The gallery of heroick women written in French by Peter Le Moyne of the Society of Jesus ; translated into English by the Marquesse of Winchester.

[illustration]

IVDITH 〈…〉〈…〉

Iudith.

THIS strong place which seems to be borne upon the top of this Rock is the Citie of Bethulia; And this Camp which takes up all the Plain about it is the Camp of the As••yrians who besiege it. You may boldly approach it, and pass securely and without fear even to the Tent of Holofernes. Wine and sleep have defeated all the Courts of Guards. They have not left a Centinel which was not laid on the ground; even the Fires which should watch for the whole Camp become drowsy, and are half extinguished. You would say that they have been cor∣rupted, or forgotten the ancient Discipline: Do not accuse the liberty of the Souldiers, nor the negligence of the Commanders. A stronger vertue then the Souldiers, and a greater Authority then the Officers hath overcome them both, and con••ounded the duties and orders of War.

This defeat without murther or effusion of blood is a blow from the Angel of Israel who is come in person to defend the Frontiers of his Countrey; He hath made darknesse which hath something I know not what, of resemblance with that which he heretofore caused in Egypt. And the Night was ad∣vanced by his command to contribute its silence and obscurity to the great Action which he prepares. But this obscurity serves onely for the enemies of the people of God, this intelli∣gent night is discreet, like that of Egypt; it knows how to distin∣guish

the faithful, and to put a difference of persons. That which is cloudy and dark for other shall be light for us. And were there nothing but the brightnesse of these luminous spi∣rits added to the resplendency of the zeal and eyes of Judith, which seem to infire all the pretious stones of that stately Pa∣villion, yet there would be enough to discern from thence the Tragedie which is begun in the Tent of Holofernes.

All things are disposed there, to a strange revolution; and this fatal conjuncture hath in an instant reduced to extremity the life of Holofernes, the honour of Judith, and the safety of Be∣thulia. The gallant and victorious Widow who so couragi∣ously exposeth her honour for the safety of her people, hath but this moment to manage; and if she doth not happily manage it and with successe, there is an end of her honour and the safety of her people; there is an end of Bethulia, even of Jerusalem it self and of the Temple besieged in Bethulia: It is her work to save all this; and all this cannot be done but by one stroak and by the death of Holofernes. Behold how she is prepared to give this fatal and important blow, which must cut of an hun∣dred and fifty thousand-heads, and restore spirit and heart to twelve desolate Provinces. She did not cause Legions or armed Elephants to march before her; she came not accompanied with Giants or Engins of war: she is only invironed with Beauty and Graces: But it is a bold and victorious Beauty, they are magnanimous and conquering Graces: she is onely guarded with attractives and graceful charms: but they are violent attractives, and forcible charms. She is equally dange∣rous and graceful, and wounds even by that which delights: Not onely her eyes are piercing, and the lightning which God hath placed in them doth dazel the sight; but even her very feet contributed to the victory, and the eyes of her Buskins have surprized Holofernes by the eye, and enslaved his Soul.

These arms, though divinely reinforced and purified with a Heavenly ray, could not have overcome alone. They effected nothing but after prayer, fasting, and tears. And though these which are spiritual, and of an invisible temper have not wrought upon the sight of Holofernes, yet they have

done it upon the heart of God, and opened a passage whereby Safety came upon his people, and Death upon his enemies. Ju∣deth is ready to give a beginning to both, The exterminating Angel who assists her, puts not a Lance of Fire into her Hand, nor the point of a Thunderbolt brought down from Heaven; such noble weapons, and descending from so great a height are not necessary for this execution: And God doth not use to leave to the haughty the title of a glorious and renowned death. He presents to her the sword of Holofernes, and putting it into her Hand, he setled confidence and boldnesse in her Heart. You would take this fatal sword for the stroke of a Thunderbolt: you would swear that it is all composed of light∣ning: But these lightnings are not like those which are formed in the clouds: they come to it from a Diamond and a Rubie whereof the ••ilt is composed: and what lustre soever it re∣ceives from these fires of pre••ious stones which adorn it, it ex∣pects more from the innocence and vertue of this fair hand which is ready to imploy it. You would say that it glittereth from the impatience it hath to be serviceable to a stroke, which will be worth many Battels, and which shall be heard by all Ages.

