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Pastorals

After the Simple Manner of Theocritus. By Mr. Purney

Purney, Thomas (1695-ca. 1727)

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PAPLET: OR, Love and Innocence

PASTORAL the I.

ARGUMENT.

Cubbin, the Writer so call'd, was acquainted with Paplet and Soflin. All Young was Paplet and ignorant of Love; Soflin more experienc'd, but equally tender and innocent. The first eager to be let into the Nature and Manner of Lovers and the other Sex; The other of a Temper particularly free and inclining. These, as Cubbin was inform'd, were at Evening gone out to a Bush of a sweet and pleasant Scituation, to tattle of Love, and of Collikin Soflin's Lover. In pain is Cubbin, least the gentle Paplet should fall in Love with him too, and goes forth to skulk near the Bush to hear if it indeed was so. There does the latter part of their Discourse, which alone he hears, confirm the hear-say. When the gloom of Night draws on, they go to bath and cool'em in Eden Brook. There is Paplet solitary and musing; and thence, ignorant

of her Ail, returns alone, by Moonshine to the Bush: For there Collikin, that Morn, had loll'd with his Love. Cubbin soon discovers her uneasiness; forsakes his Covert to attempt her relief; But endeavouring to divert her thoughts from Collikin, is chid from her sight. So being averse to her Cure, she falls intirely in Love.

The time, in this Piece, is from Noon to Night; The Season Summer; and the Scene on the Banks of the Brook Eden; which runs out of the Medway, some Miles West of Tunbridge in Kent.

ΦΕΙΔΕΟ τας θηρας, τοδε μηδ'ες τωρνεον ερχευ.

Bion. 2.