Mary Sidney (1562-1620), Countess of Pembroke

was born into one of England’s most prominent literary and political families. She was fluent in at least three languages and was an accomplished translator and poet.

Her two translations from the French, A Discourse of Life and Death, by Philippe de Mornay, and Antonius, a Tragédie, by Robert Garnier were published together in 1592 by William Ponsonby. That combined volume is reprinted here.