Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/594

580 F. C.

as one of those Roman beauties, who are so far removed from insignificance as to inspire respect as well as love. Her eyes were large, neither blue, gray nor black; but partook of all those colours, and were very beautiful, expressing with equal force, according to the different feelings of her soul; mild, vivacious, penetrating or serious; yet they were not tender: as if she was born to be loved, and not to feel it herself. Her smile was benevolent and her voice sweet and touching. She had a fine complection [sic], and black hair curling naturally; she was finely formed, and was the most accomplished woman in Europe. St. Evremond says, that she knew as much as a man could know, without any appearance of science; that she was without affectation.

She had an elder sister, that Louis XIV. wished to marry. But though Hortensia was the youngest, Cardinal Mazarin chose her to bear his name, and proposed her in marriage to Turenne, M. de Candales, and M. de la Feuiilade. The first showed very little inclination, the second died, and the third quarrelled with her uncle. Charles, afterwards the IId. of England, was one of her admirers; but he had then no possessions, and was not accepted. After the death of Cromwell he offered, and was again refused; but when he was placed on the throne. Cardinal Mazarin repented, and proposed his