Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/690

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BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY

Pembroke's Yvy-church. Containing the affectionate life and unfortunate death of Phillis and Amyntas: That in a pastoral: This in a Funeral: Both in English Hexameters, by Abraham Fraunce, 1591. Also, The Countess of Pembroke's Emmanuel. Containing the Nativity, Burial, and Resurrection of Christ: together with certain Psalms of David. All in English Hexameter, by Abraham Fraunce, 1592.

As her genius inclined her to poetry, she translated many of the Psalms into English verse; which are still preserved in the library at Wilton. But Sir John Harrington supposes, that she was assisted by Dr. Babington, chaplain to that family, and afterwards bishop of Worcester: for, says he, it was more than a woman's skill to express the sense of the Hebrew so right, as she hath done in her verse; or more than the Latin or English translation could give her.

She translated and published, A Discourse of Life and Death, written in French by Philip Mornay, done into English by the countess of Pembroke, 1590. Likewise the Tragedy of Antonie. Done into English by the countess of Pembroke, 1595.

This great lady was not only learned herself, but a patroness of men of letters.

She survived her husband twenty years; and having lived to a good old age, died at her house in Aldersgate-street, London, 1602. She was buried with the Pembroke family, in the chancel of the cathedral church of Salisbury; but without any monument. (See article Herbert.)

Female Worthies.
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