The Life and Death of Mary Magdalene, Vol. 1 of 2: A Legendary Poem in Two Parts, About A. D. 1620 (Classic Reprint) - Softcover

Excerpt from The Life and Death of Mary Magdalene, Vol. 1 of 2: A Legendary Poem in Two Parts, About A. D. 1620

It begins with some reflections on the difficulties that poets have in finding a patron, and also in choosing the subjects of their compositions. The various subjects of poetry are then analysed, and some complaints made, that poetry is not SO much liked and patronised as in former days, for people are rather ashamed to call themselves poets. Then follows an enumeration of many Greek, Latin, and English poets, and, finally, the profit that arises from poetry is commended.

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This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Excerpt from The Life and Death of Mary Magdalene, Vol. 1 of 2: A Legendary Poem in Two Parts, About A. D. 1620

The Life and Death of Mary Magdalene exists in two MSS. of the first quarter of the 17th century, Harleian 6211 (p.56 - 94); and Rawlinson 41 in the Bodleian. The latter MS. contains the author's name, "Thomas Robinson," plainly at full length; the former his initials "T. R.", and his full name blotted out, but still legible. The Rawlinson MS. contains another legend of another writer, entitled The Life of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and has the following dedication to its Marry Magdalene:

A small part of the poem, altered and modernised, appeared in 1869 (February and March), in a monthly periodical called The Westminster Abbey Magazine or Reminiscences of Past Literature, which lived but three months. At the beginning is a foot-note: "This poem, which now for the first time sees light of day in print, was probably written by Sir Philip Sidney - it is thoroughly Spenserian in style, and will recommend itself in a very marked manner to the poetic mind."

The Curators of the Bodleian Library were good enough to send the - Rawlinson Manuscript to London for me, after Mr. E. M, Thompson, the Keeper of the Manuscripts in the British Museum, had declared his readiness to take charge of it.

On the cover of the volume are written the following lines, by Edw. Umfreville, who has described several of the Bodleian Manuscripts: "Mr. Robinson's Life and Death of M.Magdalene, I have seen and read years since in Ms. It is a very pretty little thing of about 100 years old, and, I believe, never printed - its age may be found by inquiring the time when W.Taylor was fellow of Trinity College." I did enquire, but without result. The Wood Manuscript (vol. 84:90, f. 172), Ashmolean Library, Oxford, which contains a list of the fellows of Trinity College, does not mention the name of Taylor at all, nor could the College library give any other information from the archives on the subject, than that a man of this name entered the College in 1670 as a commoner. The words "To the Worshippeful," etc., seem to imply that Taylor was then an old man, possibly one of the senior fellows. There is no certainty that Woods list is complete, which would account for its omission of Taylor's name. Moreover, the dedicatory lines do not specify whether Trinity College, Oxford or Cambridge, was meant. But the list of the college of that name at Cambridge (Brit. Mus. Coll, of Cambr. and Miscell., Vol. xlv., Add. 5816, p. 230)does not mention the name of Taylor.

About the Publisher

Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com

This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.