Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Cottle, Amos Simon

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565712Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 12 — Cottle, Amos Simon1887Richard Garnett

COTTLE, AMOS SIMON (1768?–1800), elder brother of Joseph Cottle [q. v.], was born in Gloucestershire about 1768. He received a classical education at Mr. Henderson's school at Hanham, near Bristol, and subsequently at Magdalene College, Cambridge, but did not take his B.A. degree until 1799. He died at his chambers in Clifford's Inn on 28 Sept. 1800. His principal work is ‘Icelandic Poetry, or the Edda of Saemund, translated into English verse,’ Bristol, 1797. It is not stated whether the translation is made from the original Icelandic or from a Latin version, most probably the latter. It is neither faithful nor vigorous, but displays considerable facility of versification. It is preceded by a critical introduction of no value, and a poetical address from Southey to the author, which contains the celebrated panegyric of Mary Wollstonecraft, ‘who among women left no equal mind.’ As she died on 10 Sept. 1797, and Cottle's preface is dated on 1 Nov., it must have been composed immediately after her death. Several minor poems of Cottle, including a panegyric on missionary enterprise and a Latin ode on the French conquest of Italy, are published along with his brother's ‘Malvern Hills.’

[Gent. Mag. 1800; Joseph Cottle's Malvern Hills.]

R. G.