V1TTORIA COLONNA. 249 



the fiery zeal of the former, she was attacked by some of the 

 most violent partisans of St. Cyril, dragged from the school 

 in which she was teaching, and most barbarously murdered 

 in A. D. 415. Her works perished in the conflagration of the 

 Alexandrian library. 



MRS. F. 



But it is to Italy that we must look for the ladies most 

 learned in science and philosophy ladies who have received 

 doctor's degrees, and have filled professorships in Greek, 

 philosophy, and the abtruse sciences; and yet the general 

 state of female education in Italy must be placed at a low 

 standard, notwithstanding these and many other bright 

 exceptions. 



HENRIETTA. 



Aunt, we should all like very much to hear about these 

 learned ladies. 



ESTHER. 



Was not Vittoria Colonna one of the most celebrated 

 women of her age'? 



MRS. P. 



Yes; but she is no less remarkable for her feminine virtues 

 and her conjugal affection. Wife of the Marquis of Pescara, 

 who commanded the imperial troops at the battle of Pavia, it 

 was from her advice and exhortations that the marquis had 

 firmness to resist the insidious offers of the opposite party; 

 and distinguised alike for her p6etry, her elegant acquire- 

 ments, and her erudition, Vittoria has equal claim to our 

 admiration for her piety, her industry, and all the softer 

 graces which adorn the female character. Her poetry is the 

 best imitation of the style of Petrarch, and her talents and 

 genius were, in short, of the highest order. 



Then, there is the Venetian lady, Helen Cornaro-Piscopia, 

 who was made in 1678 doctor of philosophy in the University 

 of Padua. She understood French, Spanish, Latin, Greek, 



