Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

she could not be his wife, unless she resolved to is true, indeed, that in the Carthaginian war our lives as he did. This she cheerfully agreed to, mothers assisted the republic, which was at that -assumed the habit of the order, and accompanied time reduced to the utmost distress; but neither him everywhere to public entertainments and their houses, their lands, nor their moveables, other places, which was not customary with the were sold for this service; some rings, and a few Grecian womenti She wrote several tragedies, phi-jewels, furnished the supply. Nor was it conlosophical hypotheses, and reasonings and ques-straint or violence that forced those from them; stions proposed to Theodorus, the atheist, but none of ther writings are extant. She had two daughters by Crates: on to rovat n' „nota)! -tune out Me dizo mm 028 I mid of mid Lorivla

1

what they contributed, was the voluntary offering of generosity. What danger at present threatens Rome? "If the Gauls or Parthians were encamped on the banks of the Tiber or the Arno, you should fühler notado foHIPPODAMIA orgie of ero find us not less zealous in the defence of our coun1 Was the daughter of Ehomaus, king of Pisa, in try, than our mothers were before us; but it beElis. An oracle had predicted to the king that he comes not us, and we are resolved that we will would be murdered by his son-in-law; and there- not be in any way concerned in a civil war. Neifore he declared that all the suitors of his daughter ther Marius, nor Cæsar, nor Pompey, ever thought should contend with him in a chariot-race, and of obliging us to take part in the domestic troubles that if he defeated them, he should be allowed to which their ambition had raised; nay, nor did put them to death. In this way he slew thirteen ever Sylla himself, who first set up tyranny in or seventeen suitors, when Pelops, by bribing the Rome; and yet you assume the glorious title of driver of the king's chariot, had him overturned reformers of the state, a title which will turn to in the middle of the course, and he lost his life. your eternal infamy, if, without the least regard Hippodamia married Pelops, and became the mo-to the laws of equity, you persist in your wicked ther of Atreus and Thyestes. She killed herself resolution of plundering those of their lives and from grief, at being accused of having caused fortunes, who have given you no just cause of these sons to commit fratricide,arofon 71 15dteob offence." red daug at hus rod bogatih „pofol to moɔre Struck with' the ́ justness of her speech, Fét B'ozyło doidw HORTENSIA,ɔ ɔdi quisd ret offended at its boldness, the triumvirs ordered the .99A ROMAN lady, daughter of Hortensius, the oral women to be driven away; but the populace grow tor, was born B. C. 85. She inherited her father's ing tumultuous in their favour, they were afraid eloquence, as a speech h preserved by Appian de- of an insurrection, and reduced the list of those monstrates; which, for elegance of language, and who should be taxed to four hundred.inda justness of thought, would do honour to Ciceró or ebida amrem elemm2 ;etodat urf be Demosthenesvoy a refm29.I was 2 1997. T to ni and formel to HULDAH, og bol to The triumvirs of Rome, in want of a large sum DA JEWISH prophetess, in the time of king Josiah. of money for carrying on a war, drew up a list of Her husband was Shallum, keeper of the royal fourteen hundred of the wealthiest women, intend- wardrobe, an office of high honour. We have but ing to tax theme The women, after having in vain a glimpse of Huldah, just sufficient to show, that tried every means to evade so great an innovation, when the Jewish nation was given up to idolatry at last chose Hortensia for a speaker, and went and ignorance of the Good, still the lamp of divine with her to the market-place, where she addressed truth was kept burning in the heart of a woman. the triumvirs, while they were administering jus- When Josiah, who was one of the few good kings tice, in the following words: te 8976# oda y who ruled over Judah, came to the throne, he 9d The unhappy women you see here, imploring found the Holy Temple partly given up to idolayour justice and bounty, would never have pre-trous rites, partly falling into ruins. In repairing the temple, the copy of the Book of the Law was found among the rubbish, and carried to Josinh. The king and his counsellors seem to have been ignorant of this book; and the king was struck with consternation, when he heard the law read, and felt how it had been violated. He imme diately sent three of his chief officers, one of whom was Hilkiah, the high priest, to "enquire of the Lord concerning the words of the book." The officers went to "Huldah, the prophetess, (now she dwelt in Jerusalem, in the college,) and communed with her."id roq tadt folnojaý et ti of Would the high priest have gone to consult a woman, had not her repute for wisdom and piety been well known, and considered superior to what was possessed by any man in Jerusalem? Her place of residence was in "the college,” amông the most learned of the and, as a prophetess or priestess, her response her to have been worthy of the high office she held. How bold was her rebuke of sin,how clear her prophetic

