THE LIFE OF COWLEY :01

samuel johnson

main text:

The Life of Cowley, notwithstanding the penury of English biography, has been written by Dr. Sprat’, an author whose pregnancy of imagination and elegance of language have deservedly set him high in the ranks of literature; but his zeal of friendship, or ambition of eloquence, has pro-duced a funeral oration rather than a history: he has given the character, not the life of Cowley; for he writes with so little detail, that scarcely anything is distinctly known, but all is shown confused and enlarged through the mist of pane-gyrick.

Translation in Bengali:

THE LIFE OF COWLEY = কাউলির জীবন. The life of Cowley, notwithstanding the penury of English biography, = ইংরেজি জীবনীসাহিত্যের দারিদ্র্য থাকা সত্ত্বেও, কাউলির জীবন
has been written by Dr. Sprat, = ড. স্প্র্যাট দ্বারা লেখা হয়েছে, an author whose pregnancy of imagination and elegance of language = এমন একজন লেখক, যার কল্পনার প্রাচুর্য এবং ভাষার সৌন্দর্যhave deservedly set him high in the ranks of literature; = ন্যায্যভাবেই তাকে সাহিত্যজগতের উচ্চ স্থানে প্রতিষ্ঠিত করেছে;
but his zeal of friendship, or ambition of eloquence, = কিন্তু তার বন্ধুত্বের অতিরিক্ত আন্তরিকতা অথবা বাগ্মিতার উচ্চাকাঙ্ক্ষাhas produced a funeral oration rather than a history: = একটি ইতিহাসের পরিবর্তে যেন একটি শোকভাষণই সৃষ্টি করেছে;he has given the character, not the life of Cowley; = তিনি কাউলির জীবনের বর্ণনা নয়, বরং চরিত্রচিত্রণ দিয়েছেন;for he writes with so little detail, = কারণ তিনি এত কম বিস্তারিতভাবে লিখেছেন,that scarcely anything is distinctly known, = যে প্রায় কিছুই স্পষ্টভাবে জানা যায় না,but all is shown confused and enlarged through the mist of panegyrick. = বরং সবকিছুই প্রশংসার কুয়াশার মধ্যে বিভ্রান্ত ও অতিরঞ্জিতভাবে উপস্থাপিত হয়েছে।

Summary

In this passage from The Life of Cowley, Samuel Johnson praises Dr. Sprat for his rich imagination and elegant writing style. However, he also criticizes him for being too emotional and overly praising Cowley. Instead of writing a clear and detailed biography, Dr. Sprat wrote something more like a funeral speech full of admiration. As a result, readers learn more about Cowley’s character than the actual events of his life, because the facts are presented vaguely and with exaggeration.

main text:

Abraham Cowley was born in the year one thousand six hundred and eighteen. His father was a grocer, whose condition Dr. Sprat conceals under the general appellation of a citizen; and, what would probably not have been less care-fully suppressed, the omission of his name in the register of St. Dunstan’s parish gives reason to suspect that his father was a sectary. Whoever he was, he died before the birth of his son, and consequently left him to the care of his mother; whom Wood represents as struggling earnestly to procure him a literary education, and who, as she lived to the age of eighty, had her solicitude rewarded by seeing her son eminent and, I hope, by seeing him fortunate, and partaking his prosperity. We know at least, from Sprat’s account, that he always acknowledged her care, and justly paid the dues of filial gratitude.In the window of his mother’s apartment lay Spenser’s Fairy Queen, in which he very early took delight to read, till, by feeling the charms of verse, he became, as he relates, irrecoverably a poet. Such are the accidents, which, sometimes remembered, and perhaps sometimes forgotten, produce that particular designation of mind, and propensity for some certain science or employment, which is commonly called Genius. The true Genius is a mind of large general powers, accidentally determined to some particular direction. Sir Joshua Reynolds, the great Painter of the

Translation in Bengali:

