Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/565

Rh  stile, and evidently intended to forward the interests of virtue, though written in a stile too free to be at present allowable, although perhaps not considered so at the time. They display great wit and fertility of invention, and some are founded on real life. She used to write them at her ease, in her carriage. They were published at Amsterdam, 1692, 2 vols. 8vo. John de la Haye, her valet de chambre, collected her poems, and published them, 1547, 8vo. with this title: Les Marguerites de la Marguerite des Princesses, très illustre Reine de Navarre. They consist of four mysteries or pious dramas, and two farces; le Triomphe de l'Agneau, a poem; Thirty Spiritual Songs; and Le Miroir de l'Ame Pécheresse; with other pieces on various subjects, which display much wit and invention.

Margaret was eloquent and beautiful, and had great political knowledge. During the imprisonment of her brother, she assisted Louisa, her mother, in the regency—and was of great use in conciliating the nobility, and maintaining the peace of the kingdom, from her affability and address. She was very charitable, and "ne dédaignant personne" thought nobody beneath her attention. Mrs. Thicknesse. L'Advocat. F. C. &c.

says, if ever there was a perfect beauty born, it was the queen of Navarre, who eclipsed the