to appear in this had they not first sume ute of all other means their natural modesty could suggést. Though our appearing here may beem contrary to the rules prescribed to our sex, which we have hitherto strictly observed, yet the loss of our fathers, children, brothers, and husbands, may sufficiently excuse us, e especially when their unhappy deaths are made a pretence for our further misfortunes. You plead that they had offended and provoked you; but what injury have we women done, that we must be impoverished ? If we are blameable as the men, why not proscribe us also? Have we declared your enemies to your bountry? Have we suborned your soldiers, raised troops against you, or opposed you in pursuit of these honours (and offices which you claim? We prétend not to govern the republic, nor is it our ambition which has drawn our present misfortune on our heads; empires, dignities and honours, are not for us; why should we, then, contribute to a war in which we have no manner of interest? It

T

[ocr errors][merged small]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

Iant riod obi o non i

IPHIGENIA

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

II 6: 1 WAS daughter of Agamemnon, leader of the Greek forces against Troy, and of Clytemnestra, his wife, When the Greeks, going to the Trojan war, were detained at Aulis by adverse winds, they {were told, by an oracle, that Iphigenia must be sacrificed to appease Diana, who was incensed [ against Agamemnon for killing one of her stags. The father was horror-struck, and commanded his herald to disband the forces. The other generals interfered, and Agamemnon at last consented to the sacrifice, As Iphigenia was tenderly loved by her mother, the Greeks sent for her on pretence of giving her in marriage to Achilles. When Iphigenia came to Aulis, and saw the preparations for the sacrifice, she implored the protection of her father, but in vain. Calchas, the Grecian priest, took the knife, and was about to strike the fatal blow, when Diana relented, caught away Iphigenia, who suddenly disappeared, and a goat of uncommon size and beauty was found in her place. This supernatural change animated the, Greeks; the wind suddenly became favourable, and the combined fleet set sail from Aulis. Calchas, the Grecian priest, seems to have acted with the same humane policy, in this affair that the Ibishop of Beauvois did in the case of Joan of Arc. This story of Iphigenia has furnished materials for several tragedies; those of Euripides world-renowned. bod zid Ho tro bmari migod oft e the esɛand-ped a mherst kam ↑, two „Laneu PC to emetre, a ft [292 951 919dwal sit to godt no 919# yedi bura

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

-are

[ocr errors]

2 Mi doi vor tas WIEE of Heber the Kenite, killed Sisera, general of the Canaanitish army, who had filed to her tent, and while sleeping there, Jael drove a large nail through his temple. Her story is related in the fourth chapter of Judges, B. C, 1285.0 ** •f

[ocr errors]

JEMIMA, KEZIA, KERENHAPPUCH: 54:THESE three were the daughters of Job, born to him after he was restored to the favour of God and man.

We give their names, not for any thing they did, but for the sentiment taught in this sacred history concerning family relations and female elaims. We are instructed, by the particularity with which these daughters are named, that they were considered the crowning blessing God bestowed on his servant Job, And Job showed his integrity as a man, and his wisdom as a father, in providing justly for these his fair daughters. He

T

gave them inheritance among their brethreniz” that is, secured to them an equal share of his property, and left them free to enjoy it as they chose. tga chui mweb how we red Fate of 2Ļ ei blad ted of poq sport LED War anwyth

aizado JEZEBEL, on them adi DAUGHTER of Ethbaal, king of Tyre and Sidon, was the wife of Ahab, king of Israel. She seduced him into the worship of Baal, and persécuted the prophets of the Lord. Enraged at the death of the prophets of Baal, slain by the command of Elisha, she resolved on his destruction; but he escaped her vengeance? Ahab, being very desirous of obtaining a vineyard belonging to Naboth the Jezreelite, which was close by the palace of the king, offered the owner a better one in its stead; but Naboth refused to give up the inheritance which had descended to him from his fathers. In consequence of this disappointment, Ahab came into his house sad and dispirited; Jezebel, discóvering the reason of his depression, procured the death of Naboth, and Ahab took possession of the vineyard. In consequence of this act of wickedness, Elijah foretold the sudden and violent death both of: Ahab and Jezebel, which occurred three years after. The story of this wicked woman' shows the power of female influence, and how per nicious it may be when exerted for evil over the mind of man, Happily for the world, there have been few Jezebels, and therefore the wickedness of this one appears so awful that it has made her name to be forever abhorred. She died B. C. 884. or t T-Padut ord

