Through the Year With Famous Authors Part 68

Dear, beauteous death, the jewel of the just!

s.h.i.+ning nowhere but in the dark; What mysteries do lie beyond thy dust, Could man outlook that mark!

"They Are All Gone,"--_Henry Vaughan_.

HENRY VAUGHAN, a celebrated British poet, known as "The Silurist," was born in Newton, Brecknocks.h.i.+re, Wales, in 1621, and died in April, 1695.

His works are: "Olor Isca.n.u.s: Select Poems," "The Bleeding Heart,"

"e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.ns," "The Mount of Olives; or Solitary Devotions," and "Thalia Rediviva."

G.o.d helps those who help themselves.

"Discourses on Government," Ch. II, Pt. xxiii,--_Algernon Sidney_.

ALGERNON SIDNEY, a noted English republican patriot, was born at Penshurst, Kent, in 1622 (?), and died in London, December 7, 1683. His "Discourses on Government" appeared in 1698.

Fortune is always on the side of the largest battalions.

"Letters," 202,--_Mme. de Sevigne_.

MARIE DE RABUTIN-CHANTAL, MARQUISE DE SeVIGNe, a celebrated French letter-writer, was born at Paris, in 1626, and died at the Castle of Grignan, in Dauphine, April 18, 1696. The best edition of her "Letters"

appeared in 1818-19.

Let free, impartial men from Dryden learn Mysterious secrets, of a high concern, And weighty truths, solid convincing sense, Explain'd by unaffected eloquence.

"On Mr. Dryden's Religio Laici,"--_Earl of Roscommon_.

WENTWORTH DILLON, EARL OF ROSCOMMON, a noted Irish poet, was born in 1630, and died January 21, 1685. His reputation as a didactic writer and critic rests on his blank verse translation of Horace's "Ars Poetica,"

and "Essays on Translated Verse."

Great families of yesterday we show, And lords, whose parents were the Lord knows who.

"The True-Born Englishman," Part I, Line I,--_Daniel Defoe_.

DANIEL DEFOE, the famous author of "Robinson Crusoe," was born in St.

Giles Parish, Cripplegate, in 1660 or 1661, and died near London, in 1731. Among his works are: "The Storm," "Apparition of Mrs. Veal,"

"Robinson Crusoe," "Further Adventures of Robinson Crusoe," "King of Pirates," "Duncan Campbell," "Mr. Campbell's Pacquet," "Memoirs of a Cavalier," "Captain Singleton," "Moll Flanders," "The Highland Rogue,"

"Colonel Jacque," "Cartouche," "John Sheppard," "Account of Jonathan Wild," etc.

To die is landing on some silent sh.o.r.e Where billows never break, nor tempests roar; Ere well we feel the friendly stroke, 'tis o'er.

"The Dispensary," Canto iii, Line 225,--_Samuel Garth_.

SIR SAMUEL GARTH, a renowned English physician and poet, was born in Yorks.h.i.+re (?), in 1661 (or at Bolam, Durham, 1660), and died in London (?), January 18, 1719. His famous poem "The Dispensary," won for him great fame. He also translated "Ovid," and wrote numerous epigrams.

Though her mien carries much more invitation than command, to behold her is an immediate check to loose behaviour; to love her was a liberal education.

Tatler, No. 49,--_Richard Steele_.

SIR RICHARD STEELE, a celebrated British author and dramatist, was born in Dublin, in 1672, and died at Llangunnor, Wales, September 1, 1729. He wrote: "The Tender Husband," "The Christian Hero," "The Lying Lover,"

etc. However, his fame rests chiefly upon his connection with the _Tatler_ and the _Spectator_.

Remote from man, with G.o.d he pa.s.sed the days; Prayer all his business, all his pleasure praise.

"The Hermit," Line 5,--_Thomas Parnell_.

THOMAS PARNELL, a noted Irish poet, was born in Dublin, in 1679, and died in 1718. His best known poem is "The Hermit"; his other noted poetical works include: "The Hymn to Contentment," "The Night Piece on Death," and "The Fairy Tale."

Procrastination is the thief of time.

"Night Thoughts," Night I, Line 393,--_Edward Young_.

EDWARD YOUNG, an ill.u.s.trious English poet, was born at Upham, Hamps.h.i.+re, in 1684, and died at Welwyn, April 12, 1765. Among his works are: "The Revenge," "Busiris," "The Love of Fame," and his masterpiece, "Night Thoughts."

Friends.h.i.+p is the balm as well as the seasoning of life.

--_Richardson_.

SAMUEL RICHARDSON, a renowned English novelist was born in Derbys.h.i.+re, in 1689, and died July 4, 1761. All of his books are in the form of letters. His best known works are: "Clarissa Harlowe," "Pamela," a continuation of it in 1741, followed by "Sir Charles Grandison." His "Correspondence" was published in 1804 by Anna Laet.i.tia Barbauld.

If the heart of a man is depress'd with cares, The mist is dispell'd when a woman appears.

"The Beggar's Opera," Act II, Sc. I,--_John Gay_.

JOHN GAY, a famous English poet, was born near Barnstable, Devons.h.i.+re, in 1685, and died at London, December 4, 1732. He wrote: "The Fables,"

"The Shepherd's Week," "Rural Sports," "Trivia, or the Art of Walking the Streets of London," "The Wife of Bath," etc. Also "The Beggar's Opera."

Heed the still, small voice that so seldom leads us wrong, and never into folly.

--_Mme. du Deffand_.

MARIE ANNE DE VICHY-CHAMROND, MARQUISE DU DEFFAND (MADAME DU DEFFAND), a celebrated French wit and letter-writer, was born in Burgundy, in 1697, and died at Paris, September 24, 1780. Her correspondence with Horace Walpole was published in 1780; with d'Alembert, and other renowned Frenchmen, in 1809; with Voltaire, in 1810, and with the d.u.c.h.ess de Choiseul and others in 1859.

One kind kiss before we part, Drop a tear and bid adieu; Though we sever, my fond heart Till we meet shall pant for you.

"The Parting Kiss,"--_Robert Dodsley_.