Abraham Cowley was born in the year one thousand six hundred and eighteen. = আব্রাহাম কাউলি ১৬১৮ সালে জন্মগ্রহণ করেন। His father was a grocer, = তার বাবা ছিলেন একজন মুদি ব্যবসায়ী, whose condition Dr. Sprat conceals under the general appellation of a citizen; = যার সামাজিক অবস্থান ড. স্প্র্যাট “নাগরিক” এই সাধারণ পরিচয়ের আড়ালে গোপন করেছেন; and, what would probably not have been less carefully suppressed, = এবং যা সম্ভবত কম সতর্কতার সঙ্গে গোপন করা হয়নি, the omission of his name in the register of St. Dunstan’s parish gives reason to suspect that his father was a sectary. = সেন্ট ডানস্টানের গির্জার নথিতে তার বাবার নাম না থাকায় সন্দেহ হয় যে তিনি ভিন্নমতাবলম্বী ধর্মীয় দলের সদস্য ছিলেন। Whoever he was, he died before the birth of his son, = তিনি যেই হোন না কেন, ছেলের জন্মের আগেই মারা যান, and consequently left him to the care of his mother; = এবং ফলে তাকে তার মায়ের যত্নের ওপর ছেড়ে যান; whom Wood represents as struggling earnestly to procure him a literary education, = উড তাকে এমন এক মা হিসেবে বর্ণনা করেছেন যিনি ছেলেকে সাহিত্যিক শিক্ষা দেওয়ার জন্য আন্তরিকভাবে সংগ্রাম করেছিলেন, and who, as she lived to the age of eighty, = এবং যিনি আশি বছর পর্যন্ত বেঁচে ছিলেন, had her solicitude rewarded by seeing her son eminent, = নিজের ছেলেকে বিখ্যাত হতে দেখে তার উদ্বেগের পুরস্কার পেয়েছিলেন, and, I hope, by seeing him fortunate, and partaking his prosperity. = এবং, আমি আশা করি, তাকে সৌভাগ্যবান ও সমৃদ্ধ হতে দেখেও সেই সুখ ভাগ করে নিয়েছিলেন। We know at least, from Sprat’s account, = অন্তত স্প্র্যাটের বর্ণনা থেকে আমরা জানি, that he always acknowledged her care, = যে তিনি সবসময় তার মায়ের যত্নের কথা স্বীকার করতেন, and justly paid the dues of filial gratitude. = এবং সন্তানের কর্তব্যসুলভ কৃতজ্ঞতা যথাযথভাবে প্রকাশ করেছিলেন।

In the window of his mother’s apartment lay Spenser’s Fairy Queen; = তার মায়ের ঘরের জানালার পাশে স্পেন্সারের Fairy Queen বইটি রাখা ছিল; in which he very early took delight to read, = যা পড়তে তিনি খুব অল্প বয়সেই আনন্দ পেতেন, till, by feeling the charms of verse, = এবং কবিতার সৌন্দর্য অনুভব করতে করতে, he became, as he relates, irrecoverably a poet. = তিনি নিজেই যেমন বলেছেন, চিরতরে একজন কবি হয়ে ওঠেন। Such are the accidents, = এমনই কিছু ঘটনাই which, sometimes remembered, and perhaps sometimes forgotten, = যেগুলো কখনো মনে থাকে, আবার কখনো ভুলে যাওয়া হয়, produce that particular designation of mind, = মনের সেই বিশেষ প্রবণতা সৃষ্টি করে, and propensity for some certain science or employment, = এবং কোনো নির্দিষ্ট বিদ্যা বা পেশার প্রতি আকর্ষণ তৈরি করে, which is commonly called Genius. = যাকে সাধারণত প্রতিভা বলা হয়। The true Genius is a mind of large general powers, accidentally determined to some particular direction. = প্রকৃত প্রতিভা হলো এমন এক মন, যার সাধারণ ক্ষমতা অনেক বিস্তৃত, কিন্তু যা ঘটনাক্রমে কোনো বিশেষ দিকে পরিচালিত হয়। Sir Joshua Reynolds, the great Painter… = মহান চিত্রশিল্পী স্যার জোশুয়া রেনল্ডস…