JOCASTA,

[ocr errors]

DAUGHTER (of Creon, king of Thebes, and wife of Laius, was mother to Edipus, whom she afterwards ignorantly married, and had by him Polynices and Eteocles, who having killed one another in a battle for the succession, Jocasta destroyed herself in grief. She flourished about B. C. 1266. Her son Edipus had been given by Laius, his father, to a shepherd to destroy, as an oracle had foretold that he should be killed by his own son. But the shepherd, not liking to kill the child, left him to perish by hunger; and; he was found by Phorbus, shepherd to Polybus, king of Corinth, who brought him up, and Edipus unwittingly fulfilled the oracle. Sophocles has written a tragedy founded on this story. trilt of* „* F***w**

[merged small][ocr errors]

-WIFE of Amram, and mother of Miriam, Aaron, and Moses, has stamped her memory indelibly on the heart of Jew and Christian. She was grand daughter of Levi; her husband was also of the same family or tribe; their exact relationship is not decided, though the probability is that they were cousins-germano zre" rod fod-init ode

As Amram is only mentioned incidentally, we have no authority for concluding he took any part in the great crisis of Jochebed's life; but as their children were all distinguished for talents and piety, it is reasonable to conclude that this married pair were congenial in mind and heart. Still, though both were pious believers in the promises made by God to their forefathers, it was only the

wife who had the opportunity of manifesting by hopes. That the preservation of Moses, and his her deeds her superior wisdom and faith.

Nearly three hundred years had gone by since Jacob and his sons went down into Egypt. Their posterity was now a numerous people, but held in the most abject bondage. Pharaoh, a king "who knew not Joseph," endeavouring to extirpate the hated race, had given strict commands to destroy every male child born of a Hebrew mother.

Jochebed had borne two children before this bloody edict was promulgated; Miriam, a daughter of thirteen, and Aaron, a little son of three years old. These were safe; but now God gives her another son, "a goodly child;" and the mother's heart must have nearly fainted with grief and terror, as she looked on her helpless babe, and knew he was doomed by the cruel Pharaoh to be cast forth to the monsters of the Nile. No ray of hope from the help of man was visible. The Hebrew men had been bowed beneath the lash of their oppressors, till their souls had become abject as their toils. Jochebed could have no aid from her husband's superior physical strength and worldly knowledge. The man was overborne; the superior spiritual insight of the woman was now to lead; her mother's soul had been gifted with a strength the power of Pharaoh could not subdue; her moral sense had a sagacity that the reason of man could never have reached. Thus, in the history of the human race, woman has ever led the forlorn hope of the world's moral progress. Jochebed was then such a leader. She must have had faith in God's promise of deliverance for her people; every man-child brought a new ray of hope, as the chosen deliverer. She had a "goodly son" he should not die. So "she hid him three months." Language can never express the agony which must have wrung the mother's heart during those months, when each dawning day might bring the death-doom of her nursling son. At length, she can hide him no longer. Another resource must be tried. She must trust him to God's providence; God could move the compassion even of the Egyptian heart. But the mother has her work to perform; all that she can do, she must do. So she gathers her materials, and as she sits weaving an "ark of bulrushes, and daubing it with slime," her slight fingers trembling with the unwonted task, who that saw her could have dreamed she was building a structure of more importance to mankind than all the pyramids of Egypt? That in this mother's heart there was a divine strength with which all the power of Pharaoh would strive in vain to cope? That on the events depending upon her work rested the memory of this very Pharaoh, and not on the monuments he was rearing at Raamses?

