PHILIPS, CATHARINE,
Was the daughter of Mr. Fowler, a merchant of London, and was born there in 1681. She was educated at a boarding-school in Hackney, where she distinguished herself by her poetical talents. She married James Philips, Esq., of the Priory of Cardigan; and afterwards went with the Viscountess of Dungannon into Ireland. She translated from the French Corneille's tragedy of Pompey, which was acted several times in 1663 and 1664. She died in London of the small-pox, in 1664, to the regret of all; "having not left," says Langbaine, "any of her sex her equal in poetry." Cowley wrote an ode on her death; and Dr. Jeremy Taylor addressed to her his "Measures and Offices of Friendship." She wrote under the name of Orinda; and, in 1677, her works were printed as "Poems by the most deservedly admired Mrs. Catharine Philips, the matchless Orinda. To which is added several translations from the French, with her portrait."
PHILOTIS,
A servant-maid at Rome, saved her countrymen from destruction. After the siege of Rome by the Gauls, about 381 B.C., the Fidenates marched with an army against the capital, demanding all the wives and daughters in the city, as the only conditions of peace. Philotis advised the senators to send the female slaves, disguised in matrons' clothes; she offered to march herself at their head. The advice was followed, and when the Fidenates, having feasted late, had fallen asleep intoxicated, Philotis lighted a torch, as a signal for her countrymen to attack the enemy. The Fidenates were conquered; and the senate, to reward the fidelity of the slaves, allowed them to appear in the dress of the Roman matrons.
PHRYNE,
A Grecian courtezan, flourished at Athens, about B.C. 328. Society alone can discover the charms of the understanding, and the virtuous women of ancient Greece were excluded from society. The houses of the courtezans, on the contrary, were frequented by the poets, statesmen, philosophers, and artists of Athens, and became schools of eloquence. Phryne was one of the most distinguished of that class of women. She served as a model for Praxiteles, and a subject for Apelles, and was represented by both as Venus. Her statue in gold was placed between those of two kings at Delphi. She offered to rebuild at her own expense the walls of Thebes, if she might be allowed to inscribe on them, "Alexander destroyed Thebes, Phryne rebuilt it." She was born in Thespis, in Boeotia. She was accused of disbelief in the gods, but Hyperides obtained her acquittal by exposing her charms to the venerable judges of the Helica.
But though all these honours and favours were bestowed on Phryne, she was not allowed to rebuild the walls of Thebes; and this shows there still remained in the hearts of those old Greeks, corrupted as they were, the sentiment of respect for female virtue; and also a fear of degradation if they permitted such a woman to immortalize her name.
