204 Poetry. 



merit to recommend them. The pastorals of 

 Phillips, published about the same time, may be 

 considered as occupying nearly the same grade of 

 excellence. In the works of Gay and Shenstone 

 are also found some specimens of this kind of com- 

 position, which have generally a place assigned 

 them among the pastorals of superior character. 

 The Shepherd's Week of the former, and the Pas- 

 toral Ballad of the latter, are considered among 

 the most meritorious performances of their kind in 

 our language. The Despairing Shepherd, of Rowe, 

 is also worthy of high praise; and the various pas- 

 toral productions of Collins, in richness and 

 strength of description, in justness and simplicity of 

 sentiment, have rarely been excelled. But infe- 

 rior to none that have been mentioned is the Gen- 

 tle Shepherd, of Allan Ramsay, a work of great 

 and original genius, in which a happy delineation 

 of characters, an affecting exhibition of incidents, 

 and a captivating simplicity and tenderness re- 

 markably prevail. 



But among all the pastoral poetry of the eigh- 

 teenth century, the Idylls of Gesner unques- 

 tionably hold the first place. He has, indeed, 

 been pronounced the greatest pastoral poet that 

 ever lived, not excepting Theocritus himself, the 

 father of this species of poetry. In the novelty of 

 many of his thoughts; in the judicious choice of sub- 

 jects; in liveliness of description; and in exquisite 

 pathos and tenderness of sentiment, he is without 

 a rival . The Idylls, or Rural Stories of Mademoi- 

 selle Levesque, a poetess of France, are said by 

 some critics to approach that excellence which 

 distinguishes the productions of Gesner. To these 

 may be added the Eclogues of Fontenelle and 

 De la Motte, of the same country, which de- 

 serve to be mentioned with honour among the pas- 

 toral writings of the age. 



