THE EVOLUTION OF ALLEGORY IN THE PASTORAL ... - Repositories

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and an undulled perception of rustic beauty.
Theocritus' poetic aura is neither completely realistic
nor ideal.
He offers no praise of the shepherds'
existence as an "age of innocence," nor does he reflect a
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"philosophical illusion of primitive simplicity."
With
some few exceptions, his shepherds use language appropriate
to their station and experiences, both real and natural.
While exhibiting a fondness for moralizing and an
occasional inclination toward frank indecency, they speak
colloquialisms and proverbs.
Although his rustics lack
dramatic characterization, they seem emotionally appealing
instead of intellectually alluring.
Each one must possess
conventional traits:
sensitivity to beauty, ardent affections,
comradery with his herd, and the supreme gift of
song.
Although Theocritus appears more content than any
subsequent pastoral poet to give a straightforward account
of the bucolic life, he did not always avoid a projection
of his own values and interests into his characters.
Such
an example occurs in the literary mood observable in the
seventh idyll. The Harvest Festival, which sets the precedent
for identification of the poet with the herdsman in
so far as both are singers of song.
The emphasis of this
poem lies in the description of the harvest festival at
Cos and on the fact that the city poets are playing at
being shepherds.
Theocritus engineers a kind of pastoral