an imagination like a prism shedding rainbow changes on her thoughts, she shows study without the affectation of it, and a Greek-like closeness of expression."
COLIGNI, HENRIETTA, COUNTESS DE LA LUZE,
Famous for her poetry, which was printed with the works of Pellison and others, in 1695 and 1725, in two duodecimo volumes, was the daughter of Gaspar de Coligni, Marshal of France, and Colonel-general of infantry. She married, when very young, Thomas Hamilton, a Scotch nobleman, and, after his death, his Count de la Luze, of an illustrious house in Champagne.
The jealousy of her second husband embittered her life, and his severities towards her induced her to abjure Protestantism and embrace the Roman Catholic faith, which caused Queen Christina of Sweden to say "That the Countess had changed her religion, that she might not see her husband, neither in this world nor the next." Their antipathy at last became so great that the Countess offered her husband twenty-five thousand crowns to disannul the marriage, which he accepted, and it was dissolved by parliament. She then devoted herself to the study of poetry; and her writings, which were principally in the elegiac strain, were much admired. Her other works were songs, madrigals, and odes. The wits of her time ascribed to her the majesty of Juno, with Minerva's wit, and Venus' beauty. She died at Paris, March 10th., 1673.
COLONNA, VITTORIA,
Daughter of Fabricio, Duke of Paliano, was born at Marino, in 1490, and married in 1507, Francesco, Marquis of Pescara. Her poems have often been published, and are highly and deservedly admired. Her husband died in 1525, and she determined to spend the remainder of her life in religious seclusion, although various proposals of marriage were made to her. Her beauty, talents, and virtue, were extolled by her contemporaries, among others by Michael Angelo and Ariosto. She died in 1547, at Rome. She was affianced to the Marquis of Pescara in childhood, and as they grew up, a very tender affection increased with their years. Congenial in tastes, of the same age, their union was the model of a happy marriage. Circumstances shewed whose mind was of the firmer texture and higher tone. Francesco having exhibited extraordinary valour and generalship at the battle of Pavia, was thought of importance enough to be bribed; a negociation was set on foot to offer him the crown of Naples, if he would betray the sovereign to whom he had sworn fealty. The lure was powerful, and Francesco lent a willing ear to these propositions, when Vittoria came to the aid of his yielding virtue. She sent him that remarkable letter, where, among other things, she says, "Your virtue may raise you above the glory of being king. The sort of honour that goes down to our children with real lustre is derived from our deeds and qualities, not from power or titles. For myself, I do not wish to be the wife of a king, but of a general who can make himself superior to the greatest king, not only by courage, but by magnanimity, and superiority to any less elevated motive than duty."
