Nor were the taste and critical talents of the countess of Pembroke confined to prose composition; she was, as well as her brother, a favoured disciple of the Muses; and being not only well acquainted with the classical languages, but with the Hebrew tongue, she was consequently in possession of all the models necessary to a perfect knowledge of the art of poetry, sacred and profane. Whether she contributed to the numerous metrical effusions with which the Arcadia abounds is not known; but there can be no doubt that these, as well as the narrative part of that romance, underwent the revision of her pen; nor is it improbable that the "Astrophel and Stella" of sir Philip, consisting of not less than one hundred and eight sonnets *, independent of intervening songs, which was * From these sonnets, many of which are exquisitely beautiful, I cannot resist the pleasure of transcribing two, as being, in my opinion, models of grace and sweetness. TO THE MOONE. With how sad steps, O Moone, thou climb'st the skies, What, may it be that even in heav'nly place first published in 1591, as well as a minor collection of "Sonnets" from the same source, printed in 1594, had, either in their separate state or when subsequently added to the Arcadia, the advantage of her judgment and skill. Of the poetry which flowed from her ladyship's Then, ev'n of fellowship, O Moone, tell me Is constant Love deem'd there but want of wit? Are Beauties there as proud as here they be? Do they above love to be lov'd, and yet Those Lovers scorne whom that Love doth possesse ? TO SLEEPE. Come, Sleepe, O Sleepe, the certaine knot of peace, And if these things, as being thine by right, own inspiration we had, until the publication of her Psalms, but few instances. Of these the principal was, "The Tragedie of Antonie: done into English by the countess of Pembroke,” Lond. 1595, 12mo.; to which may be added "An Elegy on sir Philip Sidney," printed in Spenser's "Astrophel,” 1595, and "A Pastoral Dialogue in praise of Astrea," that is, queen Elizabeth, published in Davison's "Poetical Rapsody," 1602, where it is recorded as having been "made by the excellent lady, the lady Mary countesse of Pembrook, at the queenes majesties being at her house at, 15-." It should not be forgotten also, that a poem of considerable length in six-line stanzas, entitled "The countesse of Pembrook's Passion," is preserved among the Sloanian Manuscripts, No. 1303. It is, however, on her version of the Psalms, written in conjunction with her brother, that her poetical fame must be built; and I shall, therefore, after closing this slight sketch of her character, devote the ensuing paper to a consideration of some of the more prominent beauties of this joint labour of love and piety. In the meantime it is highly gratifying to record, that the countess was, like her brother, the uniform and munificent friend of learning and of genius; and that to her patronage and liberality, to her taste and talents, Spenser, and Daniel, and Churchyard, and Fraunce, and Fitzgeffrey, and several other poets of her day, have borne the most sincere and grateful testimony. Spenser in particular, the first, and, by many degrees, the greatest of this tuneful train, has seized every opportunity of expressing his high sense of the rare virtues and acquirements of lady Pembroke; and when celebrating the most accomplished females of the court of Elizabeth, he has not hesitated to give to the sister of Sidney the foremost rank and highest place*. I shall quote one tribute from this divine bard, as placing Sidney and his sister in that light of blended love and talent in which they ever wished to appear, and as delivering his own opinion of their poetical powers. He is apostrophising the shade of sir Philip: O noble spirit! The world's late wonder, and the heaven's new joy; * Colin Clout's Come Home Again. Vide Todd's Spenser, vol. viii. pp. 27, 28. Live ever there, and leave me here distressed Yet, whilst the Fates afford me vital breath, Then will I sing; but who can better sing Yet will I sing; but who can better sing The countess of Pembroke has been uniformly * The Ruins of Time. Todd's Spenser, vol. vii. pp. 298, 299, 300. |