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we have the secret of her great actions, and the motive for all her imputed crimes. Amidst all her lofty aspirations, her indomitable pride, her keen sense of injuries inflicted, her consciousness of power acquired, there was one deep and redeeming affection; this brilliant despot, the astute politician of her age, was still, above all and in alla mother!

The marriage of her son to Octavia, the emperor's daughter, consummated the hopes and views of Agrippina, and relieving her from maternal anxiety, allowed her to give up her mind entirely to the affairs of state; and owing to her vigorous guidance of the reins of government, the last years of the reign of Claudius were years of almost unequalled prosperity in every respect- and this indolent and imbecile emperor died while the genius and vigour of his wife were giving such illustrations to his reign.

Agrippina has been accused of poisoning her husband, but on no sufficient grounds- his own gluttony was most probably the cause of his death. But that Agrippina's arts seated her son on the throne of the Cæsars, there can be no doubt.

In all this great historical drama, who was the manager, and most efficient actor? woman, or man?

Whose was the superior mind? who was the intellectual agent? Was it the wily Seneca ? the ductile Burrhus? the sordid army? the servile senate? the excitable people? or the consistent, concentrated Agrippina; who, actuated by one all-absorbing feeling, in the pursuit of one great.object, put them all in motion? that feeling was maternal love, that object the empire of the world!

Nero was but eighteen years old when he ascended the throne; and, grateful to her whose genius had placed him there, he resigned the administration of affairs into her hands, and evinced an extraordinary tenderness and submission to his august mother. The senate vied with him in demonstrations of deference to her, and raised her to the priesthood, an assignment at once of power and respect.

The conscript fathers yielded to all her wishes; the Roman people had already been accustomed to seeing her on the imperial tribunal; and Seneca, Burrhus, and Pallas became but the agents of her will. In reference to the repose and prosperity of the empire under her sway, Trajan, in after years, was wont to compare the first five years of Nero's reign with those of Rome's best emperors.

Agrippina must have early discovered Nero's deficiency in that physical sensibility, and those finer sympathies which raise man above the tiger and vulture. She is reported to have said, "The reign of Nero has begun as that of Augustus ended; but when I am gone, it will end as that of Augustus began:"the awful prophecy was soon accomplished. The profound policy by which she endeavoured to prolong her own government, and her watchfulness over the young Britannicus, are sufficient evidences that the son so loved in the perversity of maternal instinct must have

eventually laid bare the inherent egotism and cruelty of his nature.

When, on the occasion of a public reception given to an embassy from the East, Agrippina moved forward to take her usual place beside Nero, he, with officious courtesy and ironical respect, sprang forward and prevented the accomplishment of her intention. After this public insult, Agrippina lost all self-control, and uttered passionate and impolitic words that were soon conveyed to the emperor, and by awakening his fears, let loose his worst passions. After murdering Britannicus to frustrate her designs, imprisoning her in her own palace, and attempting to poison her, a reconciliation took place between Nero and Agrippina, of which the mother was the only dupe, for the world understood the hollowness of her son's professions of affection, and all abandoned her.

Nero was now resolved on the death of his mother, and took great pains in arranging an artful scheme to accomplish it—which was frustrated by Aceronia, who voluntarily received the blow intended for her mistress. Agrippina escaped then, but was soon afterwards murdered by Anicetus, who, commissioned by her son, entered her chamber with a band of soldiers and put an end to her life, after a glorious reign of ten years; during which she was distinguished for personal and intellectual endowments, and gave peace and prosperity to the empire she governed. Her faults belonged to the bad men and the bad age in which she lived the worst on record: her virtues and her genius were her own. She inherited them from Agrippa, the friend and counsellor of Augustus, and from Agrippina, the wife of Germanicus.

The mind of this extraordinary woman was not wholly engrossed by the arts of intrigue or the cares of government; she found time to write her own Memoirs or Commentaries on the events of her time, of which Tacitus availed himself for his historical works. Pliny also quotes from her writings.

ALCESTE,

DAUGHTER of Pelias, and wife of Admetus, king of Thessaly. Her husband was sick, and, according to an oracle, would die, unless some one else made a vow to meet death in his stead. This was done secretly by Alceste, who became ill as Admetus recovered. After her death, Hercules visited Admetus, and promised his friend that he would bring back his wife from the infernal regions. He compelled Pluto to restore Alceste to her husband. Euripides has made this story the subject of a tragedy.

