Her poetry is not very interesting to the modern reader. It is affected. There is little heart-beating to be felt in it. Even to the extent of sickly prudery, she eschews the romance of love as a theme, and versifies platonically on the delights of friendship, generally friendship between one woman and another. Some of her strongest thinking is expended on political poems which have lost all savour now; and stilted use of stale classical metaphor is abundant. Two things have to be borne in mind when we judge her. In the first place, we have to recollect the recognition she deserves as being the first English woman with sufficient imagination (and confidence in it) to adopt pliant verse as the habitual vehicle for her thinking, in defiance of the almost vested right in it which male writers had till then preserved. Her courage may be compared to that of a woman who should make herself as skilful with the rapier as a man. Over form of verse Orinda exhibits as much command as any author of her time. And, as our first poetess, she at any rate should obtain rank relatively as high as that which we accord to Cædmon, our first poet.-ROBERTSON, ERIC S., 1883, English Poetesses, p. 4. Sir Kenelm Digby An Everard Digby, who died in 1592, wrote curious books; his son, Sir Everard, knighted by James I., was hanged, drawn, and quartered for giving fifteen hundred pounds towards expenses of the Gunpowder Plot. The eldest son of that Sir Everard was Sir Kenelm Digby, born in 1603, and educated at Oxford. He travelled in Spain, discovered, as he supposed, a sympathetic powder for cure of wounds, was knighted in 1623, was sent with a fleet into the Mediterranean in 1628, and returned to the faith of his fathers as a Roman Catholic in 1636. In the civil wars he helped the king among the Roman Catholics, and was then exile in France until Cromwell's supremacy gave him liberty to revisit England; but he returned to France. He published, in 1644, a mystical interpretation of "The 22d Stanza in the 9th Canto of the 2d Book of Spenser's Faery Queen;" in 1645, "Two Treatises on the Nature of Bodies and of Man's Soul;" took lively interest in Palingenesis; wrote "Observations upon Sir T. Browne's Religio Medici," and was ingenious in the pursuit of forms of learning which have proved to be more curious than true. He died in 1665.-MORLEY, HENRY, 1879, A Manual of English Literature, ed. Tyler, p. 469. PERSONAL He doth excel In honour, courtesy, and all the parts He was a great traveller, and under- gracefull elocution and noble addresse, etc., that had he been drop't out of the clowdes in any part of the world, he would have made himselfe respected. But the Jesuites spake spitefully, and sayd 'twas true, but then he must not stay there above six weekes. He was envoyé from Henrietta Maria (then Queen-mother) to Pope (Innocent X) where at first sight he was mightily admired; but after some time he grew high, and hectored with his holinesse, and gave him the lye. The pope sayd he was mad. He was well versed in all kinds of learning And he had also this vertue, that no man knew better how to abound, and to be abased, and either was indifferent to him. No man became grandeur better; sometimes again he would live only with a lackey, and horse with a foote-cloath. . . . He was a person of very extraordinary strength. . . he was of an undaunted courage, yet not apt in the least to give offence. His conversation was both ingeniose and innocent. -AUBREY, JOHN, 1669-96, Brief Lives, ed. Clark, vol. 1, pp. 225, 227. His knowledge, though various and extensive, appeared to be greater than it really was; as he had all the powers of elocution and address to recommend it. He knew how to shine in a circle of ladies, or philosophers; and was as much attended to when he spoke on the most trivial subjects, as when he spoke on the most important. He was remarkably robust, and of a very uncommon size, but moved with peculiar grace and dignity. Though he applied himself to experiment, he was sometimes hypothetical in his philosophy; and there are instances of his being very bold and paradoxical in his conjectures: hence he was called the "Pliny of his age for lying."--GRANGER, JAMES, 17691824, Biographical History of England, vol. III, p. 155. One of the most attractive figures visible on that imaginary line where the eve of chivalry and the dawn of science unite to form a mysterious yet beautiful twilight, is that of Sir Kenelm Digby. To our imagination he represents the knight of old before the characteristics of that romantic style of manhood were diffused in the complexed developments of modern society, and the philosopher of the epoch when fancy and superstition held sway over the domain of the exact sciences. Bravery, devotion to the sex, and a thirst for glory, nobleness of disposition and grace of manner, traditional qualities of the genuine cavalier, signalized Sir Kenelm, not less than an ardent love of knowledge, a habitude of speculation, and literary accomplishment; but his courage and his gallantry partook of the poetic enthusiasm of the days of Bayard, and his opinions and researches were something akin to those of the alchemists. High birth and a handsome person gave emphasis to these traits; and we have complete and authentic memorials whereby he is distinctly reproduced to our minds.