SYMONDS. sinl'ondz or Si'D.1011dZ, JOHN AD DINGTON (1840-03). An English critic and lit erary historian, born at Bristol. From Harrow he passed to Balliol College, Oxford, whore he graduated with distinction, winning the Newili gate prize, with a poem on The Escorial (1860), and a. fellowship at Magdalen College (1862). He began the study of law, which ill health compelled him to abandon. Ile settled at Clifton and began literary work ill earnest. Subsequently he passed much time on the Continent, and for several years lived at. Davos, in Switzerland. Our Life la the Swiss Highlands (1891) tells charmingly of his moun tain home. He died in Rome. Symonds's repu tation rests mainly on The History of the Italian Renaissance (7 vols., 1875-86), and the excel lent translations of the Vita di Benrenuto Cel lini (1887) and the Sonnets of Michelangelo and Campanella (1878). Other striking books are the Introduction to the Study of Dante (1872). Essays. Speculative and RuggeRtirc (1890), In
the Key of Blue (1803). and Walt Trhitman (1893). Symonds also contributed to the "Eng lish Men of Letters" good lives of Shelley (1878) and of Sir Philip Sidney (1886). Besides all these and much other miscellaneous work, he composed a considerable body of verse, admirable in teehnique, but wanting in inspiration. This includes Many Moods (1878) ; Yen, and Old (1880) ; rigura (1882) ; and duli Libeling (18841. Both his verse and his prose show the thorough interpenetration of his • nature by the culture and the ideals of the Re naissance period with which he was so familiar. He was celebrated as a fascinating conversation alist ; Stevenson, who passed some time at Davos with him, has commemorated him in the essay on "Talk and Talkers" in Memories and Por traits, under the name of Opalstein. Consult also the biography by Brown (London, 1S95).