ALCINOE,

DAUGHTER of Polybius the Corinthian, and wife of Amphilochus, fell in love with one Xanthus of the Isle of Samos, who lodged at her house. This is not the strangest thing in the story of her life; the subject of surprise is to see that it was Minerva who inspired her with this disease of love, to punish her because she had not paid

all she had promised to a poor woman who had worked for her. This woman prayed to Minerva to avenge her, and behold her prayers were heard. Alcinoe, by the care of this goddess, became so desperately in love with her lodger, that she left her home and little children, and embarked with him. But during the voyage she reflected upon her conduct; and as she called to mind her young husband and her children, she wept in despair. All the promises of Xanthus to marry her were of no avail to console her grief,—and she threw herself into the sea. This story shows that the ancient heathen had a true sense of the great importance of being just to the poor.

ALEXANDRA,

QUEEN of Judea, widow and successor of Alexander Jannæus, a wise and virtuous princess, who, contrary to the example of her husband, studied to please her subjects, and preserved peace and prosperity during her reign of seven years. She died in the seventy-third year of her age, B. C. 70. | She was the mother of Hyrcanus and Aristobulus, and the latter years of her reign were disturbed by the attempt of her younger son, Aristobulus, to obtain the sovereignty, as he had been exasperated by the favour his mother showed to the sect of the Pharisees, and the authority she allowed them.

ALEXANDRA,

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THE name of the sibyl of Cuma, who is said to have offered to Tarquin II., or, The Proud, king of Rome, B. C. 524, nine books, containing the Roman destinies, and demanded for them three hundred pieces of gold. He derided her, for supposing that he would give so high a price for her books; she went away and burning three of them, returned and asked the same price for the other six; this being again denied, she burnt three more, and offered the remaining three, without lessening her demand. Upon which Tarquin, consulting the pontiffs, was advised to buy them. These books, called the " Sibylline Oracles," were in such esteem, that two magistrates were created to consult them upon extraordinary occasions. The books, and the story about them, were probably fabrications of the priests of Rome, to impose on that superstitious people, and increase their own importance, by occasionally quoting and interpreting these oracles. The story is also of importance in showing the spiritual influence the mind of woman exerted over that proud nation which owed its greatness to the sword. Even there the strength of man was fain to seek aid from the quicker intellect and more refined moral sense of woman.

ANCHITA,

WIFE of Cleombrutus, king of Sparta, was mother of Pausanias, who distinguished himself at the battle of Platea. Afterwards, he disgusted his countrymen by his foolish and arrogant conduct, 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 therefore 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.

DAUGHTER of Hyrcanus, and mother of Aristobulus and Mariamne, wife of Herod the Great, was a woman of superior powers of mind. When Herod appointed Ananel, a person of obscure birth, high-priest, instead of her son Aristobulus, who had a right to that office, her spirited conduct caused him to depose Ananel in favour of Aristobulus. Herod, displeased at her interference, had her confined and guarded in her own palace; but Alexandra, receiving an invitation from Cleopatra to come to Egypt, with her son, attempted to escape with him, in two coffins; they were discovered, however, and brought back. | Herod, jealous of the affection of the Jews for Aristobulus, had him drowned, which so much affected Alexandra, that she at first resolved on committing suicide; but finally decided to live, that she might revenge herself on the murderer. She interested Cleopatra in her cause, who induced Anthony to send for Herod to exculpate himself from the charge, which, by presents and flattery, he succeeded in doing. And when Herod returned he again ordered Alexandra to be confined. But Alexandra showed great terror, if the account be true, and cowardice, when the jealousy of Herod induced him to order the death of his wife Mari-clared that they would be victors if the most amne. Though she 'knew the innocence of her daughter, she was so much alarmed for fear she should share the same fate, that she sought every opportunity of traducing her, and praising the justice of Herod.

