1810.] 
distinction, that in a curious preface pre- 
fixed to this part of the work, and ad- 
dressed to the queen, the writer ‘observes; 
“that it is now a common thing to see’ 
young virgins so trained in the study of 
good letters, that they willingly set all 
other vain pastimes at nought, for learn- 
ing’s sake.” An elegant Latin letter, 
written by the queen to the princess, on 
the subject of this translation, is yet ex- 
tant, aud proves by the kind and en- 
deanna terms in which it is couched, 
how much she endeavoured to Horeilate 
her affection. The estimation in which 
she was held by the prince (afterwards 
Edward VI.) is also clearly indicated by 
the Latin letter written to her. by this 
tis omising youth, m his-ninth year, ex- 
pressing his thanks for her kind present 
of the k King’s and her own picture as a 
w year’s ; wif. The princess Ehzabeth 
also proved her regard, by dedicating to 
her her first Nterary attempt, entitled 
* The Mirrour, or Glasse of the Synneful 
Soule,” which she translated out of 
French verse, into English prose, when 
only in her eleventh year.* 
Such was the zeal of the queen for the 
improvement of literature, and the ad. 
vancement of knowledge, that she con- 
stantly exerted the influence that she had 
acquired over her husband, for the wisest 
andl most salutary purposes. 
Niament having consigned all colleges, 
&c. to the king’s disposal, the university 
of Cambridge, apprehensive of annihi- 
lation, addressed the queen to intercede 
in their behalf, Her exertions were suc- 
cessful, and she communicated the king’s 
favour to them in a sensible and well- 
written letter, which is still on record. 
Her chaplains were selected with great 
éare, and were men eminent for piety 
and learning. During Lent, her custom 
was to have a sermon preached every 
afternoon, in her chamber, which was 
then accessible to such of the ladies in 
waiting, as were disposed to attend. 
The king, during his last expedition 
mto France, left Katherine regent at 
home, and soon after-his return, she was 
feleased by his death from the fatigue 
and uncertainty of her exalted situation, 
* Acopy of this work, in small quarto, 
written by the princess, on vellum, and 
bound in biue and silver embroidery, is pre- 
served in the Bodleian Jibrary at Oxford. It 
is dedicated, ‘‘to our moste noble and ver- 
tuous quene Katerin, Elizabeth her humble 
a ughter wisheth perpetpal felicitie and evere 
dasting joye. 
. 
Lyceum of Ancient Literature.—No. XXX I. 
The par- 
119 
She retained the king’s affection, which 
had been before so capricious, to: the 
last; and his will, which was dated only 
a month before his death, exhibits a flat- 
tering panegyric on her many excellent 
qualities. Eventful, however, as was 
the former part of the queeu’s life, the 
close of it was destined to be still more 
calamitous. Her unhappy union with 
lord Seymour, together with some acs 
count of ker death and burial, will form 
the subject of my next letter. 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
LYCEUM OF ANCIENT LITERA- 
TURE.—No. XXXI. 
(Concluded from page 34.) 
Amatory Poeis.—CaTULLUS. 
HE professed admirers of Catullus 
have endeavoured to acquit him of 
this charge; at least, of being intentionally 
guilty. Itis admitted, that he was of a 
gay and amorous temper; but it is said 
that, toinfer the characterof the man from 
the looseness of his writings, is precisely 
what -he has, as well as Ovid* and Mar« 
tialf cautioned his readers not to do, in 
one of his pieces addressed to Furius and 
Aurelius, who probably had rallied him 
upon the subject.{ This piece has ge- 
nerally been adduced as an apology for 
some of the more indecent carmina, 
where ‘the indecency lies more in the 
words than in the sense. Obscenity, 
among the ancients, in the lighter spe- 
cies of composition, was not ‘ouly toles 
rated, but even required; and what Ca- 
tullus has card ia the eaumned last alluded 
to, was probably the general opinion of 
his time: 
Nam castum esse decet pium poétam. 
Ipsum; versiculos nihil necesse est : 
Qui tum denique habent salem ac leporem 
Si sint molliculi & parum pudici. 
- 
And it appears to have been prevalent 
in the age of Pliny the Younger, who, 
sending some hendecasyllables. to his 
friend Paternus, observes to him: Ex 
guibus tamen si nonullu tibi pauld petu- 
lantiora videbuntur, erit eruditionis tue 
cogiture, summos illos et gravissimas viros, 
gui talia scripserunt, non modo:,duscivia 
rerum, sed ne nudis quidem verbis absti- 
nuisse: gue nos refugimus, non quia seyes 
* Crede mihi, distant mores acarmine nostri: 
Vita verecunda est, Musa Upconaa mihi. 
ist. 2, 
We have noticed this in our account of of Or 
in a former Number. 
+ Mart. Epig. 36, lib. £ 
} Carm. 16, 
Fee7s2 ss 