Judeth receives it couragiously and with confidence; but her courage is far from fiercenesse, and her confidence appears modest and submissive, Her faith renewed in this perilous mo∣ment, and her zeal breaking forth, enlighten her face, and diffuse themselves by her mouth. And her eyes are lifted up toward Heaven, as if they did shew the way to the prayers she sends thither in silence and accompanied with the spirit it of her tears. There is nothing which so pure a soul, and so holy tears may not obtain; and the voice of this silence is too power∣ful and pressing not to be heard. But though it were strong e∣nough to penetrate Heaven, and to make it self to be heard of God, yet it reacheth not the ear of Holofernes. Beast that he is, he is far from waking at this voice, he would not awake at that of Heaven, though it should thunder with all its force. He hath not only lost both spirit and motion: but even his hea••ing and sight are bound up: and he is more fastned by the fume of

wine and the vapours of sleep, then he would be by six great cords and as many cha••s.

Do not believe that in this plight he dreams of the taking of Bethulia or the sacking of Jerusalem, that any Siege is laid, or any battel fought in his Head. No Armies are now there to lead, nor Kingdoms to overcome. Judeth is there alone what War, Glory, and Nabuchodonezer were before. But it is not th•••• Judeth whom vertue, zeal, and these Angels have brought: It is a Judeth, not unlike a cheating dream, which hath trans∣formed a Heroe••s into a mincing Dame; and this mincing and imaginary Judeth shall be suddenly overthrown by the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and chast one. The sword which you see in her hand shall do her Justice upon this cheating dream. And all these vain Ideas shall be drowned in the blood of the Dreamer, and shall fall with his Head.

Whilst the measures once more the greatness of her Enter∣prize, and that her last tears demand of God courage, and proportion••d forces; the Angels who brought her thither re∣ma••n as a Guard about her person at the door of the Tent. Her Angel Guardian lights her with a Torch, and at the same time bowing down the Pike of Holofernes (which he had seized on) seems to assure her with his looks and gesture that he will second her, if her hand should fail. Observe the Acti∣on of these Angels who sport with a cask and Cuyrass: There is a mysterie in their Action, and what they sport at, is the assurance and instruction of Judeth; They break in pieces the Armer of Holofernes, which was thought to be all composed of solid Fires, and of well tempered and well hammer'd Inchant∣ments; and which was so long the general terrour of all Asia: In breaking it, they deride the infirmity of human powers; and you see that they shew the pieces of it to Judeth, to assure her that there is nothing to be feared, having guards and seconds to whom Diamonds and Steel are but Glass and Tiffany.

As for those whom you see at the door of the Tent, they stand there to chase away fear and apparitions from this Maid, whom Judeth placed there for a Guard. They remain in that place to repell the Devils, Enemies of Gods people, which

might come to the aid of Holofernes. Their arms though seem∣ingly obscure are yet composed of a Celestial and most resplen∣dant matter: but because lightnings might issue from them which would awaken the whole Camp, they themselves ob∣scured them and suppressed all their light. Neverthelesse this restraint is no longer needfull for them. Behold Judeth coming forth with the ••ead of Holofernes and the Heart of all these dif∣ferent bodies, which are half dead with wine and sleep, and which shall quickly be dispatched by the Israelites. The blood still reaks after the sword, and where it passes, the earth greedily drinks up the drops which fall from it.

You believe indeed that the joy of this Victory is not little in the heart of the Conqueresse: It is there so great as it is di∣lated on her face, and her eyes have received thereby a second fire with a new and accessory light. It will suddenly appear far greater in Bethulia where the generous Widow is impatiently expected: and to which place she is going to carry, with the Head and Death of the Publick Enemy, the life and freedom of all the people.

SONNET.

PRoud Holofern is laid, the sun his light Hath mixt with darkness to commence the night: Whose shadow Judeth for her veil doth take, Lest with her Beauties lustre he should wake.

The sword which this chaste wonder doth advance Addes a fierce splendour to her Countenance: And in this exigent to quell all Fear. Thou speaks her Angel-Guardian in her ear.

Shrink thou not Judeth, let thy Foe be sped, He is already little lesse then dead:

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For Sleep and Wine, by their joynt forces, have Begun thy Conquest, and the Tyrants grave.

It would beseem thee ill to be afraid Of him thou hast thy humble Captive made: Well may thy Arm his Head and Body part, Who with thy ••••es hast from him torn his Heart.

