Robert Tofte facts for kids

Robert Tofte (born 1562 – died January 1620) was an English writer. He was known for translating books and writing poems. He translated famous works by Italian writers like Ariosto and Boiardo. He also wrote his own collections of poems, called Alba (1598) and Laura (1597). Robert Tofte is famous for being the first person to mention William Shakespeare's play Love's Labour's Lost in a printed book.

Robert Tofte's Life Story

Robert Tofte was born in 1562. His father was a fishmonger, but Robert later became friends with important and artistic people. He always called himself "R.T. Gentleman" on his book covers.

He started studying at Oxford University in 1582. Between 1591 and 1594, he traveled in France and Italy. There, he became very good at speaking Italian and French. He might have even met other famous writers during his travels.

Tofte was familiar with Shakespeare's plays, as shown by his mention of Love's Labour's Lost. Even though he wasn't a lawyer, he lived in Holborn, near London's Inns of Court. These were places where many writers and thinkers, like Edmund Spenser and John Marston, lived and worked.

His friends often called him "Robin Redbreast." You can find hints of this nickname in his writings. Tofte was also interested in "The Woman Question," which was a big debate at the time about the role of women in society.

Robert Tofte passed away in January 1620 in Holborn. He was buried on January 24 in the church of St. Andrew, Holborn. His will showed he was a wealthy and religious man.

What People Thought of His Work

For a long time, people thought of Robert Tofte as a "minor Elizabethan" writer. This means they saw him as less important than other famous writers of his time. However, he played a big part in bringing foreign literature to England through his translations. He also helped people in England learn more about European cultures.

While Tofte's own poems might not be as famous as those of his friends, his translations were truly special. They showed great imagination and skill. He didn't just translate words directly. Instead, he often made the texts richer and more interesting. His efforts helped English readers discover works from both French and Italian languages. This also helped people learn new languages.

Robert Tofte's Writings

Robert Tofte wrote his own poems and translated many books.

Original Poems by Robert Tofte

• Laura. The Toyes of a Traueller. Or, The Feast of Fancie. (1597)

This book is a collection of short poems. Many of them were thought up when Tofte was in Italy. The book was dedicated to Lady Lucy Percy. The title Laura comes from the name of a lady loved by the famous Italian poet Petrarch.

• Alba. The Months Minde of a Melancholy Louer, divided into three parts. (1598)

This work was dedicated to Mistress Anne Herne. The real person who inspired Tofte (his "muse") seems to have been a lady named Caryll. This book is very important because it has the first printed mention of William Shakespeare's play Love's Labour's Lost. Tofte wrote: "LOVES LABOURS LOST, I once did see a Play, / Ycleped so, so called to my paine."

• "The Fruits of Jealousie: or, A Loue (but not louing) Letter." (1615)

This poem was added to Tofte's translation of The Blazon of Jealousie. In the poem, the speaker complains about a loved one who doesn't appreciate his gifts. He sings about wearing a "Willow Garland," which means he feels sad and rejected.

Books Translated by Robert Tofte

• Two Tales Translated out of Ariosto. The one in dispraise of Men, the other in disgrace of Women. (1597)

This was the first book Tofte translated from Italian. It contains two stories from a famous Italian poem called Orlando Furioso. Tofte wrote these stories while he was in Italy.

• Orlando Innamorato. The three first Bookes of that famous noble Gentleman and learned Poet Mathew Maria Boiardo. (1598)

Tofte was likely drawn to this poem because it inspired Ariosto's popular Orlando Furioso. Even though the title says "three first books," Tofte only translated the first three parts of the first book.

• Of Mariage and Wiuing. An excellent, pleasant, and Philosophicall Controuersie, betweene the famous Tassi now liuing, the one Hercules the Philosopher, the other Torquato the Poet. (1599)

This book was one of Tofte's most talked-about works. It included a discussion against marriage by Ercole Tasso and a defense of marriage by Torquato Tasso. Less than three months after it was published, church leaders ordered it to be burned. They called it "the booke againste woemen."

• Ariosto's Satyres, in seuen famous Discourses... (1608)

This book's cover first said Gervase Markham was the author. However, Tofte later said three times that he translated it, and no one argued with him. The book was re-released later with Markham's name removed. Tofte was especially interested in the part about marriage.

• Honours Academie. Or the Famous Pastorall of the faire Shepheardesse, Julietta. (1610)

This long book was translated from a French story by Nicolas de Montreux. It was dedicated to Lady Anne Herne, who Tofte had also mentioned in his Alba poems. Some people think this book might have influenced Shakespeare's play The Tempest.

• The Blazon of Jealousie. (1615)

This was Tofte's last published work. He translated it from an Italian lecture on jealousy by Benedetto Varchi. Tofte added many interesting notes to the text. These notes sometimes took up more space than the original text itself! They are like early versions of modern footnotes. This translation was very useful for Robert Burton when he wrote his famous book The Anatomy of Melancholy.

Works That Might Be His

• The Batchelar's Banquet, or a Banquet for Batchelars. (1603)

This book was very popular and was printed many times. It has a lively style and talks about marriage in a way that reminds some people of Tofte's Of Mariage and Wiuing. Some experts think Tofte might have translated this book, but there isn't enough proof to be sure.