A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country/Pembroke, (Mary Sidney, Countess of)
Her natural genius was excellent; which assisted by a polite education, enabled her to make an illustrious appearance among the literati of that time.
About the year 1576, she married Henry lord Pembroke, by whom she had William, who succeeded him in his honours, Philip, and a daughter who died young.
Robert Dudley, earl of Leicester, her uncle, made the match for her, and paid part of her fortune. Her brother Sir Philip Sidney, the ornament of his age and country, was so exceedingly pleased with her fine genius, and excellent improvement of it, that he consecrated his ingenious romance to her under the title of The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia, beginning 'dear and most worthy to be dear lady;' and Mr. Abraham Fraunce endeavoured to do her honour by devoting his labours to her; the titles of whose books induced some to think they were of her own composing. The titles are, The Countess of Pembroke's Yvy-church. Containing the affectionate life and unfortunate death of Phillis and Amyntas: That in a pastoral: This in a Funeral: Both in English Hexameters, by Abraham Fraunce, 1591. Also, The Countess of Pembroke's Emmanuel. Containing the Nativity, Burial, and Resurrection of Christ: together with certain Psalms of David. All in English Hexameter, by Abraham Fraunce, 1592.
As her genius inclined her to poetry, she translated many of the Psalms into English verse; which are still preserved in the library at Wilton. But Sir John Harrington supposes, that she was assisted by Dr. Babington, chaplain to that family, and afterwards bishop of Worcester: for, says he, it was more than a woman's skill to express the sense of the Hebrew so right, as she hath done in her verse; or more than the Latin or English translation could give her.
She translated and published, A Discourse of Life and Death, written in French by Philip Mornay, done into English by the countess of Pembroke, 1590. Likewise the Tragedy of Antonie. Done into English by the countess of Pembroke, 1595.
This great lady was not only learned herself, but a patroness of men of letters.
She survived her husband twenty years; and having lived to a good old age, died at her house in Aldersgate-street, London, 1602. She was buried with the Pembroke family, in the chancel of the cathedral church of Salisbury; but without any monument. (See article Herbert.)