Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/489

Rh They had but one son, who fell in battle, leaving an only daughter, over whose education Madame de Liancour watched with much solicitude. This young lady was sought in marriage for a nephew of cardinal Mazarine's; but she had been already promised to another, and her grandmother was resolute to refuse an offer which would again lead them into the great world. It was suggested to her, that in that sphere they might be of great use by the influence of example; but she answered, it was not for them to play the saint, but the penitent.

But in 1656, she lost her grand-daughter, and about the same time her brother, with whose widow she was obliged to have a law suit, of which she did not live to see the end; yet she contested with her as a friend, and always looked over the writings of her counsel, that nothing personally bitter or unpleasant might be introduced. Another time, a poor gentleman, who had a law suit against her, not having the means to be at Paris to carry it on, she gave him money for that purpose.

She suffered much indisposition, pain, and trouble, during the last years of her life, but she bore all with constancy and patience. She wished to be buried at Liancour, and went there fifteen days before her death on that account. She died 1674, and the duke survived her but six weeks.

They found amongst her papers, beside the writings mentioned above, Advice to her Grand-daughter, which is highly extolled for the piety and wisdom it discovers. This was printed at Paris, under the title of Réglement donné par une Dame de Haute Qualité à Mad.—, sa Petite-Fille, pour sa Conduite, et pour celle de sa Maison. The editor Boileau, canon of St. Honoré, at Paris, who