Through the Year With Famous Authors Part 67

"The Faithful Friends," Act I, Sc. 2,--_Francis Beaumont_.

FRANCIS BEAUMONT, a renowned English dramatist, was born in 1584, at Grace-Dieu, Leicesters.h.i.+re, and died in London, March 6, 1616. He has always been a.s.sociated with John Fletcher, and together they wrote many famous plays, among them: "The c.o.xcomb," "King and No King," "The Faithful Friends," "Philaster," "The Maid's Tragedy," "The Knight of the Burning Pestle," and "The Scornful Lady."

Diamond cut diamond.

"The Lover's Melancholy," Act I, Sc. I,--_John Ford_.

JOHN FORD, a famous English dramatist, was baptized at Islington in Devon, April 17, 1586, and died about 1640. His best plays are: "The Lover's Melancholy," "The Broken Heart," and "Love's Sacrifice."

Be wisely worldly, be not worldly wise.

"Emblems," Book II, Emblem 2,--_Francis Quarles_.

FRANCIS QUARLES, a celebrated English sacred poet, was born in Rumford, Ess.e.x, in 1592, and died September, 1644. His most famous works were: "Emblems, Divine and Moral," "Argalus and Parthenia," and the "Enchiridion."

Plato, Aristotle, and Socrates are secretaries of Nature.

"Letters," Book ii, Letter xi,--_Howell_.

JAMES HOWELL, a noted British author, was born at Abernaut, in Carmarthens.h.i.+re, in 1594, and died in November, 1666. Of all his works, his "Letters," the "Epistolae Ho-Elianae" (four volumes issued in 1645, 1647, 1650 and 1655) are best known, and his elaborate allegories are forgotten.

Actions of the last age are like almanacs of the last year.

"The Sophy," A Tragedy,--_Sir John Denham_.

SIR JOHN DENHAM, a noted English poet, was born in Dublin, 1615, and died in London (?), March 15 (?), 1669. He translated the "aeneid," and produced "The Sophy," a tragedy, and "Cooper's Hill," a famous poem.

I have ever thought, Nature doth nothing so great for great men, As when she's pleas'd to make them lords of truth.

Integrity of life is fame's best friend, Which n.o.bly, beyond death shall crown the end.

The d.u.c.h.ess of Malfi, Act V, Sc. 5,--_John Webster_.

JOHN WEBSTER, a famous English dramatist, was born near the end of the sixteenth century. Some of his dramas are: "The White Devil, or Vittoria Corombona," "The d.u.c.h.ess of Malfi," "Appius and Virginia," and "The Devil's Law Case."

My mind to me a kingdom is; Such present joys therein I find, That it excels all other bliss That earth affords or grows by kind; Though much I want which most would have, Yet still my mind forbids to crave.

--_Edward Dyer_.

SIR EDWARD DYER, a noted English courtier and poet, was born at Sharpham Park, Somersets.h.i.+re, and died in 1607. He had a great reputation as a poet among his contemporaries, but very little of his work has survived.

"My Mind to Me a Kingdom Is," is universally accepted as his.

The a.s.sembled souls of all that men held wise.

"Gondibert," Book II, Canto v. Stanza 37,--_Sir William Davenant_.

SIR WILLIAM DAVENANT, a celebrated English poet, was born at Oxford, in 1606, and died April 7, 1668. He wrote numerous poems and plays, and succeeded Ben Jonson as poet laureate of England. Besides his poetical works, he wrote an epic, "Gondibert," and an opera, "The Siege of Rhodes."

'Tis expectation makes a blessing dear; Heaven were not heaven if we knew what it were.

"Against Fruition,"--_Sir J. Suckling_.

SIR JOHN SUCKLING, a noted English poet, was born at Whitton, Middles.e.x, in 1608, and died in Paris, about 1642. He is noted for his love poems.

A complete edition of his works appeared in 1874.

When Greeks joined Greeks, then was the tug of war!

--_Nathaniel Lee_.

NATHANIEL LEE, a celebrated English dramatist, was born in 1653 (?), and died in 1692. Among his plays are: "Nero, Emperor of Rome,"

"Theodosius," "The Rival Queens, or the Death of Alexander the Great,"

etc.

He that imposes an oath makes it, Not he that for convenience takes it; Then, how can any man be said To break an oath he never made!

"Hudibras," Part II, Canto II, Line 377,--_Samuel Butler_.

SAMUEL BUTLER, a famous English satirist, was born in Strensham, Worcesters.h.i.+re, 1612, and died in London, September 25, 1680. His most important works are: "Ode to Duval," "Characters," "The Elephant in the Moon," and "Hudibras," which won for him world-wide fame.

Whoe'er she be, That not impossible she, That shall command my heart and me.

"Wishes to his Supposed Mistress,"--_Richard Crashaw_.

RICHARD CRASHAW, a noted English poet, was born in London, about 1613, and died in 1650. His poems were collected by an anonymous friend and published under the t.i.tles of "Steps to the Temple," "Sacred Poems," and "The Delights of the Muses."

I could not love thee, dear, so much, Lov'd I not honour more.

"To Lucasta, on going to the Wars,"--_Richard Lovelace_.

RICHARD LOVELACE, a famous English poet and dramatist, was born in Woolwich, Kent, in 1618, and died in 1658. He wrote: "The Scholar," a comedy, "The Soldier," a tragedy, and "Lucasta," a volume of poems.

A mighty pain to love it is, And 'tis a pain that pain to miss; But of all pains, the greatest pain It is to love, but love in vain.

--_Abraham Cowley_.

ABRAHAM COWLEY, a noted English poet and essayist, was born in London, 1618, and died at Chertsey, Surrey, July 28, 1667. He wrote: "The Mistress," "Poems," and numerous Virgilian elegies, essays, and love-songs.