< Page:A cyclopaedia of female biography.djvu
This page needs to be proofread.
41
ANC. AND.

and has passed through several editions. The spirit and style of

this work are in accordance with the sentiment of the popular English novels; those who admire Mrs. Gore's writings will find as much to amuse and interest them in ^abrielle," with a mora eleyated tone of moral feeUng.

ANCHITA,

Wife of Cleomhrutns, king of Sparta; was mother of Pausanius^ who distingmshed himself at the battle of Platcea; afterwards, bj his foolish and arrogant conduct disgusted his countr3rmeBy whom he also agreed to betray to the Persian king, on condition of receiving his daughter in marriage. His treason being discovered, he took refuge in the temple of Minerva, from which it was not lawful to force him. His pursuers thereibre blocked up the door with stones, the first of which, in the proud anguish of a Spartan mother, was placed by Anchita. Pausanias died there of hunger, B. C. 471.

ANDREINI, ISABELLA,

Was bom at Padua, in 1562. She became an actress of great fame, and was flattered by the applauses of men of wit and learning of her time. The Italian theatre was considered, in that day, a literary institution. She is described as a woman of elegant figure, beautiful countenance, and melodious voice ; of taste in her profes- sion, and conversant with the French and Spanish languages; nor was she unacquainted with philosophy and the sciences. She was a votary of the muses, and cultivated poetry with ardour and success. The Intenti academicians of Pavia, conferred upon her the honours of their society, and the title of Isabella Andreini, Comica Gelosa, Academica Intenta, detta TAccesa. She dedicated her works to cardinal Aldobrandini, (nephew to pope Clement the Eighth,) by whom she was greatly esteemed, and for whom many of her poems were composed. In France, whither she made a tour, she met ^th a most flattering reception finom the king, the queen, and the court. She died in 1604, at Lyons, in the forty-second year of her age. Her husband was overwhelmed with affliction at her loss, and erected a monument to her memory, in the city in which she ex- pired, inscribed with an epitaph conmiemorative of her virtues. The learned strove to outdo each other in pronouncing panegyrics on her character. Even a medal was struck to commemmopte her abilities, bearing her likeness on one side, and a figure of Fame on the other, with this inscription — "-^Etema Fama."

Her works are numerous, and much admired by the lovers of Italian literature; they are readily found in print.

ANDROCLEA,

Celebrated fbr her love to her country, was a native of Thebes in Bceotia. That state was at war with the Orchomenians, and the oracle declared that they would be victors if the most noble among them would suffer a voluntary death. Antiopoenus, fiither of Androclea, the most illustrious person in Thebes, was not disposed to sacrifice himself. Androclea and her sister Alcis fhlfiUed this duty in their father|s stead ; and the grateful Thcbans erected the statue of a lion to their memoiy in the temple of Diana.

This article is issued from Wikisource. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.