well; but, if it be to murder me, I will never believe that he commanded it."
As she finished these words, the assassins came round the bed, and one of them gave her a blow on the head with a truncheon; and Agrippina, at length driven to despair, had no measures to keep—and looking fiercely on Anicetus, who was preparing to destroy her with his sword, she cried, "Strike this womb, and punish it for giving birth to thy master."
Thus fell a woman whose life was one continued crime; whom adversity did not either amend or terrify; and whose evil genius was never lulled to sleep, even by the attainment of its purposes.
AIROLA, (DONNA ANGELA).
A Nun of Genoa, who learnt design and colouring of Sarezana. In her own monastery, and in several churches, she painted many admirable works.
AISHA, or AYESHA, third Wife of Mahomet. Died 671, aged 67.
The daughter of Abdallah, afterwards caliph, from her named Abubeker, Father of the Girl; since Mahomet, whose two first wives were widows, married her when she was very young; and, as she had a fine understanding, caused her to be instructed in all the learning of the Arabs, so that she became both eloquent and accomplished, and had such influence over the mind of her husband, that, though she was accused of infidelity by many, particularly by Ali, a kinsman of Mahomet's, and one whom he had distinguished by the name of the Faithful Witness, he would not resolve to part with her; but composed a chapter in the Koran, to declare her in-
