Understand therefore a pastorall to be a representation of
shepheards and shephearddesses, with their actions and passions, which
must be such as may agree with their natures at least not exceeding former
fictions, & vulgar traditions: they are not to be adorn'd with any art,
but such improper ones as nature is said to bestow, as singing and Poetry,
or such as experience may teach them, as the vertues of hearbs, &
fountaines: the ordinary course of the Sun, moone, and starres, and
such like. But you are ever to remember Shepherds to be such, as all the
ancient Poets and moderne of understanding have receaved them: that is,
the owners of flockes and not hyerlings. A tragie-comedie is not so called
in respect of mirth and killing, but in respect it wants deaths, which is
inough to make it no tragedie, yet brings some neere it, which is inough
to make it no comedie: which must be a representation of familiar people,
with such kinde of trouble as no life be questiond, so that a God is as
lawfull in this as in a tragedie, and meane people as in a comedie. This
much I hope will serve to justifie my Poeme, and make you understand it,
to teach you more for nothing, I do not know that I am in conscience
bound.
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