Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/578

564 the world, and who appears to have had that low cunning which stoops to all expedients for interest, fearful for her own life, changed her behaviour, and reproached her as she went. The hapless Mariamne made no answer, nor discovered any discomposure at her behaviour, though ashamed of the dissimulation she shewed. Wearied out with the world, in which she found none to respect or feel affection for, she met her fate with unshaken resolution, and without even changing colour. After her death, despair and madness seized the king; but the remains of his former love did not save her children, who, when they came to men's estate, fell a sacrifice as their mother had done, to their own indiscretion, and the malice and calumnies of their enemies.

Alexandra did not survive her daughter. Hearing of the bad state of Herod's health, she tampered with the governors of the fortified places round Jerusalem, to deliver them into her hands; was betrayed to Herod, and slain by his order. Antiquities of the Jews.

Turks having attacked the capital of this island, in the time of Mahomet II. it was defended with great vigour; even the women assisting in defence of their honours and their religion. Wounded by the stroke that had killed her father, she descended from the wall, and rushed amidst the enemy with all the vigour that enthusiasm and despair inspires; she was seconded by the garrison, who caught her fury; and the next day, when the Venetian general arrived, with his fleet, to succour the people, instead of a  tle