After the death of Mariamne, Herod's grief so overcame him, that he lost his health, and was

ANDROCLEA,

CELEBRATED for her love to her country, was a native of Thebes in Boeotia. That state was at war with the Orchomenians, and the oracle de

noble among them would suffer a voluntary death. Antioponus, father of Androclea, the most illustrious person in Thebes, was not disposed to sacrifice himself. Androclea and her sister Alcis fulfilled this duty in their father's stead; and the grateful Thebans erected the statue of a lion to their memory in the temple of Diana.

ANDROMACHE,

WIFE of the valiant Hector, son of Priam king of Troy, and the mother of Astyanax, was daughter of Eetion, king of Thebes, in Cilicia. After the death of Hector, and the destruction of Troy, B. C. 1184, she was given to Pyrrhus, son of Achilles, and one of the most celebrated Greek warriors, who married her. Helenus, son of Priam, was also a captive to Pyrrhus, and having given him advice, which resulted favourably, Pyrrhus bestowed Andromache upon him, with part of the country of Epirus. She had children by Pyrrhus; and some authors are of opinion that all the kings of Epirus, to that Pyrrhus who made war against the Romans, were descended from a son of Andromache. This princess had seven brothers, who were killed by Achilles, together with their father, in one day. One author tells us, that she accompanied Priam when he went to desire Achilles to sell him the body of Hector; and that to move him to greater compassion, she carried her son with her, who was an infant. She was of a large stature, if the poets are good authority; but though her beauty of person would never have made her celebrated like Helen, the purity of her mind and the beauty of her character have given her a much nobler celebrity. The tragedy of Euripides is a monument to her memory; and her dialogue with Hector in the Sixth Book of the Iliad is one of the most beautiful parts of that poem.

ANDROMEDA,

WAS daughter of Cepheus, king of Ethiopia and of Cassiopeia. Cassiopeia having boasted that her daughter surpassed the Nereides, if not Juno herself, in beauty, the offended goddesses called on Neptune, their father, to revenge the insult. He not only inundated the territory of Ethiopia, but sent a horrid sea-monster which threatened universal destruction. The oracle declared that the wrath of Neptune could be appeased only by the delivery of Andromeda to the monster. In this extremity Perseus beheld her when he was returning from his victory over Me

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ANTIGONE,

WAS daughter of Edipus, king of Thebes, by his sister Jocasta. This incestuous union brought a curse on the innocent Antigone; yet she never failed in her duty to her father, but attended him in his greatest misfortunes. She was slain by the usurper Creon, whose son Hæmon, being in love with her, killed himself upon her tomb. Her death was avenged on Creon by Theseus, and her name has been immortalized in a tragedy by Sophocles. She lived about, B. C. 1250.

ANTONIA MAJOR,

THE eldest daughter of Marc Antony and Octavia, sister to Augustus, was born B. C. 39. She married L. Domitius. Some of the most illustrious persons in Rome were descended from her. Also it was her misfortune that the infamous Messalina and Nero were her grandchildren.

ANTONIA MINOR,

SISTER of the preceding, was born B. C. 38 or 37. She married Drusus, brother of Tiberius, whose mother, Livia, had married the emperor Augustus: After a victorious campaign in Germany, Drusus died when on his way to Rome to receive the reward of his exploits. The despair of Antonia at this affliction knew no bounds. Their union and virtues, in a dissolute court, had been the admiration of Rome. Three children, Germanicus, Claudius, afterwards emperor, and Livilla, were the fruits of this marriage.

Antonia, though widowed in the bloom of beauty and the prime of life, refused all the splendid connections which courted her acceptance; and, rejecting the solicitations of Augustus to reside at his court, she passed her time in retirement, and in educating her children. She gained the respect and confidence of Tiberius, who had succeeded Augustus, by informing him of a conspiracy formed by his favourite Sejanus against his life.

Domestic calamities seemed to pursue this princess. Her son Germanicus, endowed with every noble quality, adored by the army, the idol of the people, and the presumptive heir to the throne, died suddenly in Syria, probably poisoned by order

of the emperor. Agrippina, wife of Germanicus, returned to Rome, bearing in an urn the ashes of her husband, and joined with Antonia in demanding, but in vain, vengeance of the Senate.

Claudius, her younger son, dishonoured the family by his stupidity and vices; and Livilla was convicted of adultery and the murder of her husband. She was given up by Tiberius to Antonia, who, with the spirit of the ancient Romans, confined her in a room and left her to perish of hunger.

