the late writers produce any thing upon which I can safely rely; yet
what beginning this kind of Poetry {14} had, I think I can pretty well
conjecture: for tis likely that first Shepherds us'd Songs to recreate
themselves in their leisure hours whilst they fed their Sheep; and
that each man, as his wit served, accommodated his Songs to his
present Circumstances: to this Solitude invited, and the extream
leisure that attends that employment absolutely requir'd it: For as
their retirement gave them leisure, and Solitude a fit place for
Meditation, Meditation and Invention produc'd a Verse; which is
nothing else but a Speech fit to be sung, and so Songs began: Thus
_Hesiod_ was made a Poet, for he acknowledges himself that he receiv'd
his inspiration;

Whilst under _Helicon_ he fed his Lambs.

for either the leisure or fancy of Shepherds seems to have a natural
aptitude to Verse.

And indeed I cannot but agree with _Lucretius_ that accurate Searcher
into Nature, who delivers that from that state of Innocence the Golden
Age, Pastorals continued down to his time, for after he had in his
fifth book describ'd that most happy age, he adds,

For then the Rural Muses reign'd.

From whence 'tis very plain, that as _Donatus_ himself observ'd,
Pastorals were the invention of the simplicity and innocence of that
Golden age, if there was ever any such, or certainly of that time
which succeeded the beginning of the World: For tho the Golden Age
must be acknowledged {15} to be only in the fabulous times, yet 'tis