She finished her "ark of bulrushes," and in the frail structure laid down her infant son. Then concealing the basket among the flags on the banks of the Nile, she placed her daughter Miriam to watch what should become of the babe, while she, no doubt, retired to weep and pray. The whole plan was in perfect accordance with the peculiar nature of woman-and women only were the actors in this drama of life and life's holiest

preparation for his great mission as the Deliverer of Israel, and the Lawgiver for all men who worship Jehovah, were effected by the agency of woman, displays her spiritual gifts in such a clear light as must make them strikingly apparent; and that their importance in the progress of mankind, will be frankly acknowledged by all Christian men, seems certain whenever they will, laying aside their masculine prejudices, carefully study the word of God. These events occurred B. C. 1535. See Exodus, chap. I. and II.

JUDITH,

Or the tribe of Reuben, daughter of Meravi, and widow of Manasseh, lived in Bethuliah, when it was besieged by Holofernes. She was beautiful and wealthy, and lived very much secluded. Being informed that the chief of Bethulia had promised to deliver it in five days, she sent for the elders and remonstrated with them, and declared her intention of leaving the city for a short time. Judith then prayed, dressed herself in her best attire, and pretending to have fled from the city, went, with her maid, to the camp of Holofernes. He was immediately captivated by her, and promised her his protection. Judith continued with Holofernes, going out of his camp every night; but the fourth night Holofernes sent for her to stay with him. She went gorgeously apparelled; eating and drinking not with Holofernes, but only what her maid prepared for her. Holofernes, transported with joy at sight of her, drank immoderately, and fell into a sound sleep. Evening being come, the servants departed, leaving Judith and her maid alone with him. Judith ordered the maid to stand without and watch, and putting up a prayer to God, she took Holofernes' sabre, and seized him by his hair, saying, "Strengthen me this day, O Lord!" Then she struck him twice on the neck, and cut off his head, which she told her maid to put in a bag-then wrapping the body in the curtains of the bed, they went, as usual, out of the camp, and returned to Bethulia, where the head of Holofernes being displayed on the gates of the city, struck his army with dismay, and they were entirely defeated. The high-priest Joachim came from Jerusalem to Bethulia to compliment Judith. Everything that had belonged to Holofernes was given to her, and she consecrated his arms and the curtains of his bed to the Lord. Judith set her maid free, and died in Bethulia at the age of one hundred and five, was buried with her husband, and all the people lamented her seven days. The " Song of Judith," as recorded in the Apocrypha, is a poem of much power and beauty.

JULIA,

DAUGHTER of Julius Cæsar and Cornelia, was one of the most attractive and most virtuous of the Roman ladies. She was first married to Cornelius Cæpion, but divorced from him to become the wife of Pompey. Pompey was so fond of her as to neglect, on her account, politics and arms. She died B. C. 53. Had she lived, there would not have been war between Cæsar and Pompey.

JULIA,

DAUGHTER of Augustus and Scribonia, was the wife successively of Metellus, Agrippa, and Tiberius. She was banished for her debaucheries by ⚫ her father, and died of want in the beginning of the reign of Tiberius, A. D. 15. Her daughter, Julia, was equally licentious.

L.

LAIS,

A CELEBRATED courtezan, was supposed to be the daughter of the courtezan Timandra and Alcibiades. She was born at Hyrcania, in Sicily, and being carried into Greece by Nicias, the Athenian general, began her conquests by music. Almost all the celebrated courtezans of antiquity were originally musicians; and that art was considered almost a necessary female accomplishment.

Lais spent most of her life at Corinth, and from that is often called the Corinthian. Diogenes the cynic was one of her admirers, and also Aristip-| pus, another celebrated philosopher. This woman sometimes ridiculed the fidelity of the philosophers she had captivated. "I do not understand what is meant by the austerity of philosophers," she said, "for with this fine name, they are as much in my power as the rest of the Athenians."

After having corrupted nearly all the youth of Corinth and Athens, she went into Thessaly, to see a lover of hers; where she is said to have been stoned by the women, jealous of her power over their husbands, B. C. 340, in the temple of Venus.

LAMIA,

THE most celebrated female flute-player of antiquity, was regarded as a prodigy-from her beauty, wit, and skill in her profession. The honours she received, which are recorded by several authors, particularly by Plutarch and Athenæus, are sufficient testimonies of her great power over the passions of her hearers. Her claim to admiration from her personal charms, does not entirely depend upon the fidelity of historians, since an exquisite engraving of her head, upon amethyst, is preserved in a collection at Paris, which authenticates the account of her beauty.

