30 



dore Beza, the worthy successor of Calvin in the reformation 

 of the Christian church. Born to high expectations, and sur- 

 rounded with the temptations which are incident thereto, he 

 devoted many of his early days to the Muses, became cele- 

 brated "for Ins Latin epigrams, wrote much poetry of an 

 amatory, and even of a licentious description, and for several 

 years appeared little inclined to apply his great talents to those 

 severer pursuits for which he became afterwards so much dis- 

 tinguished. Notwithstanding his withdrawal (so far as lay in 

 his power) of certain of his youthful effusions, he revised 

 and reprinted, at a mature period of lus life, a collection of 

 his poems in Latin, Greek, and other languages. In the year 

 1580 he published, at Geneva, a handsome cpiarto volume, the 

 greater part of which was occupied with genuine portraits and 

 biographical sketches of eminent contemporaries,* the re- 

 mainder consisting of forty-four Emblems, to each of which a 

 beautiful wood engraving was appended. These Emblems are 

 composed in terse and elegant Latinity, and, with the excep- 

 tion of a few severe attacks upon the Church of Rome, evince 

 a true spirit of Christian piety and meekness. A specimen of 

 his style and manner may be taken from his 39th Emblem. 



" ' RELIGIO/ 



("Representation of a Female leaning on a Cross, holding a Bible, Sec.) 



" ' What winged form art thou, radiant and fair, 

 Though clad in homely garb, with bosom bare ? 

 The sacred volume thy companion meet — 

 A cross supports thee — Death lies at thy feet ? 



' I am Religion; these my attributes; 



' This humble guise my heavenly mission suits. 



' No worldly wealth I covet — to the skies 



' Mortals I teach on wings of faith to rise ; 



' Each virtue cherish, curb each low desire, 



' With Christian hopes each erring soul inspire ; 



* This is thought to be the first example of a biographical collection wherein the 

 portraits are accurate representations. A likeness i>f our King .fames I. is here given 

 when at the age of sixteen. To him the work is dedicated. 



