Page:A cyclopaedia of female biography.djvu/577

 the Tascan, with great ease and spirit. She played on the lute and violin, and sang exquisitely.

Tarquinia Molsa was highly esteemed by Alphonsus the Second, Duke of Ferrara, and his whole court; and the city of Rome, by a decree of the senate, in which all her excellences were set forth, honoured her with the title of Singular, and bestowed on her, and the whole family of Molsa, the rights of a Roman citizen, a very unusual honour to be conferred on a woman. This decree was passed December 8th., 1600.

Molsa was married to Paulus Porrinus, but losing her husband while still very young, she would never consent to be married again. She grieved so much for his death, as to be called another Artemisia.

She retained her personal charms to an advanced period of her life, confirming the opinion of Euripides, "That the autumn of beauty is not less pleasing than its spring." Although so courted and extolled, she avoided notice and distinction, and retained to the last her fondness for a quiet and retired life.

MONICA, of Augustine, Bishop of Hippo, was born of Christian parents, in Numidia. She was not so much indebted to her mother's care, as to that of an old servant of the house, who had nursed her father. This pious servant never suffered the children to drink even water, except at meals, telling them, that if ever they became mistresses, the custom of drinking would remain; and they would indulge it with wine, not water. Yet Monica learned by degrees to drink wine, having been sent to draw it for the use of the family; but having been called a drunkard by one of the maids when in a passion, she, struck with shame that such a reproach should be addressed to her, gave up the practice for ever.

She was married to Patricius, a pagan, a native of Tagasta, in Numidia, and endeavoured, by her gentleness, to win him over to her faith, patiently enduring his passionate temper, in the hope that his natural goodness and benevolence would one day make him a restraint to himself. Many of her friends complained to her of the harsh treatment they received from their husbands, when she advised them to follow her plan; which some did, and afterwards thanked her for her counsel. She also completely gained the heart of her unkind and prejudiced mother-in-law. She was never known to repeat anything that might cause a quarrel, but only what would heal and reconcile.

Though so obedient to her husband, Monica prevailed on him to allow their son Augustine, born in the year 357, to be brought up a Christian; but though he made great progress in learning, he was, in early life, very dissipated. Patricius, who only wished him to be learned and eloquent, was satisfied; but Monica grieved over his errors, and prayed constantly for him, and patiently remonstrated with him for more than nine years. Her husband died a Christian, leaving her only this one son as an object of solicitude.

Augustine had been led away by the doctrine of the Manichees, and still continuing |his dissolute life, she entreated a bishop to reason him out of his errors.

"Your son," said he, "is too much elated at present, and carried away by the pleasing novelty of his error, to regard any arguments. Let