# A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Clarke. Mary Cowden

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CLARKE. MARY COWDEN,
Is an English authoress, residing near London, who is chiefly known by her "Complete Concordance to Shakspeare." It was a gigantic undertaking, and like "Cruden's Concordance to the Scriptures," leaves nothing to be desired to complete a reference to the works of the immortal dramatist. Mrs. Clarke devoted sixteen years to this study; and seems to have felt such honest enthusiasm in her pursuit, as made it a real pleasure. The book is large octavo, three columns on each page, and there are eight hundred and sixty pages, sufficient labour for a lifetime, and her ambition may well be satisfied with the result. From her very sensible preface we will give a quotation, showing the estimation Shakspeare holds in her mind; nor do we think she overrates the influence of his works. Next to genius comes the faculty to appreciate it thus lovingly and truthfully.
"Shakspeare, the most frequently quoted, because the most universal-minded genius that ever lived, of all authors, best deserves a complete concordance to his works. To what subject may we not with felicity apply a motto from this greatest of Poets? The Divine, commending the efficacy and 'two-fold force of prayer—to be forestalled, ere we come to fall, or pardoned, being down;' the Astronomer, supporting his theory by allusions to 'the moist star, upon whose influence Neptune's empire stands;' the Naturalist, striving to elucidate a fact respecting the habits of the 'singing masons,' or the 'heavy-gaited toads;' the Botanist, lecturing on the various properties of the 'small flower, within whose infant rind poison hath residence, and medicine power;' or, on the growth of 'summer grass, fastest by night unseen, yet crescive in his faculty;' the Philosopher, speculating upon 'the respect that makes calamity of so long a life,'—'the dread of something after death, the undiscovered country, from whose bourn no traveller returns;' the Lover, telling his 'whispering tale in a fair lady's ear,' and vowing the 'winnowed purity' and 'persistive constancy' of his 'heart's dear love;' the Lawyer, discussing some 'nice sharp quillet of the law;' the Musician, descanting on the 'touches of sweet harmony;' the Painter, describing his art, that 'pretty mocking of the life;' the Novel-writer, seeking an illustrative heading to a fresh chapter, the baby figure of the giant mass to come at large;' the Orator, labouring an emphatic point in an appeal to the passions of assembled multitudes, to 'stir men's blood;' the Soldier, endeavouring to vindicate his profession, by vaunting the 'pomp and circumstance of glorious war;' or the Humanist, advocating 'the quality of mercy,' urging that 'to revenge is no valour, but to bear;' and maintaining ​that 'the earth is wronged by man's oppression,' may all equally adorn their page, or emblazon their speech with gems from Shakspeare's works."
The "Concordance" was published in London, in 1846. So carefully was the process of correcting proofs, etc., performed, that four years were spent in printing the book. Mrs. Clarke has since produced a series of small books, entitled "Shakspeare's Heroines," which display much delicacy and refinement of taste, and nice appreciation of character.