MARSTON, JOHN (1575?-1634).—­Dramatist and satirist, b. at Coventry, was ed. at Oxf.  In later life he gave up writing for the stage, took orders, and was incumbent of Christchurch, Hants, 1616-31.  He began his literary career in 1598 with satire, The Scourge of Villanie and The Metamorphosis of Pygmalion’s Image (1598), the latter of which was burned by order of Archbishop Whitgift.  In 1602 appeared The History of Antonio and Mellida, and its sequel, Antonio’s Revenge, ridiculed by Ben Jonson.  In repayment of this M. co-operated with Dekker in attacking Jonson in Satiromastix (a Whip for the Satirist).  A reconciliation, however, took place, and his comedy, The Malcontent (1604), was dedicated to J., another, Eastward Ho (1605), was written in collaboration with him and Chapman.  Other plays of his are Sophonisba, What You Will (1607), and possibly The Insatiate Countess (1613).  Amid much bombast and verbiage there are many fine passages in M.’s dramas, especially where scorn and indignation are the motives.  Sombre and caustic, he has been called “a screech-owl among the singing birds.”

MARSTON, PHILIP BOURKE (1850-1887).—­Poet, was b. in London, and lost his sight at the age of 3.  His poems, Song-tide, All in All, and Wind Voices bear, in their sadness, the impress of this affliction, and of a long series of bereavements.  He was the friend of Rossetti and of Swinburne, the latter of whom has written a sonnet to his memory.

MARTIN, SIR THEODORE (1816-1909).—­Poet, biographer, and translator, s. of James M., solicitor in Edin., where he was b. and ed. at the High School and Univ.  He practised as a solicitor in Edin. 1840-45, after which he went to London and became head of the firm of Martin and Leslie, parliamentary agents.  His first contribution to literature was The Bon Gaultier Ballads, written along with W.E.  Aytoun (q.v.), full of wit and humour, which still retain their popularity; originally contributed to a magazine, they appeared in book form in 1855.  His translations include Dante’s Vila Nuova, Oehlenschlaeger’s Correggio and Aladdin, Heine’s Poems and Ballads, Schiller’s Song of the Bell, and Hertz’s King Rene’s Daughter.  He also pub. a complete translation of Horace with a Life, and one of Catullus.  He is, however, perhaps best known for his Life of the Prince Consort (1874-80), the writing of which was committed to him by Queen Victoria, a work which he executed with such ability and tact as to win for him her lifelong friendship.  He also wrote Lives of Prof.  Aytoun and Lord Lyndhurst.  He m. in 1851 Miss Helen Faucit (d. 1898), the well-known actress, and authoress of studies on Shakespeare’s Female Characters, whose Life he pub. in 1901.  M. kept up his intellectual activity into old age, pub. in 1905 a translation of Leopardi’s poems, and Monographs (1906).  He was Lord Rector of St. Andrews 1881, LL.D. of Edin. 1875, and K.C.B. 1880.