Antonia died in the early part of the reign of her grandson Caligula, who, by his neglect and open contempt, is supposed to have hastened her death. She was probably about seventy-five when she died. Of her private life little is known. She was celebrated for her beauty, chastity, and integrity. Pliny speaks of a temple dedicated to her.

ARETAPHILA,

OF Cyrene, wife of Phædimus, a nobleman of that place, lived about, B. C. 120. Nicocrates, having usurped the government of Cyrene, caused Phædimus to be slain, and forcibly espoused his widow, of whose beauty he had become enamoured. Cyrene groaned under the cruelty of the tyrant, who was gentle and kind only to Aretaphila. Determined to free her country from this cruel yoke, Aretaphila obtained several poisons in order to try their strength. Her drugs were discovered, and her design suspected. Calbia, mother of Nicocrates, insisted that she should be tortured, and after some delay Nicocrates consented. But even in the extremity of her anguish, Aretaphila persisted in her first explanation, that the drugs were intended merely to compose love | philters for the preservation of his affections. Nicocrates afterwards entreated her forgiveness, but she remained inexorable.

Aretaphila had one daughter by her first marriage, whom she had united to Lysander, brother of Nicocrates, and through whom she persuaded Lysander to rebel against the tyrant. He was successful in his attempt, and Nicocrates was deposed and assassinated. But after Lysander's accession to the throne, he neglected Aretaphila's advice, and imitated the cruelties and the tyranny of his brother.

Disappointed in her son-in-law, she sent secretly to Anabus, a prince of Lybia, to ask him to invade Cyrene, and free it of its oppressors. When Anabus had arrived near Cyrene, Aretaphila, in a secret conference with him, promised to place Lysander in his hands, if he would retain him prisoner as a tyrant and usurper. For this service, she promised him magnificent gifts and a present in money. She then insinuated into the mind of Lysander, suspicions of the loyalty of his nobles and captains, and prevailed on him to seek an interview with Anabus, in order to make peace. Lysander and Aretaphila accordingly set forward unarmed and unattended to the camp of Anabus. When they approached it, Lysander's courage failed him, and he would have retreated. But his mother-in-law urged him on, saying,

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Again, when on the point of meeting Anabus, Lysander hesitated; but Aretaphila seized his hand, and drawing him forward, gave him up to Anabus.

The tyrant was detained in the camp till the stipulated presents arrived. The people of Cyrene, when they learned what had happened, flocked in crowds to the camp of Anabus, and throwing themselves at the feet of Aretaphila, they acknowledged her as their saviour and their queen. Lysander was taken back to the city, fastened in a leather bag, and thrown into the sea; and Calbia was burnt at the stake. It was then decreed that the administration of the government should be given to Aretaphila, assisted by a council of the nobles. But she declined the honour, preferring the privacy of domestic life. She retired to her own habitation amidst the prayers and blessings of the people.

ARETE,

WAS the daughter of Aristippus of Cyrene, who flourished about, B. C. 380, and was the founder of the Cyrenaic system of philosophy. Arete was carefully instructed by her father; and after his death she taught his system with great success. She had a son, Aristippus, to whom she communicated the philosophy she received from her father.

ARSINOE,

DAUGHTER of Ptolemy I., son of Lagus, king of Egypt, and of Berenice, was married to Lysimachus, king of Thrace. Lysimachus fell in battle in Asia, and his kingdom of Macedonia was taken possession of by Seleucus. Seven months afterwards, Seleucus was assassinated by Ptolemy Ceraunus, elder brother of Ptolemy Philadelphus, who also put to death the two children of his halfsister Arsinoe, after he had inveigled her into a marriage with him. Their mother he then banished to the island of Samothracia, where she remained till she was summoned to Egypt to become the second wife of her brother, Ptolemy II. Philadelphus, king of that country, who reigned from B. C. 284 to 276. This is the first instance of the unnatural custom of incestuous marriages which prevailed among the Greek kings of Egypt. Though Arsinoe was now quite advanced, her brother was much attached to her, and called one of the districts of Egypt after her. She is said to have founded a city, called by her own name, on the banks of the Achelous, in Ætolia.