As she was a great traveller, her reputation soon became very extensive. Her first journey from Athens, the place of her birth, was into Egypt, whither she was drawn by the fame of a flute-player of that country. Her genius and beauty procured for her the notice of Ptolemy, and she became his mistress; but in the conflict between Ptolemy and Demetrius Poliorcetes, for the island of Cyprus, about B. C. 332, Ptolemy being defeated, his wives, domestics, and military stores fell into the hands of Demetrius.

The celebrated Lamia was among the captives on this occasion, and Demetrius, who was said to have conquered as many hearts as cities, conceived so ardent a passion for her, that from a sovereign he was transformed into a slave-though

her beauty was in the decline, and Demetrius, the handsomest prince of his time, was much younger than herself.

At her instigation, he conferred such extraordinary benefits on the Athenians, that they rendered him divine honours; and, as an acknowledgment of the influence Lamia had exercised in their favour, they dedicated a temple to her, under the name of "Venus Damia."

LAODICE,

DAUGHTER of Priam, king of Troy, and of his wife Hecuba, who fell in love with Acamas, son of Theseus, who came to Troy to demand the restoration of Helen to Menelaus. She had a son, called Munitus, by him. She afterwards married Helicaon, son of Antenor and Telephus, king of Mysia. She is said to have thrown herself from the top of a tower, when Troy was taken by the Greeks.

LAODICE,

A SISTER of Mithridates the Great, king of Pontus, flourished about B. C. 120. She first married Ariarthes VII., king of Cappadocia; but he being assassinated by order of Mithridates, she next married Nicomedes, king of Bithynia, who had taken possession of Cappadocia. She was put to death by Mithridates, for plotting his assassination. Laodice was also the name of a queen of Cappadocia, who was put to death by the people, for poisoning five of her children.

LAODICE,

A SISTER of Antiochus II., king of Syria, who also became his wife, and had two sons by him. She murdered Berenice, daughter of Ptolemy of Egypt, another wife of Antiochus, after having poisoned the king. She then suborned Artemon, who resembled Antiochus, to represent him. Artemon, accordingly, pretended to be indisposed, and, as king, called all the ministers, and recommended to them Seleucus, surnamed Callamachus, son of Laodice, as his successor. It was then reported that the king had died suddenly, and Laodice placed her son on the throne, B. C. 246. She was put to death by command of Ptolemy Euergetes of Egypt. The city of Laodicea received its name in honour of this queen. There are several other women of that name mentioned in ancient history.

One of these, the wife of a king of Pontus, was renowned for her beauty, and the magnificence of her court. But losing her only child, a daughter, by death, Laodice retired to her inner apartments, shut herself up, and was never seen afterwards, except by her nearest friends.

LEAH,

ELDEST daughter of Laban, the Syrian, who deceived Jacob into an intercourse, then termed marriage, with this unsought, unloved woman. She became mother of six sons, named as heads of six of the tribes of Israel. Among these was Levi, whose posterity inherited the priesthood, and Judah, the law-giver, from whom descended

her. He divorced his wife Scribonia, and, with the approbation of the augurs, married Livia. She enjoyed, from this moment, the entire confidence of Augustus, and gained a complete ascendency over his mind by an implicit obedience to his will by never exe pressing a desire to learn his secrets and by seeming ignorant of his infidelities. Her children by Drusus she persuaded Augustus to adopt as his own; and after the death of Drusus the eldest son, Augustus appointed Tiberius his successor. The respect and love of Augustus for Livia ended only with his life. As he lay dying, he turned his gaze on her, drew her in the grasp of death towards him, and said Livia, be happy, and remember how we have loved." but to venga,b odi

"Shiloh," or the Messiah. These were great primediately resolved to
vileges; yet dearly did Lesh pay the penalty of
her high estate, obtained by selfish artifice, in
which modesty, truth, and sisterly affection, were
alluviolated: Jacobjcher/husband, “hated her,"
and she knew it ; knew, too, his heart was wholly
given to his other wife, her obeautiful, virtuous
sister; what earthly punishment could have been
so intensely grievous to Leah? As her name im
plies, "tender-eyed," she was probably affectionate,
but unprincipled and of a weak mind, or she would
never have taken the place of her sister, whom she
knew Jacob had served seven years to gain: Leah
loved her husband devotedly, but though she was
submissive and tender, and bore him many sons,
a great claim on his favour, yet he never appeared
to have felt for her either esteem or affection.o

