Notes and Queries, Number 41, August 10, 1850 by Various
page 33 of 63 (52%)
page 33 of 63 (52%)
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EDWARD F. RIMBAULT. _Queen Elizabeth's Translation of Boethius_ (Vol. ii., p. 56.).--One of JARLTZBERG'S inquiries is, "Has Queen Elizabeth's work (which she executed during her captivity before she ascended the throne) been printed?" Certainly not: if it had been, it would have been well known. May we venture to anticipate an affirmative reply to another parallel question--Does Queen Elizabeth's translation of _Boethius_ exist in manuscript? But where did JARLTZBERG learn that it was "executed during her captivity before she ascended the throne?" We know that she made such a translation when she was sixty years of age, that is, in October and November, 1593, (see Nichols's _Progresses, &c., of Queen Elizabeth_, vol. iii. p. 564., and the _Gentleman's Magazine_ for February last, p. 143.), and it is a very interesting proof of the continuance of her learned studies at that advanced period of her life; and, as the curious document which records this fact is unnoticed in the last edition of _Royal and Noble Authors_ by Mr. Park, it is probably a misapprehension that the same task had engaged some of the hours of her captivity; or rather is it not one of those dove-tailing conjectures in which some of our most popular lady-biographers have recently exhibited such extravagant and misplaced ingenuity? JOHN GOUGH NICHOLS. _Boethius' Consolations of Philosophy_ (Vol. ii., p. 56.).--JARLTZBERG is wrong in supposing that Richard Viscount Preston's translation appeared _first_ in 1712. I have now before me an edition in 8vo. "London: printed by J.D. for Awnsham and John Churchill, at the Black Swan, in Paternoster row; and Francis Hildyard, bookseller in York, |
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