Page:A cyclopaedia of female biography.djvu/394

 only eight, she could speak English and French as readily as her own tongue; and her talent for poetry had already begun to develop itself. When she was twelve she lost her father; and the lady who took charge of her kept her so constantly occupied, that she had no time for writing. She was about fourteen when she went to live at Weimar, where she became acquainted with several of the most celebrated poets of the time. Schiller, happening to see a poem of hers, invited her to his house at Jena, where she became acquainted with Goethe. She was afterwards appointed Lady of the court at Saxe Weimar, where she was married to Lieutenant-General Von Hedwig. Madame Von Hedwig was a poetess of the higher order, one whom Goethe praised for her true Parnassian inspirations. At his request she composed the "Legend of the Three Wise Men of the East," a romance in twelve cantos. She also wrote a number of legends, all displaying great poetic genius; while her lyrics, her patriotic songs, and her idyls, have added many a leaf to her wreath. She was a fertile prose writer, and also translated several works from the Swedish. William Howitt says of this popular author, "Her well-known Saga of the Wolfsbrunnen near Heidelberg, was taken bodily possession of by Grattan, author of 'Highways and Byways,' who lived for some time near the scene of the Saga. His 'Legend of the Wolfsbrunnen' is literally that of Madame Von Hedwig, except that he has inverted her story, putting her first part second, and the second first." Nor is Mr. Grattan the first man who has stolen from the literature of female writers, the plots, ideas, and even whole productions, that have made his best title to fame.

HELENA, of Constantine the Great and of Fausta, was given in marriage, by her brother Constantius, to her cousin Julian, when he made him Caesar at Milan, in 355. She followed her husband to his government of Gaul, and died in 359, at Vienna.

HELENA, and sister of Monobasus, King of Adiabena, and mother of Irates, the successor of Monobasus, flourished about the year 50. Though Irates was one of the younger sons of the king, yet, being his favourite, he left the crown to him at his death. In order to secure the throne to him, the principal officers of the state proposed to put those of his brothers to death who were inimical to him; but Helen would not consent to this. Helen and Irates were both converts to the Jewish faith. When Helen saw that her son was in peaceable possession of the throne, she went to Jerusalem to worship and sacrifice there. When she arrived in that city, there was a great famine prevailing there, which she immediately exerted herself effectually to relieve, by sending to different places for provisions, and distributing them among the poor. After the death of Irates, Helen returned to Adiabena, where she found that her son Monobasus had succeeded to the throne; but she did not long survive her favourite son Irates.

HELENA, ST., Empress, mother of Constantine, and one of the saints of