John Harington (writer) - Literary Works

Literary Works

In addition to his literary work in Elizabeth's era, including the translation of Orlando Furioso and his original work The Metamorphosis of Ajax, Harington continued to write after the death of Elizabeth, even though he had vowed to give up poetry upon her death. He published one more slim volume of verse in 1607, but continued to send letters both to friends and to the king's eldest son, Prince Henry, until 1609. Some of these letters were later collected by Harington's descendant, Henry Harington, and published under the title of Nugae Antiquae in 1769. The volume is a significant source for the history of the Tudor conquest of Ireland.

He is also remembered for the political epigram, "Treason doth never prosper: what’s the reason? Why, if it prosper, none dare call it treason."

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