Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/43

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.
OF CELEBRATED WOMEN.
29

tion, proud and delicate in point of honour, glory in obeying her. Her majestic exterior, announced the elevation of her soul. Her understanding was lively and penetrating, but firm and moderate; and her natural powers had been cultivated by a masculine and serious education. She spoke little, but her words were full of meaning. Active, yet always tranquil, she quietly terminated the most important affairs; and the impenetrable secresy she observed, gave her leisure to remove obstacles, and insure the success of her designs. Affable, liberal, faithful to her promises, she won the hearts of her admiring people. By her prudence she pacified the eastern emperor, who had been offended, and maintained concord between the Goths and Romans, whom she impartially governed; and, as long as Athalaric was guided by her counsels, happiness and prosperity reigned in his kingdom.

This princess lamented the cruel fate of the learned Boëtius, beheaded by her father. She expressed the utmost respect for his memory; and, to make all the atonement in her power, for the injuries he had sustained, she caused his statues, which had been thrown down at Rome, to be again erected; and all his possessions restored to his heirs.

Histoire du Bas Empire, par Pere le Beau, &c.


AMALFI, (DONNA CONSTANTIA D'AVALOS, DUCHESS D',) a Neapolitan Poetess of the Sixteenth Century,

Was of the same noble family with the husband of Victoria Colonna, Marchioness de Pescara, with whose poems her's are usually bound. She was celebrated by all the learned men of the age; and, though few of her

works