-TUCKERMAN, HENRY T., 1856, The Modern Knight; Essays, Biographical and Critical, p. 75. The fact seems to be that, with striking superficial qualities and an imposing air of ability, Sir Kenelm Digby was a man distinguished more by a certain restless liveliness of nature than by any higher attributes of head or heart.-TULLOCH, JOHN, 1872, Rational Theology and Christian Philosophy in England, vol. 1, p. 108. Amongst the many strange personalities of the 17th century, there are few whose character it is more difficult to gauge than that of Kenelm Digby. He played his part as courtier, man of fashion, romancer, critic, soldier, virtuoso, and philosopher; and although he was distinguished in each, there was no sphere in which some suspicion of charlatanism did not attach to him. It is indeed difficult to avoid the conclusion that an element of madness entered into his composition, or at least that his versatility was united to an abnormal eccentricity, which, if it partly relieves him of the worst charges, yet explains how small his influence was in any single sphere of activity. single sphere of activity. His vanity was prodigious, and is naturally most conspicuous where his writings (as is frequently the case) relate to his own actions.CRAIK, HENRY, 1893, ed., English Prose, vol. II, p. 291. GENERAL Deserves a word among the half-mystic, half-scientific men of his time. He was a strange compound of dashing soldier, accomplished courtier, successful lover, and occult philosopher.-MINTO, WILLIAM, 1872-80, Manual of English Prose Literature, p. 306. He has not the boldness or the mastery of language which invents new expressions or clothes new thoughts in words. But he writes with the polished ease and grace which in his carriage and his manner so vividly impressed all his contemporaries, even when they were compelled to admit his total want of veracity. He has the confidence, and, at the same time, the breadth of view, acquired by converse with every phase of life. His prose has not the quaint turns, and the sympathetic subtlety of Browne's. He can rise occasionally to very lofty heights of dignity and eloquence. With all this, however, there is a pervading impression of artificiality, as of one whose character was above all things theatrical; and of superficial confidence, as of one to whom philosophical lucubrations were only a phase of eccentric and ill-balanced restlessness.-CRAIK, HENRY, 1893, ed., English Prose, vol. II, p. 293. His friendship with Descartes, Hobbes and other leaders of the new philosophy irvested his erratic speculations with an importance that they little deserved. Though he was in close intercourse with the chief men of science of the time, his writings are a singular medley of Aristotelian Philosophy, Astrology, Alchemy, and absurd superstitions. His romantic courtship of Venetia Stanley-the history of which is recorded in his "Private Memoirs," published in 1827-his successful privateering expedition in 1627, and the various confidential missions in which he was engaged on behalf of the Queen, and subsequently in the service of the Protector, all serve to perpetuate the memory of one of the most picturesque and eccentric characters of the period.-MASTERMAN, J. H. B., 1897, The Age of Milton, p. 236. John Earle 1601?-1665 John Earle or Earles, 1601-1665, entered at Merton Coll., Oxford, 1620, became chaplain and tutor to Prince Charles, and accompanied him in his exile. On the Restoration he was made Dean of Westminster, consecrated Bishop of Worcester in 1662, and transferred to Salisbury in 1663. "Microcosmographie; or, A Peece of the World discovered in Essayes and Characters," Lon., 1628, 8vo; 6th ed., 1630, 12mo; 10th ed., Salisbury, 1786. New ed. (78 characters) with Notes and Appendix, by Philip Bliss, Lon., 1811, sm. 8vo. This ed. contains a Catalogue of the various Writers of Character to the year 1700. . "An Elegy upon Francis Beaumont," by Bishop Earle, will be found printed at the end of Beaumont's Poems, 1640. He trans. into Latin the Eikon Basilike, (Hague, 1649), and Hooker's "Ecclesiastical Polity;" the last was destroyed by the carelessness of his servants. The character of Bishop Earle was most exemplary.