T ECLOGUE I. HIS eclogue, which is entitled Selim, or the Shepherd's Moral, as there is nothing dramatic in the fubject, may be thought the leaft entertaining of the four: but it is, by no means, the least valuable. The moral precepts which the intelligent fhepherd delivers to his fellow-fwains and the virgins, their companions, are fuch as would infallibly promote the happiness of the paftoral life. In imperfonating the private virtues, the poet has obferved great propriety, and has formed the genealogy with the most perfect judgment, when he represents them as the daughters of truth and wisdom. THE characteristics of modesty and chastity are extremely happy and peinturefque : "Come thou, whofe thoughts as limpid Springs are clear, To lead the train, fweet modefly appear; A filken veil conceals her from the view." The two fimilies borrowed from rural objects are not only much in character, but perfectly natural and expreffive. There is, notwithstanding, this defect in the former, that it wants a peculiar propriety; for purity of thought may as well be applied to chaflity as to modefty; and from this inftance, as well as from a thousand more, we may fee fee the neceffity of distinguishing, in characteristic poety, every object by marks and attributes peculiarly its own. If cannot be objected to this eclogue that it wants both thofe effential Criteria of the pastoral, love and the drama; for though it partakes not of the latter, the former ftill retains an intereft. in it, and that too very material, as it profeffedly confults the virtue and happinefs of the lover, while it informs what are the qualities that must lead to love. H 3 Α ECLOGUE II. LL the advantages that any fpecies of poetry can derive from the novelty of the fubject and fcenery, this eclogue poffeffes. The route of a camel-driver is a scene that scarce could exift in the imagination of an European, and of its attendant diftreffes he could have no idea.-These are very happily and our defcriptive poet. minutely painted by What fublime fim plicity of expreffion! what nervous plainnefs in the opening of the poem! "In filent horror o'er the boundless wafte The driver Haffan with his camels past." The magie pencil of the poet brings the whole scene before us at once, as it were by enchantment, and in this fingle couplet we feel feel all the effect that arifes from the terrible wildness of a region unenlivened by the habitations of men. The verfes that defcribe fo minutely the camel-driver's little provifions, have a touching influence on the imagination, and prepare the reader to enter more feelingly into his future apprehenfions of distress: "Bethink thee, Haffan, where shall thirst affwage, When fails this cruife, his unrelenting rage!" It is difficult to fay whether his Apoftrophe to the "mute companions of his toils," is more to be admired for the elegance and beauty of the poetical imagery, or for the tenderness and humanity of the sentiment. He who can read it without being affected, |