A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country/Bocage, (Mary-Anne le Page, Dame du)

BOCAGE, (MARY-ANNE LE PAGE, DAME DU) a French Poetess of the 16th Century,

Married, when very young, a gentleman of Normandy, who held a place of considerable profit under government. He made himself known by some very elegant translations from the English; and died before her. Madame du Bocage travelled a great deal, and published her tours through England, Holland, Italy, &c. When she was not only received with every mark of distinction and respect by many of the first personages of Europe, namely, the Pope, Cardinals, the king of England, &c. but admitted a member in most of the academies. In short, her poetical talents are looked upon as equal to the most celebrated. Her Paradis Terrestre, printed in 1744, is esteemed an incomparable imitation of Milton. She made some alterations, in order to conform it more to the taste of her own nation; and, as she modestly observes, retrenched some parts which seemed too highly coloured to attempt copying. It must be confessed, Madame du Bocage has done as much justice to her subject as the French language will permit of.

The Latin, English, and Italian languages, she was as well skilled in as her own. Milton and Tasso, her two favourite poets, she has imitated with equal success, and shewn she perfectly well understood the beauties of each author.

Voltaire wrote very elegantly in her praise. She was a handsome, graceful woman, lively and entertaining. Her other principal works are a translation of Pope's Temple of Fame, 1749; another of the Funeral Oration on Prince Eugene; Les Amazones, a tragedy; la Colombiade, 1756, a poem, and Le Prix alternatif entre les Belles Lettres & les Sciences. This piece was crowned at Rouen, 1746.

Memoirs of French Ladies. Letters on the French Nation.