-ALLIBONE, S. AUSTIN, 1854-58, Dictionary of English Literature, vol. 1, p.539. PERSONAL Doctor Earles was at that Time Chaplain in the House to the Earl of Pembroke, Lord Chamberlain of his Majesty's Household, and had a Lodging in the Court under that Relation: He was a Person very notable for his Elegance in the Greek and Latin Tongues; and being Fellow of Merton College in Oxford, and having been Foctor of the University, and some very witty, and sharp Discourses being published in Print without his Consent, though known to be his, He grew suddenly into a very general Esteem with all Men; being a Man of great Piety and Devotion; a st eloquent and powerful Preacher; nd of a Conversation so pleasant and delightful, so very innocent, and so very facetious, that no Man's Company was more desired, and more loved. No man was more negligent in his Dress, and Habit, and Mien; no Man more wary, and cultivated, in his Behaviour, and Discourse; insomuch as He had the greater Advantage when He was known, by was known, by promising so little before He was known. He was an excellent Poet both in Latin, Greek, and English, as appears by many Pieces yet abroad; though He suppressed Many More himselfe, especially of English, incomparably good, out of an Austerity to He those Sallies of his Youth. He was the man of all the Clergy for whom the King had the greatest esteem. He had been his sub-tutor, and had followed him in all his exile with so clear a Character, that the King could never see or hear of any one thing amiss in him. So he, who had a secret pleasure in finding out any thing that lessened a man esteemed eminent for piety, yet had a value for him beyond all the men of his order. -BURNET GILBERT, 1715-34, History of My Own Time. GENERAL Perhaps the most valuable collection of characters, previous to the year 1700, is that published by Bishop Earle, in 1628, under the title of "Microcosmography," and which may be considered as a pretty faithful delineation of many classes of characters as they existed during the close of the sixteenth, and commencement of the seventeenth century.-DRAKE, NATHAN, 1817, Shakspeare and His Times. In some of these short characters, Earle is worthy of comparison with La Bruyère; in others, perhaps the greater part, he has contented himself with pictures of ordinary manners, such as the varieties of occupation, rather than of intrinsic character, supply. In all, however, we find an acute observation and a happy humor of expression. The chapter entitled the Sceptic is best known: it is witty, but an insult throughout on the honest searcher after truth, which could have come only from one that was content to take up his own opinions for ease or profit. Earle is always gay, and quick to catch the ridiculous, especially that of exterior appearances: his style is short, describing well with a few words, but with much of the affected quaintness of that age. It is one of those books which give us a picturesque idea of the manners of our fathers at a period now become remote; and for this reason, were there no other, it would deserve to be read. —HALLAM, HENRY, 1837-39, Introduction to the Literature of Europe, pt. iii, ch. vii, par. 39. Earle is preserved from pedantry by the liveliness of his wit, while his wit itself has in it a salt nobler than the Attic-the savour of pure and unaffected piety.— WARD, ADOLPHUS WILLIAM, 1893, English Prose, ed. Craik, vol. II, p. 279. The one strain in character which throughout afflicts him most, and for which he reserves his most distilled contempt, is the strain of unreality-the affectation whose sin is always to please, and which fails so singularly of its object. Hypocrisy, pretension, falseness against everything which has that lack of simplicity so fatal to true life he sets his face. For the rest he can hardly read the enigma; he only states it reverently.BENSON, ARTHUR CHRISTOPHER, 1896, Essays, p. 34. Sir Richard Fanshawe 1608-1666 Mr. (afterwards Sir Richard) Fanshawe was born June 1608,-in 1630, was appointed Secretary to Lord Aston's embassy to Spain, where he remained as Chargé d'Affaires after Lord Aston's recall-returned to England about 1638-obtained, in 1641, the office of Remembrancer of the Court of Exchequer-attended Charles I. to Oxford during the early part of the civil war in March, 1645, was appointed Secretary to the Prince of Wales, and accompanied him in the west-resigned his employment on the Prince quitting Jersey -compounded, and returned to England about the end of 1616, and quitted it again the following year-went on a mission to Spain in February, 1650, from whence he returned unsuccessful in October-was created a baronet, September 2, 1650 -afterwards joined Charles II. in Scotland-was taken prisoner at the battle of Worcester after the Restoration, was M. P. for the University of Cambridge-was sent to Portugal in 1661, on a complimentary mission to the Princess Katherine--in 1662, was made Privy Councillor for Ireland-in 1663, was sent on another mission to Portugal -in 1664, went ambassador to Madrid, from whence he was recalled, but, before he could return, he died at Madrid, June 26, 1666.-LISTER, T. H., 1837, Life and Administration of Edward, First Earl of Clarendon, vol. III, p. 18, note. PERSONAL He was an exact critic in the Latin tongue, spoke the Spanish with ease and propriety, and perfectly understood the Italian. The politeness of his manners, and the integrity of his life, did not only procure him the love and esteem of his own countrymen, but gained him unusual favour and respect in Spain; among a people notorious for their disregard to strangers, and too apt to overlook all merit but their own.