Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/643

Rh miately for our benefit, they wrought one good effect on the mind of Mademoiselle de Montpensier, which seems to have lost latterly a great part of that pride and self-importance which disfigured her early years.

She wrote her own character, as is the fashion with the female writers of France; and it seems to be done with modesty and ingenuousness. Her figure she describes as good, though not fine; an open countenance, a long face, large aquiline nose, fine ash-coloured hair, and light blue eyes. Of her mind she speaks more diffusely: amongst other things, she says, "I talk a great deal, without saying any thing silly, making use of vulgar phrases, or uncouth words. I never speak upon any subject I do not perfectly understand, which many people are guilty of, who love to hear themselves talk, and who, possessing too good an opinion of themselves, are very apt to despise the understanding of others.

"I pique myself on nothing so much as being a real and steady friend. Nothing can equal my fidelity towards those whom I have professed to love; would to God I had found others who had felt the same for me?

"I am delighted with confidence, and secret to excess. I am a dangerous enemy; as I resent highly, and do not easily pardon; but I possess also a noble mind, and am incapable of any base action.

"I love the conversation of men of sense, but am not weary with such as are not entertaining in their discourse; as my quality lays some restraint on those who are with me, I am seldom offended, though not always amused.

"I