Richard Barnfield

Date of Birth: 1574

Zodiac Sign: Unknown

Date of Death: 1620

Biography

Richard Barnfield was an English poet born in 1574 in Norbury, Staffordshire. He was educated at Brasenose College, Oxford, where he received his degree in 1592. Barnfield is best known for his romantic and pastoral poetry, which was often themed around idealized love and nature. His work was heavily influenced by classical literature, as well as the writings of his contemporaries, including Edmund Spenser and William Shakespeare. Barnfield’s first published work, “The Affectionate Shepherd” (1594), is a collection of poems that explore the themes of unrequited love and longing. This work was followed by “Cynthia, with Certain Sonnets” (1595), and “The Encomion of Lady Pecunia” (1598), a unique blend of poetry and prose that praised the virtues of money. Despite achieving a modest level of success during his lifetime, Barnfield’s works fell into relative obscurity after his death. However, he was posthumously recognized in the 19th and 20th centuries as an important figure in English literature, particularly for his contributions to the genre of romantic poetry.

5 Interesting Facts about Richard Barnfield

1. Richard Barnfield was one of the few contemporaries who openly admired William Shakespeare’s work, and some of his own poems were mistakenly attributed to Shakespeare.

2. His poem “As it fell upon a day” was included in “The Passionate Pilgrim,” a collection of poems that was initially published under Shakespeare’s name.

3. Barnfield’s “The Affectionate Shepherd” drew inspiration from Virgil’s “Eclogues” and is considered one of the earliest examples of homoerotic poetry in English literature.

4. After publishing “The Encomion of Lady Pecunia”, Barnfield largely abandoned poetry and lived a quiet life in the English countryside.

5. Much of Barnfield’s work was rediscovered and celebrated in the 19th century, particularly by the Romantic poets who admired his use of classical themes and pastoral imagery.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Richard Barnfield

1. “Love is a sickness full of woes, all remedies refusing.”

2. “As it fell upon a day in the merry month of May, sitting in a pleasant shade which a grove of myrtles made.”

3. “If music and sweet poetry agree, as they must needs, the sister and the brother.”

4. “The nightingale, as soon as April bringeth unto her rested sense a perfect waking.”

5. “My thoughts hold mortal strife; I do detest my life, and with lamenting cries, peace to my soul to bring, oft call that prince which here doth monarchize.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Richard Barnfield did not achieve significant wealth during his lifetime. His highest net worth was likely modest, as he lived quietly and did not pursue extensive commercial or noble patronage.