The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland (1753) Volume I.Cibber, Theophilus
General
The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland (1753) Volume I.
Cibber, Theophilus
Poets, English -- Biography -- Early works to 1800; Poets, Irish -- Biography -- Early works to 1800
He left behind him one child named Elizabeth, (married to the earl of
Rutland) whom he had by Sir Francis Walsingham's daughter, and who
unfortunately died without issue to perpetuate the living virtues
of her illustrious family. She is said to have been excessively
beautiful; that she married the earl of Rutland by authority, but
that her affections were dedicated to the earl of Essex, and as Queen
Elizabeth was in love with that nobleman, she became very jealous of
this charming countess. It has been commonly reported[6] that Sir
Philip, some hours before his death, enjoyned a near friend to
consign his works to the flames. What promise his friend returned is
uncertain, but if he broke his word to befriend the public, posterity
has thank'd him, and every future age will with gratitude acknowledge
the favour.
Of all his works his Arcadia is the most celebrated; it is dedicated
to his sister the countess of Pembroke, who was a Lady of as fine a
character, and as equally finished in every female accomplishment, as
her brother in the manly. She lived to a good old age, and died
in 1621. Ben Johnson has wrote an epitaph upon her, so inimitably
excellent, that I cannot resist the temptation of inserting it here.
She was buried in the Cathedral Church of Salisbury, among the graves
of the family of the Pembrokes.
EPITAPH.
Underneath this marble hearse,
Lyes the subject of all verse,
Sidney's sister, Pembroke's mother,
Death e're thou hast killed another,
Learned and fair, and good as she,
Time shall throw his dart at thee.
The Arcadia was printed first in 1613 in 4to; it has been translated
into almost every language. As the ancient Ægyptians presented secrets
under their mystical hyeroglyphics, so that an easy figure was
exhibited to the eye, and a higher notion couched under it to the
judgment, so all the Arcadia is a continual grove of morality,
shadowing moral and political truths under the plain and striking
emblems of lovers, so that the reader may be deceived, but not hurt,
and happily surprized to more knowledge than he expected.
Besides the celebrated Arcadia, Sir Philip wrote,
A dissuasive letter addressed to Queen Elizabeth; against her marriage
with the duke of Anjou, printed in a book called Serinia Ceciliana,
4to. 1663.
Astrophel & Stella, written at the desire of Lady Rich, whom he
perfectly loved, and is thought to be celebrated in the Arcadia by the
name of Philoclea.
--------------- Ourania, a poem, 1606.
An Essay on Valour: Some impute this to Sir Thomas Overbury.
Almanzor and Almanzaida, a novel printed in 1678, which is likewise
disputed; and Wood says that he believes Sir Philip's name was only
prefixed to it by the bookseller, to secure a demand for it.
--------England's Helicon, a collection of songs.
--------The Psalms of David turned into English.
The true PICTURE of LOVE.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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