Summary

Abraham Cowley was born in 1618. His father died before his birth, so his mother raised him with great care and worked hard to give him a good literary education. Cowley later showed gratitude for her sacrifices. As a child, he loved reading The Faerie Queene, and this early attraction to poetry inspired him to become a poet forever. The passage also explains that genius often develops from small experiences that direct a person’s mind toward a particular field.

main text:

present age, had the first fondness for his art ex-cited by the perusal of Richardson’s treatise.

By his mother’s solicitation he was admitted into Westminster school, where he was soon dis-tinguished. He was wont, says Sprat, to relate, that he had this defect in his memory at that time, that his teachers never could bring it to retain the ordinary rules of grammar. ‘This is an instance of the natural desire of man to propagate a wonder.’ It is surely very dif-ficult to tell anything as it was heard, when Sprat could not refrain from amplifying a commodi-ous incident, though the book to which he pre-fixed his narrative contained its confutation. A memory admitting somethings, and rejecting others, an intellectual digestion that concocted the pulp of learning, but refused the husks, had the appearance of an instinctive elegance, of a particular provision made by Nature for literary politeness. But in the author’s own honest relation, the marvel vanishes: he was, he says, such ‘an enemy to all constraint, that his master never could prevail on him to learn the rules without book.’ He does not tell that he could not learn the rules, but that, being able to perform his exercises without them, and being an enemy to constraint,’ he spared himself the labor.

Translation in Bengali:

present age, had the first fondness for his art excited by the perusal of Richardson’s treatise. = বর্তমান যুগের মানুষদের মধ্যে, তাঁর শিল্পের প্রতি প্রথম অনুরাগ সৃষ্টি হয়েছিল রিচার্ডসনের গ্রন্থ পাঠের মাধ্যমে। By his mother’s solicitation he was admitted into Westminster school, = তাঁর মায়ের অনুরোধে তাকে ওয়েস্টমিনস্টার স্কুলে ভর্তি করা হয়, where he was soon distinguished. = যেখানে তিনি খুব দ্রুতই বিশেষভাবে পরিচিত হয়ে ওঠেন। He was wont, says Sprat, to relate, = স্প্র্যাট বলেন, তিনি প্রায়ই বলতে অভ্যস্ত ছিলেন, “That he had this defect in his memory at that time, = “সেই সময়ে তাঁর স্মৃতিশক্তিতে এই ত্রুটি ছিল, that his teachers never could bring it to retain the ordinary rules of grammar,” = যে তাঁর শিক্ষকরা কখনোই তাকে সাধারণ ব্যাকরণের নিয়মগুলো মুখস্থ করাতে পারেননি।” This is an instance of the natural desire of man to propagate a wonder. = এটি মানুষের স্বাভাবিক বিস্ময় ছড়িয়ে দেওয়ার প্রবণতার একটি উদাহরণ। It is surely very difficult to tell anything as it was heard, = নিশ্চয়ই কোনো কথা যেমন শোনা হয়েছিল ঠিক তেমনভাবে বলা খুব কঠিন, when Sprat could not refrain from amplifying a commodious incident, = যখন স্প্র্যাট নিজেও একটি সুবিধাজনক ঘটনাকে অতিরঞ্জিত করা থেকে বিরত থাকতে পারেননি, though the book to which he prefixed his narrative contained its confutation. = যদিও যে বইয়ের শুরুতে তিনি তাঁর বর্ণনা যুক্ত করেছিলেন, সেই বইতেই এর খণ্ডন ছিল। A memory admitting somethings, and rejecting others, = এমন এক স্মৃতিশক্তি যা কিছু বিষয় গ্রহণ করে এবং অন্যগুলো প্রত্যাখ্যান করে, an intellectual digestion that concocted the pulp of learning, but refused the husks, = এমন এক মানসিক হজমশক্তি যা জ্ঞানের আসল অংশ গ্রহণ করত, কিন্তু অপ্রয়োজনীয় অংশ বাদ দিত, had the appearance of an instinctive elegance, = তা স্বাভাবিক সৌন্দর্যের একটি লক্ষণ বলে মনে হতো, of a particular provision made by Nature for literary politeness. = যেন সাহিত্যিক পরিশীলনের জন্য প্রকৃতি বিশেষভাবে তাকে এই গুণ দিয়েছে। But in the author’s own honest relation, the marvel vanishes: = কিন্তু লেখকের নিজের সৎ বর্ণনায় সেই বিস্ময় দূর হয়ে যায়: he was, he says, such “an enemy to all constraint,” = তিনি বলেন, তিনি ছিলেন “সব ধরনের বাধ্যবাধকতার বিরোধী,” that his master never could prevail on him to learn the rules without book. = তাই তাঁর শিক্ষক কখনোই তাকে বই ছাড়া নিয়মগুলো মুখস্থ করাতে পারেননি। He does not tell that he could not learn the rules, = তিনি কিন্তু বলেননি যে তিনি নিয়মগুলো শিখতে পারতেন না, but that, being able to perform his exercises without them, = বরং তিনি নিয়ম ছাড়াই নিজের কাজ করতে সক্ষম ছিলেন বলে, and being “an enemy to constraint,” = এবং “বাধ্যবাধকতার শত্রু” হওয়ায়, he spared himself the labour. = তিনি নিজেকে সেই পরিশ্রম থেকে বাঁচিয়েছিলেন।