THE ELOGIE OF JVDETH.

IT is not necessary for me to say who Judeth was, and what Act she hath done; she is sufficiently known to every one: For above the space of two thousand yeers she is in all Countreyes, and in the sight of all Nations still cut∣ting off the Head of Holofernes, and raising the siege of Bethulia. This part of her life hath been indeed the most radiant and remarkable, but peradventure not the most laborious or Heroick; and she more easily defeated Holofernes invironed with a whole Armie, then Pleasure and Grief, Covetousnesse and Fear, then her own Beauty and Youth. She was victorious nevertheless in all sorts of conflicts, and got the upper hand both of pleasing and terrifying Enemie••. At the Death of her Husband she overcame Grief by resig∣nation, and shewed, that with the blood of Patriarchs her Predeces∣sors, she had inherited their Faith and Constancie: This first Adver∣sary being mastered, the overcame also Idlenesse, Pleasures, and the latter Affections, which are the second and most dangerous Enemies of young Widows. She not being able to renounce her Youth, nor to be rid of her Beauty, which were to her like suspected Domesticks, and hard to be preserved: she kept them continually shut up; and likewise ••••aring lest they should make an escape, she weakned them by Prayer, Labor, ••asting, and Hair-cloth.

She grew warlike by these Domestick and Private Combats, and pre∣pared her self all alone, and in one single night for this famous Field, in which the Fortune of the Assyrians was ruined by the Blow received from the Hand of a victorious Woman, and the Head of a vanquished Man▪ Besides, in this so magnanimous and perillous an enterprise she was to overcome, not only a man whom Love had disarmed, and Wine and Sleep had secured, but to overcome the power of Gold, to which armed Legion•• submit and strong Forts are rendered; she was to over∣come the sparklings of pretious stones, which wound even souls which are 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to the sharpest point of swords: she was to overcome pleasures, which is stronger then valour it self, and triumpheth every day over the Victorious.

Besides these pleasing and flattering enemies certain cruel and ter∣rible ones presented themselves, which she was likewise obliged to overcome: Her Enterprise could not prove successeful to her but by miracle; and if it took no effect, she was to passe through all the hands of a furious Army; she must suffer all the punishments and Deaths which inraged Tyranny can inflict; she measured all these punishments, and numbred all these Deaths: And upon a serious consideration of them all the undertook in their very sight and presence this memorable Action, by which with one stroak she shewed her self not onely more couragious and valiant, but more intelligent and prudent then all Judea which she preserved, and all Assyria which she overcame.

A MORAL REFLECTION.

WOmen have not every day Holofernes's to vanquish; but every day they have occasion to fight against excess, vanity, delights, and all pleasing and troublesome passions; The memory of this Heroick Woman may instruct them in all the enterprises and exer∣cises of this war, which though made in shadow and without effusion of blood ceaseth not to be laborious, and made with vigour of spirit and stability of courage. Let them learn then from this illustrious and glo∣rious Mistresse to discipline their graces, and to give to them devotion and zeal, To imprison dangerous Beauty, and to take from it all the weapons wherewith it might offend, Let them learn from her to re∣form Widowhood, and to put themselves under the yoke of God, after they are free from that of men. Let them learn from her to be loyal to the memory of their deceased Husbands, never to divorce them∣selves from their Names, and to place under their ashes all the fire which may be remaining in them: as for this celebrious Act, by which Judith overcame all Assyria a Tent, and struck off with one blow the head of a whole Armie, It teacheth men that Heroick Vertue proceeds from the Heart, and not the Sex, that valour clothed with iron is not alwayes 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and that the weakest and most tender hands may 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the safety of Nations when God directs them.

A MORAL QUESTION.

Concerning the Choice which God hath made of Women for the pre∣servation of States reduced to Extremity.

