Through the Year With Famous Authors Part 23

In La Fontaine there is an affluence of poetry which is found in no other French author.

"Literary Judgments,"--_Joseph Joubert_.

JOSEPH JOUBERT, an eminent French moralist and writer of aphorisms, was born in Montignac, Perigord, May 6, 1754, and died at Paris in 1824.

Most of his epigrammatic work was published after his death, the t.i.tles of the volumes being, "Thoughts," and "Thoughts, Essays, Maxims, and Correspondence."

I feel the breath of the summer night, Aromatic fire; The trees, the vines the flowers are astir With tender desire.

"A Summer Night,"--_Elizabeth Barstow Stoddard_.

ELIZABETH DREW (BARSTOW) STODDARD, a noted American novelist and poet, was born in Mattapoisett, Ma.s.s., May 6, 1823, and died in 1902. Among her works are: "Temple House," "Two Men," "The Morgesons," and "Poems,"

collected and published in 1895, etc.

I trust in Nature for the stable laws Of beauty and utility. Spring shall plant And Autumn garner to the end of time.

I trust in G.o.d,--the right shall be the right And other than the wrong, while he endures.

I trust in my own soul, that can perceive The outward and the inward,--Nature's good And G.o.d's.

"A Soul's Tragedy," Act i,--_Robert Browning_.

ROBERT BROWNING, the renowned English poet, was born in Camberwell, May 7, 1812, and died in Venice, December 12, 1889. Among his poetical works are: "A Soul's Tragedy," "The Return of the Druses," "Colombe's Birthday," "Strafford," "Pauline," "Christmas Eve and Easter Day,"

"Fifine at the Fair," "Men and Women," "King Victor and King Charles,"

"Jocoseria," "Red-Cotton Nightcap Country," "Dramatic Idylls," "Pippa Pa.s.ses," etc.

Facts are stubborn things.

"Gil Blas," Book x, Chap. i,--_Le Sage_.

ALAIN RENe LE SAGE, a famous French novelist and dramatist, was born at Sarzeau, near Cannes, May 8, 1668, and died at Boulogne-sur-Mer, November 17, 1747. His greatest works were: "The Bachelor of Salamanca,"

"Gil Blas," "The Life and Adventures of M. de Beauchene," "The Devil on Two Sticks," and two well-known comedies, "Crispin His Master's Rival,"

and "Turcaret."

Suffering is the surest means of making us truthful to ourselves.

--_Sismondi_.

JEAN CHARLES LeONARD SIMON DE SISMONDI, an ill.u.s.trious Swiss historian, was born at Geneva, May 9, 1773, and died there, June 25, 1842. His most noted works are: "History of the Italian Republics in the Middle Ages,"

"History of the New Birth of Liberty in Italy," "History of the Fall of the Roman Empire," "History of the French," "Julia Severa: or, the Year 492," and "Literature of the South of Europe."

Life is a long lesson in humility.

"The Little Minister," Chap. 3,--_J. M. Barrie_.

JAMES MATTHEW BARRIE, a noted Scottish author, was born in Kirriemuir, Forfarshire, May 9, 1860. He has written: "When a Man's Single," "Better Dead," "Auld Licht Idylls," "A Window in Thrums," "My Lady Nicotine,"

"Sentimental Tommy," "Margaret Ogilvy," "The Little Minister," "Tommy and Grizel," "The Little White Bird," "Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens," "Peter and Wendy," Dramatic works are: "The Professor's Love Story," "The Wedding Guest," "Little Mary," "Peter Pan,"

"Alice-Sit-by-the-Fire," "What Every Woman Knows," "The Legend of Leonora," "The Will," "The Adored One," "Half an Hour," "Der Tag," "Rosy Rapture," "A Kiss for Cinderella," "Seven Women," "Dear Brutus," "Echoes of the War," etc.

No country seems to owe more to its women than America does, nor to owe to them so much of what is best in social inst.i.tutions and in the beliefs that govern conduct.

"The American Commonwealth,"--_James Bryce_.

JAMES BRYCE, a noted British statesman, diplomat, and historian, was born in Belfast, May 10, 1838, and died Jan. 22, 1922. His most important works are: "The Holy Roman Empire" and "The American Commonwealth."

By the waters of Life we sat together, Hand in hand, in the golden days Of the beautiful early summer weather, When skies were purple and breath was praise.

"An Old Man's Idyll,"--_Thomas Noel_.

THOMAS NOEL, a noted English poet, was born May 11, 1799, and died in 1861. Among his volumes of verse are: "Rhymes and Roundelayes," etc.

The congress of Vienna does not walk, but it dances.

--_Prince de Ligne_.

CHARLES JOSEPH, PRINCE DE LIGNE, a distinguished Belgian soldier and miscellaneous writer, was born at Brussels, May 12, 1735, and died December 13, 1814. He wrote: "Military, Literary and Sentimental Miscellanies," "Life of Prince Eugene of Savoy," etc.

Molto sa chi non sa, se tacer sa.[2]

"Gingillino," Part II,--_Giusti_.

GIUSEPPI GIUSTI, a notable Italian poet and political satirist, was born in Monsummano, May 12, 1809, and died in Florence, March 31, 1850. His first masterpiece was the poem "Dies Irae," other pieces are: "The Boot,"

"The Crowned," "The Invest.i.ture of a Knight," and the satires written from 1847 to 1849.

Each hour until we meet is as a bird That wings from far his gradual way along The rustling covert of my soul--his song Still loudlier trilled through leaves more deeply stirr'd: But at the hour of meeting, a clear word Is every note he sings, in Love's own tongue.

"Winged Hours," Sonnet xv,--_Dante Gabriel Rossetti_.

DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI, the renowned English painter and poet, was born in London, May 12, 1828, and died at Birchington, Kent, April 9, 1882.

Among his poetical works are: "Blessed Damozel," "Sister Helen," "The White Ship," "The House of Life," "The King's Tragedy," "Hand and Soul,"

and "Rose Mary." Also: translations of "Early Italian Poets."

To tremble, when I touch her hands, With awe that no man understands; To feel soft reverence arise When, lover-sweet, I meet her eyes; To see her beauty grow and shine When most I feel this awe divine,-- Whate'er befall me, this is mine; And whereabout the room she moves, My spirit follows her, and loves.

"Divine Awe,"--_George Edward Woodberry_.

GEORGE EDWARD WOODBERRY, a famous American poet and miscellaneous writer, was born at Beverly, Ma.s.s., May 12, 1855. He has written: "The North Sh.o.r.e Watch, and Other Poems," "History of Wood Engraving," "Life of Edgar Allan Poe," "The Flight and Other Poems," "North Africa and the Desert," "Shakespeare: An Address," "Great Writers," "Poems," "The Inspiration of Poetry," "Wendell Phillips," "Two Phases of Criticism,"

"Ideal Pa.s.sion" (sonnets).