Theodore Bathurst
Encyclopedia
Theodore Bathurst was an English Latin-language poet.
Bathurst was descended from an ancient family of Hothorpe in Northamptonshire, and a relative of Dr. Ralph Bathurst
, the famous English physician, scholar, and divine. He entered Trinity College, Cambridge
in 1602, but graduated BA in 1606 from Pembroke College
, the college to which Edmund Spenser
belonged, and while there executed his translation of that poet's ‘Shepherd's Calendar.’ This translation had the honour of being highly commended by Sir Richard Fanshawe, who has himself left us specimens of Latin translations of English verse. Bathurst led a private life, and was a man of little ambition. So much the more, says one of his editors, he deserved honour as he desired it less. Bathurst's translation was edited first by Dr. William Dillingham, of Emmanuel College
, and dedicated to Francis Lane. It was republished by John Ball, who, in his address to the reader, says he had much and long labour in procuring a copy of Bathurst's work. It was then already rare among the booksellers.
Dillingham's edition is not to be found in the British Museum. Ball's edition is accompanied by the original eclogues on the opposite pages. He speaks of Bathurst, in the address above mentioned, as ‘poeta non minus ornatus quam gravis idem postea theologus, qui has eclogas ita Latinè vertit ut obscuris lucem, asperis lævitatem, atque omnibus fere nitorem et elegantiam fœneraverit.’ He added a Latin dissertation, De vita Spenseri et scriptis, Lond. 8vo, no date and 1732. The precise title of Bathurst's book is Calendarium Pastorale sive Eclogæ duodecim totidem anni mensibus accommodatæ Anglicè olim scriptæ ab Edmundo Spenser Anglorum poetarum principe; nunc autem eleganti Latino carmine donatæ a Theodoro Bathurst Aulæ Pembrochianæ apud Cantabrigienses aliquando socio, Lond. 8vo, 1653.
Bathurst was descended from an ancient family of Hothorpe in Northamptonshire, and a relative of Dr. Ralph Bathurst
Ralph Bathurst
Ralph Bathurst was an English theologian and physician.-Early life:He was born in Hothorpe, Northamptonshire in 1620 and educated at King Henry VIII School, Coventry.He graduated with a B.A...
, the famous English physician, scholar, and divine. He entered Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
in 1602, but graduated BA in 1606 from Pembroke College
Pembroke College, Cambridge
Pembroke College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college has over seven hundred students and fellows, and is the third oldest college of the university. Physically, it is one of the university's larger colleges, with buildings from almost every century since its...
, the college to which Edmund Spenser
Edmund Spenser
Edmund Spenser was an English poet best known for The Faerie Queene, an epic poem and fantastical allegory celebrating the Tudor dynasty and Elizabeth I. He is recognised as one of the premier craftsmen of Modern English verse in its infancy, and one of the greatest poets in the English...
belonged, and while there executed his translation of that poet's ‘Shepherd's Calendar.’ This translation had the honour of being highly commended by Sir Richard Fanshawe, who has himself left us specimens of Latin translations of English verse. Bathurst led a private life, and was a man of little ambition. So much the more, says one of his editors, he deserved honour as he desired it less. Bathurst's translation was edited first by Dr. William Dillingham, of Emmanuel College
Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Emmanuel College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.The college was founded in 1584 by Sir Walter Mildmay on the site of a Dominican friary...
, and dedicated to Francis Lane. It was republished by John Ball, who, in his address to the reader, says he had much and long labour in procuring a copy of Bathurst's work. It was then already rare among the booksellers.
Dillingham's edition is not to be found in the British Museum. Ball's edition is accompanied by the original eclogues on the opposite pages. He speaks of Bathurst, in the address above mentioned, as ‘poeta non minus ornatus quam gravis idem postea theologus, qui has eclogas ita Latinè vertit ut obscuris lucem, asperis lævitatem, atque omnibus fere nitorem et elegantiam fœneraverit.’ He added a Latin dissertation, De vita Spenseri et scriptis, Lond. 8vo, no date and 1732. The precise title of Bathurst's book is Calendarium Pastorale sive Eclogæ duodecim totidem anni mensibus accommodatæ Anglicè olim scriptæ ab Edmundo Spenser Anglorum poetarum principe; nunc autem eleganti Latino carmine donatæ a Theodoro Bathurst Aulæ Pembrochianæ apud Cantabrigienses aliquando socio, Lond. 8vo, 1653.