IT is noted in the Book of Judges, and observed there as a wonder and prodig••••••, that meeknesse was once born of force, and that nou∣rishment 〈◊〉〈◊〉 from the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of him that devout•• It is a wonder which 〈…〉〈…〉 of prodigie, and which nevertheless hath not been yet observed▪ that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is a portion of meekness, and that the hand•• accu∣sed to have been the Autho•••• of Death, have brought safety and given 〈◊〉〈◊〉. However, this second wonder is true, and no lesse surprizing then the first, not lesse proper to frame a 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Problem, and a specious 〈◊〉〈◊〉. The examples thereof are likewise less 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and more known; 〈…〉〈…〉 to be seen of them almost in all the Regions of History; And God hath renewed them a•• often as he hath chosen the hand•• of Women other to establish tottering States, or to support their 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

The great wonder in this is, that God hath almost made this choice 〈…〉〈…〉 Counsels and Hope, and in the last confusion 〈…〉〈…〉 And in occasions wherein the Arms of the strong were 〈…〉〈…〉 Heads exhausted▪ he hath raised up Women, who 〈…〉〈…〉 the valiant and 〈◊〉〈◊〉, who have taken away 〈…〉〈…〉 and the Sword held over the Head of Nations: who have chased away from surrendred ••owns Armies already victorious; who 〈…〉〈…〉 and Courage to vanquished King, who 〈…〉〈…〉 and fallen Crown. It suffi••••th to be∣lieve that such works are not done, but by the hand of God, and with much of hi•• spirit and by the Vertue of miracles. There are neverthe∣le•••• appearances and Reasons within the reach of out sight, which in this particular make good his Providence.

〈…〉〈…〉 Power appears therein more independant, and his Wisd••m 〈◊〉〈◊〉 infallible and 〈◊〉〈◊〉. There is very often De••eption in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Thought, and mistake 〈…〉〈…〉 in our Terms. We take Force 〈…〉〈…〉 and that which we call Power, ought to be called 〈…〉〈…〉 and a Weaknesse with a great Train. 〈…〉〈…〉 was to be truly powerful, to take Towns, and overcome 〈…〉〈…〉 Canons and other Arm••, but with broken Po•••• and 〈…〉〈…〉 This were to be extraordinarily strong▪ not to throw 〈…〉〈…〉 with many Engine, but to break in 〈…〉〈…〉 with blowing on the ••ace of it; to ••leave a Mount••••n with 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Snow. And the Art as well as the Courage of 〈…〉〈…〉 might be called Divine, who in the sight of a Storm should 〈…〉〈…〉 with ••ails of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and with a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Paper.

It ••utes very neer with the manner of Gods acting, when in the Tu∣mult of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and amidst the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of falling States, he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Arms of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and the Heads of Polititians, and makes choice of weak Women and tender Maids to subdue the victorious, and to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 up the vanquiried, to support Ruines, and repair Shipwrack.

Secondly, he thereby 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his little of the God of Host▪ and a powerful Lord in War. He shews that Victory 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Subject that it follows 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Orders, and ob••••ves his Providence▪ And that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Com∣mon and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Ma••••, and this blinde and gidd•• Fortune, of which 〈◊〉〈◊〉 much reckoning to made, are but ••antom•••• of men. Invention. Thirdly he thereby reacheth Humility to the proud ones of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉. He reacheth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to Conquerours and Haughty spirits, and makes them. 〈…〉〈…〉 that Crowns depend on his 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and not on the strength of the•••• own Hand. That he takes them off at his pleasure from proud Heads to place them upon the Humble, That he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Crowns for Women as well as men, for Shepherds as well as Prin••••s and that upon what Head soever he placeth them, he still 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of them.

In the fourth place, these wonders wrought from time to time by the hands of Women are 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Acts, and illustrious instructions for the whole 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Thereby 〈◊〉〈◊〉 tongue are refuted and Ca∣lum••e 〈…〉〈…〉 second work of God 〈…〉〈…〉. Thereby Women 〈…〉〈…〉 have Heart of the ••ame matter▪ and as well denied 〈…〉〈…〉 not corrupt them▪ ••f they be not overcome by 〈◊〉〈◊〉. They learn 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by that 〈…〉〈…〉 tender, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to wool and silk, 〈…〉〈…〉 Actions, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a long 〈…〉〈…〉 doth not 〈…〉〈…〉 Vertue, 〈…〉〈…〉 That to pre∣pare 〈…〉〈…〉 Courage and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 adventures. They 〈…〉〈…〉 themselves, to overcome, and to begin the•••• 〈…〉〈…〉 and upon themselves. Jud••th was not victorious 〈…〉〈…〉, and without 〈…〉〈…〉 prepared her 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••or it by 〈…〉〈…〉 and Domestick Combats, and this was not till she had over∣come pleasure, till she had chased away Pa••lion, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 from her Heart, till ••he had 〈…〉〈…〉, driven away the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 from before 〈…〉〈…〉.