Summary:

Samuel Johnson describes how Cowley became interested in literature after reading Richardson’s book. At Westminster School, Cowley quickly became famous for his talent. People spread the story that he had a weak memory and could not learn grammar rules. However, Johnson explains that this was exaggerated. Cowley was not unable to learn; rather, he disliked strict discipline and memorization. Since he could complete his exercises without learning the rules by heart, he avoided the extra effort. Johnson suggests that the story about Cowley’s memory was turned into an unnecessary wonder by others.

main text:

Among the English poets, Cowley, Milton, and Pope might be said ‘to lisp in numbers²; and have given such early proofs, not only of powers of language, but of comprehension of things, as to more tardy minds seems scarcely credible. But of the learned puerilities of Cowley there is no doubt, since a volume of his poems was not only written but printed in his thirteenth year; con-taining, with other poetical compositions, ‘The tragical History of Pyramus and Thisbe,’ written when he was ten years old; and ‘Constantia and Philetus,’ written two years after.

While he was yet at school he produced a comedy called ‘Love’s Riddle,’ though it was not published till he had been sometime at Cam-bridge. This comedy is of the pastoral kind, which requires no acquaintance with the living world, and therefore the time at which it was composed adds little to the wonders of Cowley’s minority.

In 1636 he was removed to Cambridge, where he continued his studies with great in-tenseness; for he is said to have written, while he was yet a young student, the greater part of his ‘Davideis’; a work of which the materials could not have been collected without the study of

Translation in Bengali:

Among the English poets, = ইংরেজ কবিদের মধ্যে, Cowley, Milton, and Pope = কাউলি, মিল্টন এবং পোপ might be said = বলা যেতে পারে “to lisp in numbers”; = “ছন্দে তোতলাতে শুরু করেছিলেন”; অর্থাৎ ছোটবেলা থেকেই কবিতা লিখতেন; and have given = এবং দেখিয়েছিলেন such early proofs = এত অল্প বয়সেই এমন প্রমাণ not only of powers of language, = শুধু ভাষার দক্ষতার নয়, but of comprehension of things, = বরং বিষয় বোঝার ক্ষমতারও, as to more tardy minds = যা ধীরবুদ্ধিসম্পন্ন মানুষের কাছে seems scarcely credible. = প্রায় অবিশ্বাস্য মনে হয়। But of the learned puerilities of Cowley = কিন্তু কাউলির বিদ্বানসুলভ শিশুসুলভ রচনাগুলোর বিষয়ে there is no doubt, = কোনো সন্দেহ নেই, since a volume of his poems = কারণ তাঁর কবিতার একটি সংকলন was not only written = শুধু লেখা হয়নি but printed = বরং ছাপাও হয়েছিল in his thirteenth year; = তাঁর তেরো বছর বয়সে; containing, with other poetical compositions, = যেখানে অন্যান্য কবিতার সঙ্গে ছিল, “The Tragical History of Pyramus and Thisbe,” = “পিরামাস ও থিসবির করুণ ইতিহাস,” written when he was ten years old; = যা তিনি দশ বছর বয়সে লিখেছিলেন; and “Constantia and Philetus,” = এবং “কনস্টানশিয়া ও ফাইলেটাস,” written two years after. = যা দুই বছর পরে লেখা হয়েছিল। While he was yet at school = যখন তিনি এখনো স্কুলে ছিলেন), he produced a comedy = তিনি একটি হাস্যরসাত্মক নাটক রচনা করেন) called “Love’s Riddle” (যার নাম ছিল “লাভস রিডল,” though it was not published = যদিও এটি প্রকাশিত হয়নি till he had been sometime at Cambridge. = যতক্ষণ না তিনি কিছুদিন কেমব্রিজে কাটান। This comedy is of the pastoral kind, = এই নাটকটি ছিল প্যাস্টোরাল ধরনের, which requires = যা প্রয়োজন করে no acquaintance with the living world, = বাস্তব জীবনের অভিজ্ঞতার নয়, and therefore = তাই the time at which it was composed = এটি যে বয়সে লেখা হয়েছিল adds little = খুব বেশি বৃদ্ধি করে না to the wonders of Cowley’s minority. = কাউলির অল্পবয়সী প্রতিভার বিস্ময়কে। In 1636 = ১৬৩৬ সালে he was removed to Cambridge, = তাকে কেমব্রিজে পাঠানো হয়, where he continued his studies = যেখানে তিনি তাঁর পড়াশোনা চালিয়ে যান with great intenseness; = অত্যন্ত মনোযোগের সঙ্গে; for he is said = কারণ বলা হয় to have written, = তিনি লিখেছিলেন), while he was yet a young student, = যখন তিনি এখনো তরুণ ছাত্র ছিলেন, the greater part (অধিকাংশ অংশ of his “Davideis”; = তাঁর “ডেভিডেইস” কাব্যের; a work = এমন একটি কাজ of which the materials = যার উপাদানসমূহ could not have been collected = সংগ্রহ করা সম্ভব ছিল না without the study of = অধ্যয়ন ছাড়া।
Summary:

Samuel Johnson explains that Cowley showed extraordinary poetic talent from a very early age. Like Milton and Pope, he began writing poetry in childhood and displayed remarkable intelligence and language skills. A collection of his poems was published when he was only thirteen years old, including works written at the ages of ten and twelve. While still at school, he wrote a pastoral comedy called “Love’s Riddle.” Later, in 1636, he entered Cambridge and continued his studies with great dedication. During his early student life, he also wrote most of his famous work “Davideis,” which proved his deep learning and hard study.

main text:

Two years after his settlement at Cambridge he published ‘Love’s Riddle,’ with a poetical dedication to Sir Kenelm Digby’; of whose ac-quaintance all his contemporaries seem to have been ambitious; and ‘Naufragium Joculare,’ a comedy written in Latin, but without due atten-tion to the ancient models: for it is not loose verse, but mere prose. It was printed, with a dedication in verse to Dr. Comber, master of the college; but having neither the facility of a popular nor the accuracy of a learned work, it seems to be now universally neglected.

