Mary Sidney

Mary Sidney Herbert, Countess of Pembroke ( born October 27, 1561 Ticknall Place, Bewdley, Worcestershire, † September 25, 1621 in London) was as learned noble English writer in Elizabethan time the center of an artist circle.

Life

Mary was one of the three daughters of Sir Henry Sidney (1529-1586), the Lord Deputy of Ireland was three, and Mary Sidney, daughter of John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland, and under Edward VI. High Protector of England. Her aunt was Lady Jane Grey. Her brothers were the poet Sir Philip Sidney, Henry Sidney, Earl of Leicester and Sir Robert Sidney. She enjoyed a humanist education: French, Italian ( by an Italian ), Greek and Latin, as well as music lessons, playing lute, virginal, possibly violin and singing (especially the Psalms ). She was a redhead like the Queen and is portrayed as a passionate ( and hot-headed ), strong personality who uttered their opinion openly and was known for her witty conversation.

After the death of her last sister Ambrosia 1576 invited the also known as " learned woman room" Elizabeth I to the court. For the queen she already had connection via her uncle Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester ( 1533-1588 ), former favorite of the queen, and her mother, who nursed the queen as a child and thereby itself infected with chickenpox. 1577 she married the mediation of her uncle the much older Henry Herbert, 2nd Earl of Pembroke ( 1534-1601 ), lived with on the family seat of Pembroke at Wilton House in Salisbury ( Wiltshire ) and in London in Baynard 's Castle. With him she had four children, including two brothers, William Herbert, 3rd Earl of Pembroke ( 1580-1630 ), and Philip Herbert von ( 1584-1649, 4th Earl after his brother's death ), which was published in 1623 Folio edition was dedicated to Shakespeare's works ( ss5 ) (as "the incomparable pair" ) and both cartridge of Shakespeare's theater company "The King 's Men" were at times.

A major blow was the loss of both her ​​parents as well as the beloved brother Philip in 1586 ( the battle in the Protestant Netherlands fell against the Spaniards ). She later gave the "Arcadia" out and completed his translation of the Psalms ( which they translated 107, in as many different verse forms ), which had a great influence on the metaphysical poets of the 17th century ( John Donne, who in a poem praised, George Herbert, a cousin of first degree of her son ). Like her brother, she tried in her circle to promote the English language and refine, in particular by translations of the Bible. She herself was well versed and active in the Calvinist theology in the help for Huguenot refugees. Again she tried to continue the role of her brother as leader of the Reformed Protestant party. In addition to translations, she wrote several poems, including one in memory of her brother ("The doleful lay of Clorinda " ) in 1595. Considered first Englishwoman who published a drama and poems under her name.

In Wilton House she also had an alchemical laboratory. Adrian Gilbert, the half-brother of Walter Raleigh assisted her in their experiments (one of which, for example nor recipes are obtained for invisible ink ) and designed their garden according to strict geometric, inspired by occult considerations rules. In her interest in magic she stood circles around John Dee near, and possibly also had connections to Giordano Bruno, who knew her brother. Apparently they knew about in medicine. In addition, they were big parties ( she was a passionate dancer ), went hunting (even with the Hawks ) and maintained a theater troupe. She was also famous for its embroidery.

In her country estate, she gained over 20 years in a circle of poets and musicians around ( " Wilton Circle" ), including Edmund Spenser ( he dedicated his " Ruines of Time " ), Michael Drayton, Sir John Davies, who was also her secretary, and Samuel Daniel.

After the death of her husband in 1600 she withdrew from the literary circle back (her son William took over its role as a promoter of literature) and lived with the 10 years younger Dr. Matthew Lister, their doctor, they may also secretly married. She took over the administration of the goods and moved in 1603 to a rented house in London. 1609 to 1615 she lived in Crosby Hall in Chelsea in London, then back to town. They regularly visited the seaside resort of Spa in Belgium, even then known for its gambling, which they also devoted. In Milton Keynes had it built by Italian architects a country house, which is now in ruins.

She died in her London house in Aldersgate Street chickenpox and lies beside her husband in the cathedral of Salisbury buried under the stairs to the choir. At the previous large funeral service at St Paul 's Cathedral their literary achievements were recognized.

Others

In Robin Williams' " The sweet swan of Avon - did a woman wrote Shakespeare" ( Wilton Circle Press 2006 ) in addition to her biography the thesis is developed, it would be a candidate for the William Shakespeare authorship debate. Unlike Shakespeare depicts in her poems but a penchant for very different verse forms, quite apart from the strong religious coloring of many of her works.

Your translation of the " Tragedy of Antonie " is regarded as a possible source for Shakespeare's " Antony and Cleopatra " ( 1607).

Both her mother wrote poems as well as her niece, Lady Mary Wroth (1587-1652), daughter of her brother Henry Sidney, the partially grew up with her. At times she was suspected of Mary Sidney, making the acquaintance with her lover Dr. Lister, she really was after the death of her husband, the lover of Mary Sidney's son, her cousin William Herbert, with whom she had two illegitimate children.

It is believed that Christopher Marlowe the Latin dedication to Thomas Watson Amintæ Gaudia Mary Herbert, Countess of Pembroke wrote.

Works

• Margaret Hannay, Noel Kinnaman, Michael Brennan: "The Collected Works of Mary Sidney Herbert, Countess of Pembroke ," 2 vols, Oxford, Clarendon Press 1998 ( Vol 1 with letters, in Volume 2, the Psalms)
• "The Lay of Clorinda Dolefull " 1595 (reprinted in Edmund Spenser " Astrophel ", London 1595 )
• "The Psalms of David " ( during his lifetime only as a manuscript, 1590s ), revision of R.Pritchard " The Sidney Psalms ", Carcanet, Manchester, 1992
• Translation of Robert Garnier " The Tragedy of Antonie " 1592, 1595 ( a so-called "closet drama " that is only for the lecture determined )
• Translation of Petrarch "The trimph of death" ( " Trionfo della Morte " ), 1590s
• Translation of Philippe Duplessis- Mornay (1529-1623) " Discourse of life and death " ( " Discours de la vie et de la mort" ) 1592
• "Dialogue Between Two Shepherds, Thenot and Piers, in praise of Astrea " 1602 ( in Francis Davis ( ed.) "A poetical rhapsody " )
• "Even now did care" ( 1590s, 1623 accidentally printed in the works of Samuel Daniel, as found among his papers )
• "To the angel spirit of the most excellent Sir Philip Sydney ," 1590s