Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/279

Rh love men because they are men, but because they are not women." She made some stay at Brussels, where she saw the great Condé. They were very friendly at first, but afterwards disputed on an idle point of ceremony, on which they ought neither of them to have contended.

Christina, besides abdicating her crown, abjured her religion, and embraced that of the Romish church. The catholics considered this as a great triumph, and the protestants were not a little mortified at the defection of so celebrated a woman; but both without reason; for the queen of Sweden meant only to conform in appearance to the tenets of the people among whom she intended to live, in order, more agreeably, to enjoy the pleasures of social intercourse. Of this her letters afford sufficient proof.

But, like most sovereigns who have quitted a throne, in order to escape from the cares of royalty, she found herself no less uneasy in private life. She soon discovered that a queen without power was a very insignificant character, and is supposed to have repented of her resignation. But, however that may be, it is certain she became tired of her situation, and made two journies from Italy into France, where she was received with great respect by the learned, whom she had pensioned and flattered; but with little attention by the polite, especially of her own sex, as her masculine airs and conversation kept women of delicacy at a distance.

Her capricious violence and arbitrary temper, ill agreeing with the resigner of a crown, was continually shewing itself, not only by her intriguing afterwards for that of Poland, but, in one instance, in a manner so dreadful, that she was obliged to leave France on account of the odium it threw on her character. The affair alluded