MARGARET ROPER, lain to the King, commemorated, in a Latin epigram, the extensive learning of her and of her sisters. Mar- garet's fine mind and charming disposition made her the delight and comfort of all whom she came in contact with. Her father was so fondly attached to her that his life seemed almost wrapped up in hers. He freely confessed that in composition she frequently surpassed him ; and on one occasion she wrote a treatise with so much judgment, such strong rea- soning, and so much true piety, that he sincerely protested it was better than a discourse he had begun upon the same subject, and he never finished his work. She composed numerous Latin epistles, poems, and orations one of her works, an answer to the ancient author, Quintillian, defending the rich man accused of having poisoned a poor man's bees with certain venomous flowers in his garden, was written with such admirable wisdom, and fine elocution, that it was justly placed, says Ballard, in his " Learned Ladies," in competition with the work of the Roman orator and advocate. She translated from Greek into Latin Eusebius's Ecclesiastical History, but finding that Dr. Christopherson, an eminent Greek scholar of her acquaintance, was at that time engaged in a similar task, she did not publish her work. Most of these laborious works were written before her marriage-before she was twenty years of age. The first glimpse of misfortune which disturbed the charm of happiness was in 1528. During the 12
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