Vincent Bourne facts for kids

Vincent Bourne (born 1695, died 1747) was an English writer and poet. People often called him Vinny Bourne. He was known for writing poems in Latin, a language used by the ancient Romans.

Life of Vincent Bourne

Not much is known about Vincent Bourne's early life. He was born in 1695. His father's name was Andrew.

Education and Teaching

In 1710, Vincent Bourne started school at Westminster School. Later, in 1714, he earned a scholarship to Trinity College, Cambridge. He studied there and became a fellow (a senior member of the college) in 1720.

After finishing his studies, Bourne became a teacher at Westminster School. He taught there until he passed away. He was known for being a calm and relaxed person. As a teacher, he wasn't very strict and sometimes seemed a bit lazy.

One of his students, the famous poet William Cowper, liked Bourne a lot. Cowper once said that Bourne was so relaxed about his students' work that he seemed "determined... to be the last, Latin poet of the Westminster line." Cowper also joked that he learned to be as "idle" as Bourne!

Later Years and Beliefs

In 1734, Bourne published a book of his Latin poems called Poemata. He also got a job working for the House of Commons, which is part of the British government.

Later, a powerful leader, the Duke of Newcastle, offered Bourne an important job in the church. But Bourne politely said no. He felt that such a big responsibility was too much for him. He believed that if he couldn't help people's souls, he didn't want to accidentally cause harm. He was a very thoughtful and honest person.

Vincent Bourne died on December 2, 1747, and was buried in Fulham. He had two children, a daughter named Lucia and a son named Thomas. His wife and daughter later lived at the Royal Hospital and Collegiate Church of Saint Katharine.

Vincent Bourne's Poems

Vincent Bourne wrote many poems in Latin. There were nine different collections of his Latin poems published over time. Some later editions even included English translations by other poets, like the nineteen translated by William Cowper.

What Made His Poems Special?

Many people admired Bourne's poetry. William Cowper thought he was a better Latin poet than many famous ancient writers, except for Ovid. Another writer, Charles Lamb, also loved Bourne's work. Lamb said that Bourne was great at "sucking from every flower, making a flower of everything!" This means Bourne could find inspiration in everyday things and make them beautiful in Latin.

The real charm of Bourne's poems wasn't just how elegant his Latin was. It was also the wide range of subjects he wrote about and his sense of humor. He cared deeply about people and had a loving kindness towards animals. His short poems, called epitaphs, were simple and graceful.

One critic said that Bourne's poems were like "vignettes of contemporary life." This means he created small, charming pictures of life in his time. He was very good at observing small details of daily life.

Everyday Subjects

Bourne's poems often described ordinary things that tested his skill with the Latin language. He wrote about:

• A man smoking a pipe
• A magic lantern show (an early type of projector)
• A pair of eyeglasses
• A coach packed with too many people
• Crowds listening to street singers

He also loved to write playful poems about animals. For example, he wrote about:

• A jackdaw (a type of bird) living in a church tower
• A snail
• Sparrows eating in a Cambridge college (these were translated by Cowper)

Another poem, Canis et Echo (Dog and Echo), tells the story of a dog barking at the Moon's reflection in the River Thames, and then barking at the echo of its own barks!

Even though Bourne's style was elegant, some scholars found small mistakes in his Latin. However, people loved his poems because he was a kind person with a great eye for detail. He found beauty and interest in all the small things and characters of everyday life.

Translations by Bourne

Besides writing his own poems, Bourne also translated poems by other famous English poets of his time into Latin. These included writers like John Gay and Joseph Addison. He even translated hymns, which fit his religious beliefs. He tried to make the Latin language fit new, modern themes, just as these English poets were doing.