Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 55.djvu/269

siderably wider in its scope, as appears in the title: ‘Du Bartas his Diuine Weekes and Workes, with a compleate Collectiõ of all the Other most delight-full Workes translated and written by ye famous Philomusus, Joshua Sylvester, gent.,’ London, 1633, fol., with a portrait of Du Bartas and woodcuts, and containing the ‘Parliament of Vertues Royal’ and other pieces by Sylvester. The last and most complete of the old editions appeared in 1641, fol., London, printed by Robert Young, ‘with Additions.’ This contains all Sylvester's translations from Du Bartas, together with Thomas Hudson's version of ‘Judith,’ Sylvester's other translations, his miscellanies and ‘Posthumi or … Divers Sonnets, Epistles, Elegies, Epitaphs, Epigrams, and other Delightfull Devises revived out of the ashes of that silver-tongued translatour, Master Josuah Sylvester, never till now imprinted’ (these last words are not accurate; several of these pieces had been printed). Appended to the translations is ‘A Briefe Index explaining most of the hardest Words.’

Apart from his translation of Du Bartas, Sylvester's chief separate publications are:

1. ‘Monodia, Imprinted by Peter Short’ [this is the whole title, on A 2 is a headline, thus] ‘Monodia: An Elegie, in commemoration of the Virtuous Life, and Godlie Death of … Dame Hellen Branch, Widdowe’ [wife of Sir John Branch, lord-mayor] [1594], 4 leaves, 4to. The British Museum copy was supposed to be the only one extant (Bright, 1845, 7l.; resold Corser, 1871, 18l. 10s.), but there is also one, formerly the Isham copy, at Britwell. It was included in the folio of 1641 (Brit. Mus.).
2. ‘The Profit of Imprisonment, a Paradox (against libertie). Written in French by Odet de la Noue, lord of Teligni, being prisoner in the castle of Tournay. Translated by Josuah Silvester. Printed at London by Peter Short for Edward Blunt,’ 1594, 4to (18 leaves in verse; the Britwell copy is probably unique).
3. ‘The Miracle of the Peace in Fraunce. Celebrated by the Ghost of the diuine Du Bartas … for Iohn Browne,’ London, 1599, 4to (Britwell, probably unique).
4. ‘Avtomachia, or the Self-Conflict of a Christian, London. Printed by Melch. Bradwood for Edward Blovnt’ (from the Latin of George Goodwin [q. v.]), 1607. Dedicated to Lady Mary Nevil, ‘one of the daughters … of the Earle of Dorcet,’ and in 1615, after this lady's death, rededicated to her sister, Lady Cecily. The diminutive copy in the original velvet binding in the Huth Library is apparently unique (Cat. iv. 1421).
5. ‘Lachrimæ Lachrimarum, or the Distillation of Teares Shede For the vntymely Death of the incomparable Prince Panaretvs by Josuah Syluester, London, for Humfrey Lownes,’ 1612, 4to (Brit. Mus.; Huth Coll.; Britwell). Printed on one side of the page only, the other blackened; the title in white letters on a black ground, and the letterpress surrounded by skeletons and other emblems of death. On C appears ‘The Princes Epitaph written by his Highn. seruant, Walter Quin,’ followed by poems in Latin, French, and Italian from the same pen. A second edition appeared in 1612 and two others in 1613. This work is entered in the ‘Stationers' Register’ as ‘Lachrymæ Domesticæ. A viall of household teares … by his highnes fyrst worst Poett and pensioner Josua Sylvester’ (see Arber, Transcript, iii. 230; Huth. Libr. Cat. iv. 1421). To the third edition of this was appended ‘An Elegie and Epistle Consolatorie against Immoderate Sorrow for th' immature Decease of Sr William Sidney, knight, Sonne and Heire apparant to the Right Honourable Robert, Lord Sidney …’ London, 1613, 4to. This is often bound with the later editions of the ‘Lachrimæ.’
6. ‘The Parliament of Vertues Royal (summoned in France; but assembled in England) for Nomination, Creation, and Confirmation of the most excellent Prince Panaretvs. A præsage of Pr. Dolphin: A Pourtrait of Pr. Henry: A Promise of Pr. Charles. Translated and dedicated to His Highnes, by Josvah Sylvester’ [London, 1614–15], 8vo. This includes ‘Panaretus, a lengthy elegy upon Prince Henry;’ ‘Bethulian's Rescue’ (dedicated to Queen Anne); ‘Little Bartas’ (dedicated to the Princess Elizabeth); ‘Micro-Cosmographia’ (a translation of Henry Smith's Latin Sapphics); ‘Lachrimæ Lachrimarum’ (No. 5 above). Then comes ‘The Second Session of the Parliament of Vertues Reall (continued by prorogation) for better Propagation of all true Pietie … Inscribed to the High Hopefull Charles, Prince of Great Britaine’ [1615] 8vo. This includes ‘Jobe triumphant in his tryall’ (dedicated to Archbishop George Abbot and William Herbert, third Earl of Pembroke); ‘Memorials of Mortalitie’ (ded. to Henry Wriothesley, third Earl of Southampton, and to Robert, Earl of Essex); ‘The Tropheis of the Life and Tragedie of the Death of that vertuous and victorious Prince Henry the Great, late of France and Navarre. Translated and dedicated to the L. Vis-count Cranborne’ (originally annexed to Grymeston's translation of Matthieu's ‘Life and Death of Henry IV,’ 1612, 4to); ‘St. Lewis the King: or a Lamp of Grace’ (inscribed