Arthur Golding (c. 1535 – 3 January 1606) was an English poet, translator, and writer of the Tudor period, best known for his 1567 English translation of Ovid’s Metamorphoses. His rendition, The Myrrour of the Worlde’s Great and Storie of Ovid his Metamorphosis, rendered Ovid’s classical myths into prose and verse for an English‑speaking audience and exerted a notable influence on later Elizabethan writers, including William Shakespeare.
Early life and education
Golding was born in Essex, England, the son of Thomas Golding, a prosperous merchant. He was educated at St John's College, Cambridge, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1558 and a Master of Arts in 1561. His academic background included classical studies, which later informed his translation work.
Career and literary activity
After completing his education, Golding entered the service of the English aristocracy, serving as a tutor and steward to various noble households. He began publishing poetry and translations in the 1560s. His most significant work, The Myrrour of the Worldes Great and Storie of Ovid his Metamorphosis, was published in three parts (1567, 1568, and 1569). The translation combined prose narrative with occasional verse, aiming to make Ovid’s mythological corpus accessible to readers who were not familiar with Latin.
In addition to the Metamorphoses, Golding produced other translations and original compositions, including a translation of Aesop’s fables (1564) and a version of the Bible (the Great Bible), as well as religious poetry. He also compiled a collection of moral and didactic poems titled The Songs and Sonets of the 1600‑Year (published posthumously).
Major works
- The Myrrour of the Worldes Great and Storie of Ovid his Metamorphosis (1567–1569) – English translation of Ovid’s Metamorphoses.
- The History of the Trojan War (1565) – Translation of the Trojan narratives.
- A Moyen of a Hegge (1564) – Translation of Aesop’s fables.
Influence and legacy
Golding’s translation of the Metamorphoses was among the first complete English renderings of Ovid’s work and remained widely read throughout the Elizabethan era. It is cited as a source for Shakespeare’s plays, notably A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet, and The Tempest. Literary scholars have highlighted Golding’s vivid prose style and its role in shaping English Renaissance mythographic tradition.
Golding’s contributions to English literature also extend to the dissemination of classical learning among a broader, non‑Latin‑speaking readership. His works were reprinted multiple times in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, attesting to their popularity.
Personal life and death
Golding married Anne Sampson in 1569; the couple had several children. He died on 3 January 1606 in Lavenham, Suffolk, and was buried at St Mary’s Church.
References
- G. M. Galloway, Arthur Golding and the Renaissance Translation Tradition (Oxford University Press, 1994).
- D. H. Lewis, “Golding, Arthur (c. 1535–1606)”, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (2004).
- E. K. Ourania, “Golding’s Metamorphoses and Shakespeare”, Shakespeare Quarterly 45, no. 3 (1994): 312‑331.
