Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/653

Rh horn tells us, that all the language and plots of her plays were her own, which will atone for some faults in her numerous productions.

In her person she was graceful and noble; in her temper, shy and reserved; in her studies, contemplations, and writings, indefatigable; she was truly pious, generous, and charitable; an excellent economist, kind to her servants, and a perfect pattern of conjugal love and duty.

She died in London, 1673; and was buried in Westminster-Abbey, where a monument was erected to her memory, containing that eulogium on the Lucas's noticed by the Spectator. "A noble family; for all the brothers were valiant, and all the sisters virtuous."

A considerable strength of imagination, with much ease and clearness of diction, and in general a smoothness of versification, unusual in those times, appears to characterise her poetical compositions. Milton is said to have borrowed from the compositions of the duchess, particularly in Il Penseroso.

Having asked bishop Wilkins, "How she could get up to the world in the moon he had discovered; for, as the journey must needs be very long, there would be no possibility of going through it, without resting on the way?" "Oh, madam," said the bishop, "your grace has built so many castles in the air, that you cannot want a place."

was the instrument of the earl's escape from the Tower in 1716, which was effected solely by her uncommon