Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/707

Rh Pietro was excited: he contrived to become acquainted with her, and she soon became his wife. In their frequent conversations, religion was discussed, and she and her parents at length quitted the Chaldean worship, and embraced that of Rome. Her literary progress was astonishing; she not only made herself acquainted with all the learning comprised in Asiatic literature, but learned twelve languages. Her virtue was equal to her accomplishments; she possessed extraordinary courage and presence of mind, and with sword and pistol bravely seconded her husband in two or three defensive combats. She died of a malignant fever, at Ormus, in the 23d year of her age. M. della Valle embalmed her body, and laying it in a magnificent coffin, carried it with him for four years, in his travels through Asia and other parts, till his arrival at Rome, when he deposited her remains in his family vault, and pronounced her funeral oration himself, till excess of grief prevented his proceeding. .

had very early a strong inclination and taste for letters, which the following anecdote, related in her Memoirs, evinces:

On account of a weakness in the eyes, she had been forbidden to read, which only increased her natural curiosity. "Twenty times in a day," says she, "have I been corrected, for asking what such and such letters spelt: my mother used to tell me the word, accompanied with a good box on the ear, which, I sup-