Page:A cyclopaedia of female biography.djvu/645

 by the Romans for 600,000 measures of wheat, and returned to Italy.

In 417, Honorius compelled Placidia to marry his general, Constantius, as a reward for his services. She became the mother of Valentinian the Third, and Honoria. By Placidia's instigation, Constantius urged Honorius to admit him to a partnership in the empire, by which elevation she obtained the title of Augusta; their titles, however, were not acknowledged at the court of Constantinople. Placidia again became a widow in 421. When her son, Valentinian the Third, was declared emperor, in 426, Placidia assumed the reins of government during his minority. Her administration was neither wise nor vigorous. She died at Home in the year 450.  PLANCHE, MATILDA, the youngest daughter of J. R. Planchè [sic], the English dramatic author. She resides at present near London. Five of her little works have been republished in America, entitled "A Trap to Catch a Sunbeam," "Old Joliffe," "The Sequel to Old Joliffe," "A Merry Christmas," and "Lucy's Half Crown." That these simple little tales have been popular, is fully shown by the fact that more than twelve thousand of them have been circulated in America alone. The aim of the author is evidently an exalted one; to show the beautiful light which goodness sheds on the soul, to exhibit the power of a cheerful spirit to sustain and invigorate the mind, and to prove how much good may be done by a loving and earnest heart, amid the common ways, and with the limited means of the poorest among us; yet the moral is not obtruded, and the narrative is natural and interesting. Miss Planchè is one of the most promising among the youthful authors of this country.  PLANCINA the wife of Piso, consul in the reign of Augustus, and accused with him of having murdered Germanicus in the reign of Tiberius. She was acquitted, either through the partiality of the Empress Livia, or of Tiberius. Though devoted to her husband during their confinement, she was no sooner set free than she left him to his fate. At the instigation of Livia, she committed the greatest crimes to injure Agrippina. Being accused of them, and knowing she could not elude justice, she committed suicide, A. D. 33  PLEYEL, MARIE, been called "the queen of female pianists." She is a native of Paris, and was married at an early age to M. Camille Pleyel, of the firm of Pleyel and Co., the celebrated piano-forte makers. Endowed with rare natural gifts, the mind of this lady has been also greatly enriched by assiduous cultivation; she is known to possess an extensive knowledge of languages and general literature, while in the peculiar branch of art to which she has devoted herself she stands unrivalled. Her mechanical skill is something truly wonderful, and the varied expression which she gives to the musical notes drawn forth from her instrument are such as no previous performer had ever before elicited. Listz eulogistically said of her that "she was not only great among female pianists, but great amongst the greatest artistes of the world." Madame