MARGARET ROPER, learned languages a prominent feature in female education : even princesses studied Greek, Latin, and frequently Hebrew and Arabic. The most eminent tutors were obtained by the anxious father for the instruction of his girls. He engaged the best linguists of that age-Dr. Clement and Mr. William Gonell -to teach them the learned tongues ; and other great masters, named respectively Drue, Nicolas, and Richard Hart, to impart to them the liberal arts and sciences. Margaret especially amply repaid his care ; she mastered with ease the Greek and Latin languages, and became well acquainted with philosophy, astronomy, physic, rhetoric, logic, arithmetic, and the more feminine accomplishment of music. In these studies her sisters and her young namesake shared, but were altogether eclipsed by her. Margaret, in fact, her father's darling child and favourite pupil, "was the jewel," says one biographer, " although the meanest of all the rest might have matched with any other of their age in England, either for learning, excellent qualities, or piety ; they had been brought up even from their infancy with such care and industry, and enjoyed always most learned and virtuous masters." She strongly resembled her father in mind and in appearance ; she had a ready wit, quick perception, tenacious memory, a fine imagination, and " a most elegant fluency of language, so as to be able to express her sentiments with the utmost gracefulness." Erasmus, 8
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=