Thanks, Mark. No, your response wasn't shallow at all. And you probably know as much about this author as I do after your reading of her, so I don't know if she knew of the translations you mention.
I wish I hadn't have put my last post up. I get into these moods at certain times, where I feel that some really talented people have gotten the fuzzy end of the lollypop when it comes to posterity. Ms. Cavendish certainly falls into that category.
Yes, it certainly looks like Lucretius is there. As well as Newton**. But here is a bit from the Emory site, from the intro to her book:
Quote:
IF any Philosophers have written of these Subjects, as I
make no question, or doubt, but they have, of all that
Nature hath discover'd, either in meere Thought, and Spe-
culation, or other waies in Observation; yet it is more then
I know of: for I never read, nor heard of any English Booke
to Instruct me: and truly I understand no other Language;not
French, although I was in France five years.Neither do I un-
derstand my owne Native Language very well; for thereare
many words, I know not what they signifie; so as I have one-
ly the Vulgar part, I meane, that which is most usually spoke. I
do not mean that which is us'd to be spoke by Clownes in e-
very Shire, where in some Parts their Language is knowne to
none, but those that are bred there. And not onely every Shire
hath a severall Language, but every Family, giving Marks for
things according to their Fancy. But my Ignorance of the Mother
Tongues makes me ignorant of the Opinions, and Discourses in
former times; wherefore I may be absurd, and erre grossely. I can-
not say, I have not heard of Atomes, and Figures, and Motions
and Matter; but not throughly reason'd on: but if I do erre,
it is no great matter; for my Discourse of them is not to be ac-
counted Authentick: so if there be any thing worthy of no-
ting, it is a good Chance; if not, there is no harm done, nor
time lost.
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After looking at that, it would appear to me that either the woman was the receiver of Divine revelation, along the lines of a Julian of Norwich (if such things are to be believed, which I do), or that some kind of hoax was afoot. A different author giving Cavendish the credit? I doubt the latter, since I can't see what possible use such a thing would have, unless it be a very early push for feminism, which seems even less likely; but that leaves the former, which not too many people would be open to, except for the new-agers and modern theosophical schools, of which there are scads.
It seems to me she must have read something of natural science and/or cosmology, philosophy, etc, or
heard it (as the above quote says), and had a
remarkable memory.
Or, she was blest.
**Nope, she didn't get it from Newton. Isaac was all of 10 yrs old when Ms. Cavendish published her book.
linky