226 THE FEMALE SCULPTOR. 



by stealth, tlie gi*eat men who came in the evening to converse with 

 her master, she was initiated into the mysteries of the art of sculpture. 



What is wonderful in her history is, that the love of fame, under 

 circumstances apparently the least congenial took possession of her 

 in the lowest rank of human life.* She began at first by conceiving 

 the most lively admiration for the works of the celebrated man whom 

 she served : but soon she was tormented with the desire to be one 

 day ap])lauded by him whom she regarded almost to adoration. 

 The following was the stratagem to which she had recourse, and 

 which she confided to a very skilful artist, who frequented the house of 

 her master. She begged him to give her some lessons secretly, in the 

 short intervals that her domestic occupations allowed her. The 

 physician mentioned above was let into this important secret, and 

 immediately he declared himself her Maecenas. f This learned 

 philanthrojiist wished to contribute to the expenses of an instruction 

 as long as it was expensive. On her part, the diligent Maria neg- 

 lected nothing to render the services rendered to her by her two 

 benefactors profitable. Never did she relax from that passionate 

 emulation which was completely her master, and the effects of which 

 it was impossible for her to diminish. Her activity knew no relaxa- 

 tion : an unknown impulse seemed to direct all her faculties towards 

 the honourable goal to which she wished to attain. 



Maria had one of those powerful imaginations in which all nature 

 seems in a certain way to be reflected. One is particularly surprised 



♦ Gray, in his beautiful " Elegy |on a Country Churchyard," observes, with the 

 greatest truth, — 



" Some village Hampden, that with dauntless breast, 



The little tyrant of his fields withstood; 

 Some mute, inglorious Milton, here may rest, — 

 Some Cromwell, guiltless of his country's blood." 

 So it was with poor Maiia. Her mind had been formed in a mould of superior 

 excellence. Circumstances had been entirely against her : but Nature's dictates 

 made her disregard these, as will be seen from the sequel of her history. Nothing 

 is more delightful than to see talent overcome every obstacle. It is like a powerful 

 man fallen overboard, and manfully struggling with the billows ; now overwhelmed, 

 now rising, now drawing near the shore, now hurried away, and so on till he at 

 length reaches it. though perhaps he sinks at his arrival. 



t Maecenas was a Eoman knight, who rendered himself celebrated by the encou- 

 ragement that he gave to men of letters. 



