Somerset; and Anne, youngest daughter of the second Lord Aston, was married to Sir Henry Somerset, Sir Edward's elder brother.
P. 45. This philosophical poem on Self-love, was probably written by Edward Thimelby. "The Faire Self-Denyer, my sister, Th." was, I conjecture, Gertrude Aston, wife of bis brother, Henry Thimelby. See page 90, where there is a poem by this lady to "Mr E. T. who holds Self-love in all our Actions." There are some good lines in this poem; but the metaphysical ideas, of which it is chiefly composed, are not satisfactorily developed, nor clearly expressed. Such subjects are not adapted for poetry.
About the middle of the 17th century, the Duke de la Rochefoucauld published his "Maxims." This work has been the text-book of all those writers calling themselves philosophers, who, since his time, have maintained that self-love is the only ruling principle of the thoughts and actions of mankind. Whoever would see the opposite system of benevolence, illustrated and enforced in the most philosophical and agreeable manner, may study "An Inquiry into the Origin of our Ideas of Beauty and Virtue," by Dr Francis Hutcheson; which is one of the most beautiful specimens of philosophical investigation that has appeared in the world since the days of Plato and Xenophon.
As sister, mother, wyfe, in order deare,
As more or less they to ourselves draw neare.
As the small pebble stirs the peaceful lake;
The centre moved, a circle straight succeeds,
Another still, and still another spreads.
Friend, parent, neighbour, first it will embrace;
His country next, and then all human race:
Wide and more wide, th' o'erflowings of the mind,
Take every creature in, of every kind;
