IDYL

(Gr l/JyAXwy, the diminutive of efStff, /orm.) A short pastoral poem. The Greek word is derived from fiSej, form, or visible object; and hence the object, or at least the nece ary accompaniment of this species of poem, has been said to be a vivid and simple representation of ordinary objects in pastoral nature. But in common usage the Signification of this word is hardly different from that of eclogue. The poems of Theocritus are termed Idyls, those of Virgil Eclogues; but it would be difficult to a ign a distinction between the two, except, what arises from the greater simplicity of lan'guage and thought which characterizes the former. Many critics, however, aver that the eclogue requires 585 IGUANODON something of epic or dramatic action; the idyl only picturesque representation, sentiment, or narrative. (See Eclogue, Bucolic.) In English poetry, among this cla may be ranked The Seasons of Thomson, Shenstone'i Schoohnistre , Burns' Cottager's Saturday Night, Goldsmith's Deserted Village, Sec. . [s. 598]