Dryhten, Dryhten ure hu wunderlic is noma thin in ealre eorthan, for-thon up-ahefen is micelnis thin ofer heofenas, of muthe cildra milc-teondra thu gefremedest lof fore feondum thi num, thaet thu to-weorpe feond and ge-scildend. For-thon ic geseo heofenas, weorc fingra thina, monan and steorran tha thu ges tathuladest, hwæt is mon, that ge-myndig thu sie his, oththe sunu monnes for-thon thu neosast hine? FROM LAYAMON'S BRUT. (LATE TWELFTH OR EARLY THIRTEENTH CENTURY.) (LATE THIRTEENTH CENTURY.) When the nyhtegale singes, the wodes waxen grene, text from Genesis, iii, 7, was translated thus: "Then the eyes of them both were opened, and they saw they were naked, and they sewed fig-leaves together and made themselves breeches. The Genevan Bible became the Bible of the households, especially among the Puritans. BISHOP'S BIBLE.-Translated by a commission of twelve Bishops and four deans, and published-1568. THE DOUAY BIBLE.-New Testament published at Rheims-1582; the Old Testament at Douay, 1610. This is the version used by Roman Catholics. KING JAMES' BIBLE.-The Bishop's Bible is the basis of this, thoroughly revised by a learned body of forty-seven Churchmen in the reign of King James-1611. This is the version in common use since that time. In 1870 a new version was ordered and is nearly completed at the time of present writing (1880). It is done in Westminster by an assembly of the most learned English scholars and Churchmen. LIST OF ENGLISH POETS LAUREATE. Among the Greeks it was the custom to crown the poet, successful in a literary contest, with a laurel-wreath. This custom was revived by the Romans, and the laurel, among both ancient nations, was an emblem of the victor poet. Afterwards in Europe-England as well as on the continent—the Universities took up the custom of crowning their best poets with laurel, and gave a degree of poet-laureate. But the office of the laureate as a poet of the court does not seem to have been established till the seventeenth century. Chaucer had a pension from the king, as did several other poets later; but there is no proof that they were royal laureates. John Skelton, in Henry the Eighth's reign, received his title of laureate from his university, not from the king. But in the reign of James I, Ben Jonson was created the poet laureate, or poet of the court, with a yearly salary from the office. Since his time there has been a regular succession, as follows: TAMING OF THE SHREW, printed 1607, supposed to be acted, 1593 COMEDY OF ERRORS, mentioned by a contemporary writer, 1598 MERCHANT OF VENICE, printed 1600; mentioned by contemporary *This list does not claim to be correct as to the order of the plays. The dates of the production of most part of the plays is a matter of doubt. I think however, that the order I have given is approximately correct. The Tempest and Winters Tale are known to be among his latest plays, and Love's Labor Lost, Romeo and Juliet, Richard II, and Two Gentlemen of Verona, among his earliest ones. text from Genesis, iii, 7, was translated thus: "Then the eyes of them both were opened, and they saw they were naked, and they sewed fig-leaves together and made themselves breeches. The Genevan Bible became the Bible of the households, especially among the Puritans. BISHOP'S BIBLE.-Translated by a commission of twelve Bishops and four deans, and published-1568. THE DOUAY BIBLE.-New Testament published at Rheims-1582; the Old Testament at Douay, 1610. This is the version used by Roman Catholics. KING JAMES' BIBLE.-The Bishop's Bible is the basis of this, thoroughly revised by a learned body of forty-seven Churchmen in the reign of King James-1611. This is the version in common use since that time. In 1870 a new version was ordered and is nearly completed at the time of present writing (1880). It is done in Westminster by an assembly of the most learned English scholars and Churchmen. LIST OF ENGLISH POETS LAUREATE. ng the Greeks it was the custom to crown the poet, successful in a literary contest, with a laurel-wreath. This custom was revived by the Romans, and the laurel, among both ancient nations, was an emblem of the victor poet. Afterwards in Europe-England as well as on the continent—the Universities took up the custom of crowning their best poets with laurel, and gave a degree of poet-laureate. But the office of the laureate as a poet of the court does not seem to have Chaucer had a pension been established till the seventeenth century. from the king, as did several other poets later; but there is no proof that they were royal laureates. John Skelton, in Henry the Eighth's reign, received his title of laureate from his university, not from the king. But in the reign of James I, Ben Jonson was created the poet laureate, or poet of the court, with a yearly salary from the office. Since his time there has been a regular succession, as follows: 1630 to 1637 1637 to 1668 1670 to 1688 1689 to 1692 1693 to 1714 1714 to 1718 1719 to 1730 |