Morecover, this is not the sole example of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 kind: there are more even in 〈…〉〈…〉 and Nation, a long time before Judeth, Debora, and Ja••el 〈…〉〈…〉 people from the Tyranny of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Some years after 〈◊〉〈◊〉 preserved them from the Hands of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and the general 〈◊〉〈◊〉 which was prepared for them thor••owout all Per••••••. Under the Reign of David▪ the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 being besieged b•• Joab, and threatned with the 〈…〉〈…〉 ••ity, were delivered 〈◊〉〈◊〉 from the Pillage and the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by the Providence of a wise Woman, who perswaded them to clear the•• hands of a Rebel, who they had harboured, and to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Head over the Walls. This Head being thrown over effected

more then twenty thousand Arms and Engines could have done: Peace remained to the Abelites, and Joab without taking the Citie re∣treated with Victory.

EXAMPLE.

Marulla of Stilimena.

THE Maid of Orleans may well be added to these Gallant Jewish Women, though far distant from their time and Countrey. France in her had a protectress and a Warrier, a Debora and a Judeth, and what she did to deliver that Kingdom from Invaders, who had already put the voke over its Head, is a famous proof of a miracu∣lous gi••t divinely con••erred on some Woman for the preservation of oppressed States, and Cities reduced to extremity. But all the whol∣some and warlike Vertues of this Sex are not of so great Antiquity: th••se latter Ages have had them as well as the former; and there are some of them as it were born in the sight of our Fathers.

In the time of Mahome•• the Second, the Turks conducted by Bas•••• a So∣lo••••••, ma••ched down into 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and set upon Coce••, which is the chief City of the Island: divers assaults couragiously given in several places, and repulsed with like Courage; at last either by fraud or force they gain'd a gate, where the sight was a long time sti••••lly maintained; so far that the Governour of the place, who was a man of Counsel and Valor lost his life. He had a daughter called Marull••, who was then upon the Wall with other Women, prepared to give a handsome reception to the enemy, and to act for their Honour and Religion much more then their Sex required. This couragious Maid had her Eyes and Heart in the Combat, and accompanied it with her Gestures and motions; Though wounded with the Blow which had killed her Father, yet the was not overcome with him, not lost her Spirit and Courage by his Wound. She descended from the Wall to the Gate; she runs through 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and Sword to the Body of her Father; she takes up his Sword and Buckler, and as if with his Buckler and Sword she had taken the bold∣ness of his Heart, and the strength of his Arms, she presents her self to those Enemies, which appeared the most pressing, and were the most advanced. Some the repels, and knocks down others: She fights with so much Courage, and her Courage assisted from above, and supported by the rall••••d inhabitants proves so happy, as she puts to flight what Turks soever she found in her way, and leads her Companions fighting even to their Galleys. The very same day they returned to sea, and le••t the Victory intire to Marulla, and Liberty to Stilime••••.

The next day the General of the Venetian Fleet, thinking to be at the Fight, came to the Feast of it. The People being richly cloathed,

and the Magistrates in their ceremonial garments went out to meet him, and brought to him their Deliveress in Triumph. He caused her to come before the Armie raing'd in order upon the shoar. And there after the having Crowned her with an Elogie, which was of more value then the Laurel, or the Oak of the Ancients; He ordained that every Souldier should make her a present, and offered her for a Husband what Captain soever she would please to chuse, with promise, that he would prevaile so with the Senate, as he should be adopted of the Sig∣nory, and her Marriage Portion given her out of the publick Trea∣sury. Marulla, who was truly bold and couragious, yet more advised and discreet, rendred Thanks to the General for his Presents and offers; and made him this answer,

That the difference was great between the Vertues of the Field and those of a Family; that an excellent Ca∣ptain might make a bad Master of a Family, and that Marriage being no Warfare, the Hazard would be too great, and the Election too rash, to chuse a Husband in Arms, and to take him in a Field of Battel.

This Answer set a second Value upon the Act of Marulla: and made appear, that there was a great deal of light in her Fire; and that her valour was both spritely and Juditious: and from that time, they looked upon her, not only as an Amazon, equal to those represented in Fables, but esteemed her also as a learned Person amongst the Muses.