-GRANGER, JAMES, 1769-1824, Biographical History of England, vol. v, p. 103. GENERAL At present we are only to consider his Scholarship, which will sufficiently appear by the several Translations which he has publisht, particularly those which are Dramatick: the first of which in Order, and the most Eminent, is stil'd Il Pastor Fido, The Faithful Shepherd, a Pastoral, printed 4° Lond. 1646, and dedicated to the Hope and Lustre of three Kingdoms, Charles Prince of Wales. This Piece is translated from the Italian of the Famous Guarini... Sir John Denham in his Verses on this Translation, infinitely commends it: and tho' he seems to assent to our Author's Notions, touching Translations in general: yet he shews that Sir Richard has admirably succeeded in this particular Attempt; as the Reader may see by the following Lines; where after having blam'd servile Translators, he goes on thus; "A new and nobler Way thou dost pursue To make Translations, and Translators too They but preserve the Ashes, thou the Flame, True to his Sense, but truer to his Fame." -LANGBAINE, GERARD, 1691, An Account of the English Dramatick Poets, p. 191. Sir Richard's version ["The Lusiad"] is quaint, flat, and harsh; and he has interwoven many ridiculously conceited expressions which are foreign both to the spirit and style of his original; but in general it is closer than the modern translation to the literal meaning of Camoens. Altogether, Fanshawe's representation of the Portuguese poem may be compared to the wrong side of the tapestry. ---CAMPBELL, THOMAS, 1819, Specimens of the British Poets. To my taste this ["Querer por Solo Querer"] is fine, elegant, queen-like raillery; a second part of "Love's Labour's Lost," to which title this extraordinary play has still better pretensions than even Shakespeare's; for after leading three pair of royal lovers through endless mazes of doubts, difficulties; oppositions of dead fathers' wills; a labyrinth of losings and findings; jealousies; enchantments; conflicts with giants, and single-handed against armies; to the exact state in which all the lovers might with the greatest propriety indulge their reciprocal wishes-when, the duce is in it, you think, but they must all be married now-- suddenly the three ladies turn upon their lovers; and, as an exemplification of the moral of the play, "Loving for loving's sake," and a hyperplatonic, truly Spanish proof of their affections-demand that the lovers shall consent to their mistresses' taking upon them the vow of a single life! to which the gallants, with becoming refinement, can do no less than consent. The fact is that it was a court play, in which the characters-males, giants, and all-were played by females, and those of the highest order of Grandeeship. No nobleman might be permitted amongst them; and it was against the forms, that a great court lady of Spain should consent to such an unrefined motion, as that of wedlock, though but in a play.-LAMB, CHARLES, 1827, Notes on the Garrick Plays, p. 287. Sir Richard Fanshawe is the author of versions of Camoens's "Lusiad," of Guarini's Pastor Fido, of the Fourth Book of the Æneid, of the Odes of Horace, and of the Querer por Solo Querer (To love for love's sake) of the Spanish dramatist Mendoza. Some passages from the lastmentioned work, which was published in 1649, may be found in Lamb's "Specimens," the ease and flowing gayety of which never have been excelled even in original writing. The "Pastor Fido" is also rendered with much spirit and elegance. Fanshawe is, besides, the author of a Latin translation of Fletcher's "Faithful Shepherdess," and of some original poetry. His genius, however, was sprightly and elegant rather than lofty, and perhaps he does not succeed so well in translating poetry of a more serious style. CRAIK, GEORGE L., 1861, A Compendious History of English Literature and of the English Language, vol. 1, p. 576. His writings show a scholar's acquaintance with the best ancient and modern poets. In all he wrote a good deal, but the greater part consists of translations from the Italian, Spanish and Portuguese. He is one of the many translators who have wasted themselves over the hopeless tediousness of the "Lusiad." But, besides a little graceful original work, his reputation rests chiefly on his beautiful translation of the "Pastor Fido," on a small volume of translations from Virgil and Horace, and on a curious and clever piece of work, a rendering in Latin verse of Fletcher's "Faithful Shepherdess.". MACKAIL, J. W., 1888, Sir Richard Fanshawe, Macmillan's Magazine, vol. 59, p. 111. The translations of Horace's "Odes" deserve to rank among the most successful efforts of the kind. Most of the subtle turns of the original are given with rare felicity, and there is throughout an ease and elegance which prove the |