Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/71

Rh, which was necessary not to appear a fool to those who did not know her. She had more sharpness than pride; more pride than grandeur; more manner than depth; more understanding in money-matters, than liberality; more liberality, than selfishness; more selfishness than disinterestedness; more attachment, than passion; more hardness, than haughtiness; more remembrance of injuries than benefits; more intention of piety, than piety itself; more obstinacy than firmness; and more of incapacity, than any thing."

There seems to be malice in this description; and in some respects it did her remarkable injustice, since forgiveness of personal injuries was a striking trait in her character; and the last favour she asked of her son was, the recal of a gentleman, who had been banished for a libel against herself. She shewed also a great liberality of sentiment on some other occasions. Anthony Berthier, librarian of Paris, wished to join two volumes of letters and memoirs, that he had carefully collected, to the life of cardinal Richelieu; and solicited the countenance of the queen-mother, as, unless supported by her authority, he dared not venture it, since many persons then living, were there treated very freely. "Proceed," replied the queen, "without fear, and shame vice so completely, that nothing but virtue may remain in France."

Anne was passionate and vindictive in the first heat of her resentments, but was sensible to reproof: and the bishop of Angers once nobly reminded her, that, to be a Christian, we must not permit ourselves to be guilty of one intentional sin, however gratifying to our passions. When Angers revolted, in 1652, she was determined to take heavy vengeance upon it; but was prevented from her sanguinary purpose, by this bishop, who, as he