SOURCE: Austin, Warren B. “Gabriel Harvey's ‘Lost’ Ode on Ramus.” Modern Language Notes 61, no. 4 (April 1946): 242-47.

In the following essay, Austin examines Harvey's Ode Natalita, a Latin ode to Peter Ramus, and contends that this shows Harvey to be an early, enthusiastic disciple of the French philosopher.

With the appearance of his Ode Natalitia early in 1575, Gabriel Harvey became the first Englishman to publish a work on the French humanist, philosopher, and educational reformer, Peter Ramus (Pierre de la Ramée).¹

This ode in commemoration of Ramus and in praise of his system has hitherto been known only by title, from E. K.'s mention of it (in the gloss to September of Spenser's Shepheardes Calender) among others of Harvey's “most rare and very notable writings, partely vnder vnknown Tytles, and partly vnder counterfayt names.” There is no indication that any previous student of Harvey's writings has ever...