Page:Cousins's Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature.djvu/256

 244 Dictionary of English Literature

the author of a vol. of poems. He 'also ed. those of his friend, Michael Bruce (q.v.), in such a way, however, as to lead to a con troversy, still unsettled, as to the authorship of certain of the pieces inserted. L., in fact, suppressed some of Bruce's poems and intro duced others of his own. Unfortunately for the reputation of both poets the disputed authorship extends to the gem of the collection, the exquisite Ode to the Cuckoo, beginning " Hail, beauteous stranger of the grove," which Burke considered the most beautiful lyric in the language. L. fell into dissipated habits, resigned his ministerial charge, and went to London, where he took an active part in the controversy regarding the impeachment of Warren Hastings.

LONG, GEORGE (1800-1879). Classical scholar, ed. at

Camb. He was Prof, of Ancient Languages in the Univ. of Virginia, Charlottesville, 1824-28, of Greek at University Coll., London, 1828-31, and of Latin there, 1842-46. He did much for the diffusion of education, was one of the founders and sec. of the Royal Geo graphical Society, and ed. of the Penny Cyclopedia. He translated Marcus Aurelius (1862), and The Discourses of Epictetus (1877), and wrote Two Discourses on Roman Law (1847), a subject on which he -was the greatest English authority.

LONGFELLOW, HENRY WADSWORTH (1807-1882). Poet,

was b. at Portland, Maine, the 5. of Stephen L., a lawyer. From childhood he cared little for games, but was always devoted to read ing. In 1822 he was sent to Bowdoin Coll., of which his /. was a Trustee, and after graduating was appointed to a new Chair of Modern Languages, which the coll. had decided to establish, and with the view of more completely qualifying him for his duties, he was sent to Europe for a three years' course of study. He accord ingly went to France, Spain, and Italy. Returning in 1829 he com menced his professional duties, writing also in the North American Review. In 1831 he entered into his first marriage, and in 1833 ^ e pub. his first books, a translation from the Spanish, followed by the first part of Outre Mer, an account of his travels. At the end of the year L. was invited to become Prof, of Modern Languages at Har vard, an offer which he gladly accepted. He paid a second visit to Europe accompanied by his wife, who, however, d. at Amsterdam. He returned to his duties in 1836, and in 1838 appeared Voices of the Night, containing the " Psalm of Life " and " Excelsior," which had extraordinary popularity, and gave him a place in the affections of his countrymen which he held until his death. The same year saw the publication of Hyperion. His next work was Ballads and other Poems, containing " The Wreck of the Hesperus " and " The Village Blacksmith." In 1843 he m. his second wife, and in the same year appeared The Spanish Student, a drama. The Belfry of Bruges and Evangeline (1847), generally considered his masterpiece, followed. In 1849 he pub. Kavanagh, a novel which added nothing to his reputation, and in 1851 Seaside and Fireside, and The Golden Legend. Having now a sufficient and secure income from his writings, he resigned his professorship, and devoted himself entirely to literature. Hiawatha appeared in 1855, and The Courtship of Miles Standish in 1858. In 1 86 1 he lost his wife under tragic circumstances, a blow which told heavily upon