TYPES OF

FEMALE HEROISM, BEAUTY, AND INFLUENCE,

FROM THE

EARLIEST AGES TO THE PRESENT TIME.

BY

FRANK B. GOODRICH,

FORMERLY U. S. CONSUL AT PARIS;

AUTHOR OF "THE COURT OF NAPOLEON," ETC., ETC.

Illustrated with Fourteen Steel-Plate Engravings,

BY

EDWARDS, HALL, McGOFFIN, HOLLYEr, mote, rogERS, AND JACKMAN,

FROM ORIGINAL DESIGNS BY CHAMPAGNE, WANDERFORDE, AND STAAL.

PHILADELPHIA:

P. W. ZIEGLER & CO., PUBLISHERS,

915 ARCH STREET.

CHICAGO: 180 EAST ADAMS STREET.

COPYRIGHT.

GEORGE R. FAGAN.

1879.

J. FAGAN & SON,
STEREOTYPERS, PHILAD'A.

CONTENTS.

SEMIRAMIS.

A cautious Exordium-The Goddess Derceto and the Assyrian Venus-The Foundling Hospital

of the Classics-Semiramis nursed by Pigeons-Discovered and educated by the King's

Intendant-Her Marriage-Is summoned to the Camp-Becomes a Widow and marries the

King-Her Accession to the Throne-Her Achievements-She embellishes Babylon-The

Babylonish Lake-The Temple of Belus-The Oracle of Jupiter Ammon-Semiramis invades

the Territories of Stabrobates-A Battle in the Indus-Defeat and Death of Semiramis-

Her Tomb-Interpretation to be placed upon her Story,

15

PENELOPE.

Birth of Penelope and Marriage with Ulysses-Paris, Helen and the Trojan War-Ulysses is
summoned to Ilium and is absent Twenty Years-Penelope is importuned by Suitors-She
repulses them by various ingenious Devices-Penelope's Web-Her Letter to Ulysses-The
Suitors become impatient-Antinous-Medon-Irus — Melanthius-Their Extravagance-
Ulysses returns in Disguise-Is regaled with a Pork Steak, and is recognized by his Dog
Argus-He begs at his own Table—Overpowers the Mendicant Irus in single Fight—Inter-
view of Penelope and the Suitors-The Presents of the latter-Penelope is forced to choose
a Husband from one hundred and eight Aspirants-Minerva suggests a Mode of baffling
them-Penelope proposes a Tournament with the Bow and Arrow-Terrible Battle between
Ulysses, Minerva, Telemachus and Eumæus, on the one Side, and the one hundred and eight
on the other-Astounding Result of this unequal Fight-Fidelity of Penelope rewarded, 81

CORNELIA.

The Family of Scipio Africanus-Cornelia's Marriage Her Character-The Education of her

Children-A Prodigy and its Interpretation-Death of Tiberius-Successive Deaths of nine

of Cornelia's Children-Her Rejection of the Hand of Ptolemy Physco-Cornelia's Jewels-

Marriage of her Son Tiberius and of her Daughter Sempronia-The Licinian Law-A Sedi-

tion-Death of Tiberius-The Mother of the Gracchi-Caius is made Tribune-A Collision-

Fall of Caius Gracchus-Closing Years of the Life of Cornelia,

CLEOPATRA.

49

The Great Enchantress of the World and her Heart Conquests-Birth and Quarrels with her

Brother-Meeting with Julius Cesar-Marc Antony-His Infatuation and his Gifts to her-

Cleopatra's Personal Appearance-Defeat of Marc Antony by Octavius Cæsar-Death of

Marc Antony and of Cleopatra-Opinions of Historians and Poets,

• 63

ZENOBIA.

Tadmor in the Wilderness-War between Rome and Persia-Interference of Odenatus, a Pal

myrenian Senator-He receives the Title of Associate Augustus-Zenobia-Her Character

and Personal Appearance-Death of Odenatus-Zenobia ascends the Throne-The Policy of

her Reign-She assumes the Title of Queen of the East-Aurelian resolves to humble her

Pride-He marches against her-The Dogs of Tyana-The Battles of Antioch and Emesa-

Zenobia defeated-The Siege of Palmyra-Aurelian's Letter to the Roman People-Zenobia's

Dispatch to Aurelian-Her Flight from Palmyra-Her Capture-The Fate of Longinus, her

Counsellor-Zenobia is taken to Rome to grace Aurelian's Triumph—A Barbarous Pageant→

Zenobia led in Fetters through the Streets-Her Exile at Tibur-The Modern Traveller at

Tivoli,

. 73

BEATRICE.

The Birth of Beatrice Portinari-Her Meeting with Dante—His Love—Her Marriage to another

and early Death-The Vita Nuova-Dante's Determination to hush his Muse till he can Sing

of Beatrice more worthily-The Performance of his Vow-The Divina Commedia-The Nine

Circles of Hell-The Mount of Purgatory-The Purgation of the Seven Mortal Sins-The

Terrestrial Paradise-The Approach of Beatrice-The Ten Heavens-The Harmony of the

Spheres-The Empyrean-A Gaze at the Great Mystery-The Brow of Beatrice bound with

Dante's Laurel,

89

JOAN DARC.

The Orthography of the Name of Joan Darc-Her Birth and Childhood-Her Contemplations-

The Superstitions of her Village—A Legend of the Enchanter Merlin-Unhappy Conditiou

of the Country-Charles VII. and Agnes Sorel-Joan and her Family driven from Home-

Joan's Visions-Her Interviews with St. Michael-She Visits Baudricourt at Vaucouleurs-

Is regarded as a Witch-A Priest performs the Ceremony of Purification-Joan is summoned

by the King to Chinon-Her Journey-She recognizes Charles VII. among his Courtiers-

She is examined by the University and the Parliament-The Verdict of the Council-The

Ordeal of Maidenhood—Joan is equipped for Battle-She joins the Army and reforms the

Morals of the Camp Her Arrival at Orleans-Collision with the English-Joan's uncon-

scious Profanity-The Conflict of the 8th of May-Deliverance of Orleans-Joan rejoins the

King She engages to crown him at Rheims-The Pilgrimage thither-The Consecration-

Termination of Joan's Mission-Her Error in remaining with the Army-Unsuccessful Siege

of Paris-Her Capture at Compiègne-She is given up to the English and is tried for Sorcery

-Details of the Trial-She disconcerts her Judges-Easter Sunday in Joan's Cell A Mock

Execution-The Parody of St. Ouen-Her Condemnation to the Stake-Horrible Scene at

her Martyrdom-The Mitre of the Inquisition-The miserable Deaths of her Persecutors-

The Rehabilitation of her Memory-The Pageant of 1855-Reflections,

99

ISABELLA.

Birth and Childhood of Isabella-Her proposed Union with Don Pedro Giron-The Civil War-
Attempted Dethronement of King Henry-Isabella's Refusal to accept the Crown-Her
Suitors-Ferdinand of Aragon-His Meeting with Isabella-Their Personal Appearance-
Their Marriage-Death of Henry-Isabella proclaimed Queen-The Battle of Toro-