Home › G › Greene (ROBERT an English poet)

Greene (ROBERT an English poet)

ROBERT, an English poet and dramatist; born in Norwich, England, in 1560. He took his degree of A. B. at Cambridge University in 1578. He afterward traveled in Spain and Italy.

On his return he re-entered the University, and took his degree of A. M. in 1583. On leaving Cambridge he proceeded to London, where he supported himself by writing plays and romances .

One of the latter, "Pandosto: The Triumph of Time," supplied Shakespeare with hints for the plot of "The Winter's Tale." The most popular of his plays was "Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay."

His literary fame rests on the poetry which he scattered through his romances-some of his pastoral songs being unsurpassed for tenderness and natural grace. He died in London, Sept. 3, 1592. After his death appeared the singular pamphlet entitled "The Repentance of Robert Greene, Master of Arts," in which he lays bare the wickedness of his former life.

GREENFIELD