A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country/Bourges, (Clementia de)
BOURGES, (CLEMENTIA DE) a celebrated Poetess of Lyons, in the sixteenth Century,
Was not inferior to Louisa Labé in poetical and musical talents, but much her superior in birth and virtue. They were cotemporaries, and esteemed the Sapphos of the age; living in the most perfect friendship, till Louisa's conduct made it necessary for Clementia to break the connexion; which she did, though with great pain to herself.
In the different fêtes given to the French kings at Lyons, she played before them. She has been called the flower and the pearl of Lyonese Damsels; a pearl truly oriental. She was promised in marriage to a young lieutenant of the province, who was killed fighting against the protestants in Dauphiny, 1561. Clementia died of grief at the end of the next year, in the flower of her age. She was celebrated by the best writers of the time. Her poetry is esteemed elegant and correct, her measure smooth and harmonious.