ARSINOE,

A DAUGHTER of Lysimachus, king of Thrace, was the first wife of Ptolemy Philadelphus, king of Egypt, by whom she had three children, Ptolemy, Lysimachus, and Berenice. Suspecting her of plotting against his life, Ptolemy banished her, and she fled to Cyrene, where she was kindly received by Magas, half-brother of the king of

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Egypt. Magas married her, and adopted her when he saw it, "How much money changed into daughter, Berenice. Berenice was betrothed to Demetrius, son of Demetrius Poliorcetes, who came from Macedonia to marry her; but instead, transferred his affections to Arsinoe, which led to his assassination, and the marriage of Berenice to Ptolemy III., who was probably her brother, by which the kingdoms of Egypt and Cyrene were again united. The history of this princess is very confused; and there is much difference of opinion on the subject.

ARSINOE,

DAUGHTER of Ptolemy III. Euergetes, was married to her brother, Ptolemy IV. Philopater; she is called Eurydice by Justin, and Cleopatra by Livy. She was present at the battle of Rhaphia, a city not far from Gaza, in Palestine, fought between her husband and Antiochus the Great, B. C. 217, and is said to have contributed not a little to gain the victory. Ptolemy afterwards, seduced by the charms of Agathoclea, ordered Arsinoe to be put to death.

ARTEMISIA,

DAUGHTER of Lygdamis, became queen of Caria, in Asia Minor, when her husband died. According to Herodotus, she was one of the most distinguished women of antiquity. She attended Xerxes in his expedition against Greece, B. C. 480, and furnished five ships, which were only inferior to those of the Sidonians. In the council of war before the battle of Salamis, she strongly represented to Xerxes the folly of risking a naval engagement, and the event justified her opinion. In the battle she displayed so much courage, that Xerxes exclaimed, "The men behave like women, and the women like men!" To her Xerxes intrusted his children, that they might be safely transported to his kingdom, when, agreeably to her advice, he abandoned Greece, to return to Asia.

These great qualities did not secure her from the weakness of love; she was passionately fond of a man of Abydos, whose name was Dardanus, and was so enraged at his neglect of her, that she put out his eyes while he was asleep. This, however, instead of diminishing her passion, seemed to increase it. At length she consulted the Delphic oracle, to learn how to conquer her love; and being advised to go to Leucadia, the ordinary resort of desperate lovers, she, like the poet Sappho, took the fatal leap from that promontory, and was drowned and buried there. Many writers confound this Artemisia with the wife of Mausolus, who lived some time after.

ARTEMISIA II.,

THE queen of Caria, wife of Mausolus, immortalized by her attachment to her husband, built for him, at his death, the celebrated and stately tomb, that was considered one of the seven wonders of the world. It was called the Mausoleum, and from it all other magnificent sepulchres have received the same name. It was built by four architects, and the expense of its construction was enormous; the philosopher Anaxagoras exclaimed,

Artemisia frequently visited the place where her husband's ashes were deposited; mixed the earth that covered him with water, and drank it, for the purpose, as she said, of becoming the living tomb of her departed lord. She offered the richest prizes to those who should excel in composing a panegyric on his virtues. Yet in the midst of all her grief, she did not suffer it to interfere with the duties of her elevated position, but took the command of her army in a war against the Rhodians, in which she is said to have shown undaunted bravery. She took possession of the city of Rhodes, and treated the inhabitants with great severity. She caused two statues to be erected: one of the city of Rhodes, habited like a slave; and the other of herself, branding the city with a hot iron. Vitruvius adds, that the Rhodians never dared to remove that trophy from its place; such an attempt being prohibited by their religion; but they built a wall around it, which prevented it from being seen. She lived in the fourth century before Christ.

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Or Miletus, and daughter of Axiochus, lived principally at Athens. She gained the affections of Pericles, who, according to Plutarch, divorced his first wife, with her own consent, in order to marry Aspasia. We are told little of her beauty, but much of her mental powers and cultivation. In eloquence, she surpassed all her contemporaries. She was the friend, and, according to Plato, the instructress of Socrates, who gives her the high praise of "having made many good orators, and one eminent over all the Greeks, Pericles, the son

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