SOUTHERN CROSS

See under Cro . i Eng. poet and prose-writer; 6. Bristol; ed. Westminster and Balliol Coll., Oxford; m. (1) Edith Fricker, Mrs. Cole ridge’s sister, 1795; (2) Caroline Bowles, the poete , 1839; a hard worker; unfortunate married life; children died and first wife went mad; S.’s mind also failed before his death; lived at Keswick, and included among ‘Lake Poets; long supported Cole ridge’s family; app. Poet Laureate, 1813. His poems include: Joan of Arc, 1795; Thalaba, 1801; Madoc, 1805; Curse of Kehama, 1810; Roderick the Goth, 1814; Vision of Judgment, 1821; narrative faculty, rhythmic swing, ballads, and Oriental subjects gave S. certain vogue as poet. His greatest work, however, is in prose— Life of Nelson, 1813, his masterpiece; History of Brazil, 1810-19; History of Peninsular War, 1822-32; Lives of Bunyan Wesley Cowper, etc. and contributions to Quarterly. S. is a master of plain, vigorous, straightfoward prose.