Page:A cyclopaedia of female biography.djvu/195

 When she saw the assassin approaching, and discovered his purpose, she calmly presented her breast to his sword, urging him to finish the tragedy his companions had begun. Her two daughters died by the same hand.

CENTLIVRE, SUSANNAH, comic Writer, was the daughter of a Mr. Freeman, of Holbeach, in Lincolnshire. Being left an orphan, phe went, when about fourteen, to London, where she took much pains to cultivate her mind and person. She was the authoress of fifteen plays, and several little poems, for some of which she received considerable presents from very great personages; among others, a handsome gold snuff-box from Prince Eugene, for a poem inscribed to him, and another from the Duke d'Aumont, the French ambassador, for a masquerade she addressed to him. Her talent was comedy; especially the contrivance of plots and incidents. She corresponded, for many years, with gentlemen of wit and eminence, particularly with Steele, Rowe, Budgell, Sewell, and others. Mrs. Centlivre lived in a very careful and economical manner, and died in Spring-garden, December 1st., 1723, at the house of her husband, Joseph Centlivre, who had been one of Queen Anne's cooks; she was buried at the church of St. Martin-in-the-fields. She was three times married; the first time, when she was about sixteen, to Mr. Fox, nephew of Sir Stephen Fox. He dying two years afterwards, she married an officer, named Carrol, who was killed in a duel not long after.

It was during this second widowhood that, compelled by necessity, she began to write, and also appeared on the stage. After her marriage with her third husband, she lived a more retired life. She was handsome in person, very agreeable and sprightly in conversation, and seems to have been also kind and benevolent in her disposition. Her faults were those of the age in which she lived.

CERETA, LAURA, Italian lady, born at Brescia, eminent for her knowledge of philosophy and the learned languages. She became a widow early in life, and devoted herself entirely to literary labours. Her Latin letters appeared at Padua in 1680. She died in 1498, aged twenty-nine. Her husband's name was Pedro Serini.

CEZELLI, CONSTANCE, of the 16th. century, was a native of Montpellier. In 1590, her husband, Barri de St. Annez, who was Governor of Leucate, for Henry the Fourth of France, fell into the hands of the Spaniards. They threatened Constance that they would put him to death, if she did not surrender the fortress. She refused, but offered all her property to ransom him. After having been foiled in two assaults, the Spaniards raised the siege, but barbarously murdered their prisoner. Constance magnanimously prevented her garrison from retaliating on a Spanish officer of rank. As a reward for her patriotism, Henry the Fourth allowed her to retain the government of Leucate till her son came of age.

CHALLIE, MADAME DE, distinguished among the living authoresses of France, not only