De Carmine Pastorali Prefixed to Thomas Creech's translation of the Idylliums of Theocritus (1684)

"De Carmine Pastorali" by René Rapin is a 17th-century academic essay that looks closely at pastoral poetry. It tries to explain what makes pastoral poetry important, what rules it follows, and what it all means, with a strong focus on sticking to the classic examples set by Theocritus and Virgil. Rapin wants to show that this type of poetry is valuable because it represents simple living and a time of innocence. The work starts by talking about pastoral literature and where it fits in history and writing. Rapin quickly deals with the common idea that pastoral poetry isn't as good as other types, defending its beauty and value by pointing to the opinions of old poets and thinkers. He explains that pastoral poetry should be both simple and closely connected to the natural world, and he mentions important examples and critics from the past, suggesting the detailed discussion to come.