Jacob had sought to unite himself with Rachel
in the holy union of one man with one woman,
which only is true marriage; but the artifice of
Laban, and the passion of Leah, desecrated this
union, and by introducing polygamy into the
family of the chosen Founder of the house of
Israel, opened the way for the worst of evils to
that nation, the voluptuousness and idolatry which.
finally destroyed it. A treacherous sister, a for-
ward woman, an unloved wife, Leah has left a
name unhonoured and unsung. She was married
about B. C. 1758.
1: vi atro

[ocr errors]
[merged small][ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

Livia has been accused of having involved ind one common ruin the heirs and nearest relations d of Augustus, and also of poisoning her husbandthat her son might receive the kingdom sooner ;. but these accusations seem to be unfounded. By her husband's will she was instituted co-heiress with Tiberius, adopted as his daughter, and directed to assume the name of Livia Augustad On the deification of Augustus, she became the priestess of the new god. [1912 fotossallo I

Tiberius, her son, and the successor to Augus→ tús, treated her with great neglect and ingratiĮ tude, and allowed her no share in the government. She died A. D. 29; and Tiberius would not allowe any public or private honours to be paid to her memory. Tacitus speaks of her as being strictly moral, but says she was "an imperious mother, að compliant wife, a match for her husband in art,and her son in dissimulation." But if she was strictly moral," she must have been far worthier than her son or her husband.

[ocr errors]

A COURTEZAN of Athens, took an active part in the conspiracy of Harmodius and Aristogiton, against Hipparchus, son of Pisistratus. She was arrested, and put to the torture by Hippias, the brother of Hipparchus, but she refused to betray her accomplices. However, fearful that her reso lution would not endure against the torments she was suffering, she bit through her tongue, and spat it in the face of her tormentor. When the A NOTORIOUS woman at Rome, a favourite of Athenians recovered their liberty, they erected to Nero, the emperor. She poisoned Claudius and♂ her honour the statue of a lion without a tongue. Britannicus, and at last attempted to destroyd She lived about B. C. 505, 10m 10% amat of a obNero himself, for which she was executed.Una Immo

[ocr errors][merged small]

AN Athenian courtezan, who lived about B. C. 350, became a convert to the philosophy of Epicurus. She married Metrodorus, one of the prin cipal disciples of Epicurus, and had a son by him, whom Epicurus commended to the notice and regard of his executors. She wrote in defence of the Epicurean philosophy, against Theophrastus, one of the principal of the peripatetic sect. The book is said by Cicero to have been written in a polite and elegant style. From her love of letters, she was drawn by Theodorus, the painter, in a posture of meditation.

LIVIA,

DAUGHTER of Livius Drusus Calidianus, married Tiberius Claudius Nero, by whom she had two sons, Drusus and the emperor Tiberius. Her husband was attached to the cause of Antony; and as he fled from the danger with which he was threatened by Octavianus, afterwards the emperor Augustus, Livia was seen by Octavianus, who im

LOCUSTA, og tal

LUCRETIA.

The 19 [h] 1971 THIS celebrated female was the daughter of }} Lucretius, and the wife of Collatinus, an officer of rank; who, at the siege of Ardes, in the course of conversation, unfortunately boasted of the virtues ›› she possessed. Several other young men likewise expressed an entire confidence in the chastity and virtue of their wives. A wager was the conse-quence of this conversation; and it was agreed that Sextus, the son of Tarquin, should go to Rome, for the purpose of seeing how the different! females were employed. Upon his arrival at the capital, he found all the other ladies occupied in paying visits, or receiving different guests; but, { when he went to the house of Collatinus, Lucretia/ was bewailing the absence of her husband, and directing her household affairs. As Sextus was? distantly related to Collatinus, and son of the monarch who reigned upon the throne, Lucretia entertained him with that elegance and hospitality due to a man of such elevated rank. If the person of this charming woman excited brutal passions

[ocr errors]
« AnteriorContinuar »