Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/463

Rh as history tells us, towards recovering their ancient kingdom. Bruce's Travels.

the throne passionately loved, or appear to love, literature; either from taste, from a desire of instruction, from a love of renown, or possibly from all these together, she passed her life with philosophers. Her imperial rank, perhaps, was not sufficient to conquer noble hearts, but she joined to it the charms of wit and beauty. These various attractions rendered unnecessary that management which consists in cunning, and which, by observing dispositions and foibles, governs great souls, by little means. She obtained the title of philosopher, but her philosophy was not equal to endowing her with morals. Her husband, who did not love her, esteemed her genius, and consulted her upon all affairs; and she, in some measure, governed during the reign of her sons, though she had the misfortune of seeing one slain by his execrable brother, whose excesses she inwardly murmured at, when she dared not openly condemn.

Julia was, in short, an empress and a politician, occupied at once by the sciences, affairs of state, and pleasure. She had courtiers for her lovers, men of worldly knowledge for her friends, and philosophers for her courtiers. In the midst of an enlightened society, she presided with distinction; but for want of the more solid merits of a female character she obtained, during