Page:A cyclopaedia of female biography.djvu/249

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DAM. DAN.
227

ite disciples, and was initiated by him into all the secrets of his philosophy. Her father entrusted to her all his writings, enjoining her not to make them public. This command she strictly obeyed, though tempted with large offers, while she was struggling with the evils of poverty. She lived single, in obedience to her father's wishes, and exhorted other young women, whose education she took charge of, to do the same. She was born at Crotona, in Italy, and lived about B. C. 500.

DAMOPHILA,

Wife of Damophilus, the Grecian philosopher, was the contemporary, relation, and rival of Sappho. She composed a poem on Diana, and a variety of odes on subjects connected with the passion of love. She is mentioned by Theophilus, in his life of Apollonius Thayneus. She flourished about B.C. 610.

DANCY, ELIZABETH,

Second daughter of Sir Thomas More, was born in London, 1509, and educated very carefully under her father's care. She corresponded with Erasmus, who praises the purity of her Latin style. She married, when very young, Mr. Dancy, son and heir of Sir John Dancy. Her productions and the time of her death are uncertain.

D'ANDALO, or BRANCALEONE GALEAXA.

Nothing is known of the early youth of this lady, but that she belonged to the noble house of Saviolo of Bologna. She lived in the thirteenth century, a melancholy epoch for Italy, divided and torn to pieces by factions and princely demagogues. In 1251, her husband, Brancalcone D'Andalo, was selected by the upper council of Bologna to go to Rome, where the imbecile administration wished to confer on him the dignity of Senator, and to obtain the advantage of his services in appeasing their dissensions. He declined going until they sent hostages to Bologna. Galeana remained at Bologna to receive these noble Romans, and upon their arrival wrote to her husband a very elegant Latin letter, describing them and their reception. She then proceeded to Rome, where she found D'Andalo precipitated from his honours—the caprice of popular favour had turned—he was in a dungeon, and his life menaced. Struck with horror, she sunk not under this blow, but courageously presented herself to the council, and with a manly eloquence did this Bolognese matron appeal to the public faith; and solemnly one by one call upon the weak and perfidious individuals who had invited her husband to this snare. The good cause triumphed: Galeana had the felicity of returning home with D'Andalo, endeared to him by her virtuous exertions. She died in 1274.

DANGEVILLE, MARY ANNE BOTOL,

A celebrated French actress, considered as superior to any of her profession in the class of characters she personated; she was the representative of the waiting-maids of French comedy. She died, March, 1796; but, more fortunate than people of higher station and greater talents, her eulogium was pronounced two years before her decease. In September 1794, M. Molé, at the Lyceum of Arts, at Paris, delivered a panegyric on this distinguished actress.