Monday, February 07, 2011

A Hebrew elegy upon the death of a 17th century British prince.

This elegy was written for the untimely demise of Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester (1640-1660). It's very pretty, but doesn't really say anything about the boy:


File:Henry, Duke of Gloucester.jpg

5 comments:

  1. That's pretty much par for the course these days, too. To have an elegy, or eulogy, say nothing about the departed, I mean. Have you ever heard the eulogys given at hespedim for rosh yeshivas? They are nearly all generic monologues about toireh, and say next to nothing about the life of the departed himself. In fact, 8 out of 10 times the eulogizer could be giving a hesped for an entirely diffrent man, and it wouldnt make a wit of difference.

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  2. Neat! Can I ask for a citation to this? Thanks.

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  3. [An elegy on the death of Henry, duke of Gloucester]
    Author:
    hitSmith, Thomas, 1638-1710.
    Date of Publication:
    1660
    Imprint:
    [London : s.n., 1660]
    Physical Description:
    1 sheet ([1] p.)
    Bibliographic Number:
    Thomason / 247:669.f.26[26]
    Note:
    In Hebrew.
    Title from Thomason Catalogue.
    Imprint from Thomason Catalogue.
    Signed: Thomas Smith, E Collegio Reginae.
    Reproduction of the original in the British Library.
    Language:
    hitHebrew
    Subject:
    Henry, Duke of Gloucester, 1640-1660 -- Poetry.
    Great Britain -- History -- Charles II, 1660-1685 -- Poetry -- Early works to 1800.
    Country:
    England

    Reel position:
    Thomason Tracts 247:669.f.26[26] link to external site, this link will open in a new window
    Source Library:
    British Library

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  4. Much thanks! A while ago I was looking for any Hebrew commemoration's of Cromwell, but didn't find any...still this is quite neat!

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