Her poems are held in great estimation, and entitled her to be admitted into the academy des Jeux Floraux, who considered her as one of their greatest ornaments. Her poem of L'Amour et la Fortune, is esteemed excellent. It contains near one hundred and forty lines. She was crowned for this and other compositions several times. It is said her domestic happiness is a proof that genius may add as much to the social comforts of home, as it will enliven gayer scenes.
From her infancy was observed to have a strong inclination to literature, to which she devoted her whole time and attention, and soon surpassed all her instructors. Soon after the famous Montaigne had published his first essays, they came to the hands of this lady, who read them over with eagerness, and expressed the highest esteem for the author.
Montaigne being informed of these declarations, made many reflections on the occasion, in praise of Mademoiselle de Gournay's talents. Hence her esteem grew into a higher degree of reverential affection; so that her father happening to die not long after, she adopted this charming writer in his stead, even before she had seen
