Page:A cyclopaedia of female biography.djvu/342

 people would insult, perhaps misuse me; better is it to remain unmolested, were it even in a prison."

Many other eccentric acts of this wilful lady are recorded. She retired from the stage in 1780, and died in 1796.

GACON, DUFOUR MARIE A. JOHANNE, of the Celebrated poet of the same name, devoted all her fine talents and energies to the study of agriculture and economy. Her best works on these subjects are "Bibliotheque Agronomique," "Dictionnaire Rurale et Recueil Pratique d'Economie Rurale et Domestique." She wrote, moreover, "La femme Grenadier," in 1801; "Les Dangers dc la Prevention;" and "Les Prejugé Vaincu;" besides several other works.

GAETANS, AURORA, Saponara, in Calabria, born in 1669. From her earliest years she devoted herself to elegant literature. She had the good fortune to be instructed by the most illustrious men of her age, and to enjoy their friendship; such persons as Leonardo da Capua, il Calabrese, il Vico. She was much admired for her poetry, and belonged to the Accademia Arcadica, under the name of Lucinda Coritesea. She died in 1730. Her poems are to be found in the collection of Bergalli; they are written with delicacy and taste.

GAIL, SOPHIA, of John Baptist Gail, a celebrated Hellenist, was born about 1779, and died at Paris in 1819. For the arts, particularly music, she manifested an early taste, and began to compose when she was net more than twelve years of age. Among her principal compositions are the operas of "The Jealous Pair;" "Mademoiselle de Launay in the Bastile;" and "The Serenade."

GAILLARD, JANE, of Lyons, living in the sixteenth century. We have found nothing concerning her writings; therefore have only the record of her name, as presented in the collection of Lyonese authors, to give. Will the numerous band of young ladies who now write "charming sonnets" for the public journals, leave each one a name which will be remembered after a lapse of three hundred years?

GALERIA, of Vitellius, Emperor of Rome in 69, distinguished herself in a vicious age, by exemplary wisdom and modesty. After the tragical death of her husband, she passed her days in retirement.

GALIGAI, ELEONORA. was the family name of the Marechal d'Ancre, who married Eleonora, the daughter of a joiner, and a washerwoman in Italy; she enjoyed for some time an irresistible dominion in France; and perished at last by a judicial sentence pronounced upon her for crimes, some of which were not proved, and others impossible to be committed. She was foster-sister to Mary de Medicis, who loved her with the tenderest affection. It was doubtless the favour she enjoyed with this princess that induced Concini to marry her; for she was exceedingly plain. Her talents, however.