At the beginning of the civil war, as the Prince passed through Cambridge in his way to York, he was entertained with the representation of ‘The Guardian,’ a comedy, which Cowley says was neither written nor acted, but rough-drawn by him, and repeated by the scholars. That this comedy was printed during his absence from his country, he appears to have considered as injurious to his reputation; though, during the

Translation in Bengali:
many years, but by a mind of the greatest vigour and activity. = বহু বছর ধরে, কিন্তু অত্যন্ত শক্তিশালী ও সক্রিয় মনের দ্বারা। Two years after his settlement at Cambridge = কেমব্রিজে স্থায়ী হওয়ার দুই বছর পর he published “Love’s Riddle,” = তিনি “লাভস রিডল” প্রকাশ করেন, with a poetical dedication = একটি কবিতার আকারে উৎসর্গপত্রসহ to Sir Kenelm Digby; = Sir Kenelm Digby-এর প্রতি; of whose acquaintance = যার সঙ্গে পরিচিতি লাভের all his contemporaries = তাঁর সমসাময়িক সবাই seem to have been ambitious; = খুব আগ্রহী ছিল বলে মনে হয়; and “Naufragium Joculare,” = এবং “নাউফ্রাজিয়াম জোকুলারে,” a comedy written in Latin, = একটি ল্যাটিন ভাষায় লেখা হাস্যরসাত্মক নাটক, but without due attention = কিন্তু যথাযথ মনোযোগ ছাড়া to the ancient models: = প্রাচীন আদর্শ অনুসরণ না করে; for it is not loose verse, = কারণ এটি মুক্ত ছন্দ নয়, but mere prose. = বরং সাধারণ গদ্য। It was printed, = এটি মুদ্রিত হয়েছিল, with a dedication in verse = একটি পদ্য উৎসর্গসহ to Dr. Comber, master of the college; = কলেজের অধ্যক্ষ ড. কম্বারকে উদ্দেশ করে; but having neither the facility of a popular = কিন্তু এতে না ছিল জনপ্রিয়তার সহজতা nor the accuracy of a learned work, = না ছিল বিদ্বান রচনার নির্ভুলতা, it seems to be now universally neglected. = তাই এটি এখন প্রায় সর্বত্র উপেক্ষিত। At the beginning of the civil war, = গৃহযুদ্ধের শুরুতে, as the Prince passed through Cambridge = যখন প্রিন্স কেমব্রিজের মধ্য দিয়ে যাচ্ছিলেন in his way to York, = ইয়র্কের পথে, he was entertained = তাকে বিনোদিত করা হয় with the representation of “The Guardian,” = “দ্য গার্ডিয়ান” নাটকের প্রদর্শনী দিয়ে, a comedy, = একটি হাস্যরসাত্মক নাটক, which Cowley says = যা কাউলি বলেন was neither written nor acted, = না লেখা হয়েছিল পূর্ণভাবে, না অভিনীত হয়েছিল, but rough-drawn by him, = বরং তার দ্বারা একটি খসড়া রূপে তৈরি, and repeated by the scholars. = এবং শিক্ষার্থীরা সেটি উপস্থাপন করেছিল। That this comedy was printed = এই নাটকটি যে মুদ্রিত হয়েছিল during his absence from his country, = তাঁর দেশের বাইরে থাকার সময়, he appears to have considered = তিনি এটিকে মনে করেছিলেন as injurious to his reputation; = তাঁর সুনামের জন্য ক্ষতিকর; though, during the… = যদিও সেই সময়ে…

Summary:

Samuel Johnson explains Cowley’s later academic and literary life at Cambridge. After settling there, Cowley published Love’s Riddle with a dedication to Sir Kenelm Digby, a well-known and admired figure of his time. He also wrote a Latin comedy titled Naufragium Joculare, but it was not properly structured according to classical models and was written more like prose than verse. Because it lacked both popular appeal and scholarly precision, the work was largely ignored.

At the start of the English Civil War, Cowley presented a comedy called The Guardian when the Prince passed through Cambridge on his way to York. Cowley himself described it as an unfinished sketch, performed by students rather than a fully developed play. However, it was later printed without his permission during his absence, which he felt damaged his reputation.