ILLVSTRATIOSS. 103 



(Additional article procured from dr. Mitchill by (he editor.) 



The fifth piscatory eclogue of James Sanuazarhis, entitled HKRPYLIS FHAE- 

 MACEUTRIA. It is dedicated to Cassandra Marchese. The speakers are two. 



DORYLAS and THELGON. (Scene the city of Naples.) 



U is by no means unlikely, that Sannazarius derived his idea of introducing 

 fishermen into poetical compositions, from Theocritus, who wrote at Syracuse 

 in Sicily. That writer's first Idyl in Greek, is entitled Thyrsis One of the 

 speakers in the dialogue is a goatherd, who encourages Thyrsis to sing, by the 

 offer of a cup, on which many fine things were carved, and among others, an 

 agedjishtrman among rude rocks, droning his net with great labour. You would 

 say that he fished with all the strength he possessed. For his veins sndl in his 

 neck ; and he appears as robust as a youth. And nol far from this old water- 

 man, is seen a vine beautifully loaded nith ruddy grapes. And in the third 

 Idyl, a despairing lover declares that he mill leap into the wares, where Olpis 

 the fisherman is on the natch for tunnies, (a sort of large mackrel.) 



This eclogue may be considered as having three distinct parts, first, the dedi- 

 catory verses ; secondly, Dorylas's recital of thefmagical rites and words of ex- 

 ecration practised by the enchantress Herpylis, against the ungrateful and per- 

 fidious Maeon, who by deserting the lass that loved him, had driven her to dig- 

 traction ; and thirdly ^Thelgon's narrative of his passion for the beautiful Ga- 

 latea, whose coldness and aversion he endeavours to overcome by a confession 

 of his ardent sincerity, and an enumeration of his valuable qualities and posses- 

 sions. The whole is modelled upon the eighth eclogue of Virgil j with an in- 

 version of the order of the topics j the elegy in Virgil's eclogue being first, and 

 the imprecation last. Virgil had copied his first part from the third idyl ot 

 Theocritus ; and his second part from the second idyl of the same. 



But, let us now the well-known loves relate ; 

 Which, as young Dorylas and Thelgon sat 

 Beneath the hanging rock's refreshing shade, 

 And sung ; along the shores a murmur made : 

 To glassy Platamon where mermaids lave 

 And Serapis' sacred fount and cave. 



If aught of honour to the sea belong, 

 Attend, Cassandra, and approve my son* ; 



