Значение слова BRUCE в Литературной энциклопедии

BRUCE

1) JAMES (1730-1794).-Traveller, was _b._ at the family seat of Kinnaird, Perthshire, and _ed._ at Harrow. After various travels in Europe he set out in 1768 on his expedition to Abyssinia, and in 1770 reached the source of the Blue Nile. He returned to England in 1774, and in 1790 _pub._ his _Travels_ in 5 quarto vols. His notorious vanity, the singular adventures he related, and the generally embellished character which he imparted to his narrative excited some degree of scepticism, and he was subjected to a good deal of satire, to which, though much annoyed, he did not reply. It is, however, generally allowed that he had shown great daring, perseverance, and zeal in his explorations, and that he made a real addition to the geographical knowledge of his day.2)BRUCE, MICHAEL (1746-1767).-Poet, _s._ of a poor weaver at Kinnesswood, Kinross-shire, as a child herded cattle, but received a good education, including 4 sessions at the Univ. of Edin., and for a short time kept a school. His longest poem, _Loch Leven_, shows the influence of Thomson. His best is his _Elegy_. His promising career was cut short by consumption in 1767. The authorship of the beautiful _Ode to the Cuckoo_ beginning "Hail, beauteous stranger of the grove" is contested, some authorities claiming it for B. and others for the Rev. John Logan (_q.v._), who ed. B.'s works, adding some of his own, and who claimed the _Ode_ as his.

Литературная энциклопедия.