter'd the

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