Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/337

This page has been validated.
OF CELEBRATED WOMEN.
323

DICALZI, (ISABELLA)

Wife of the famous Guido Mazzoni, a sculptor of Modena, learnt, it is said, the art of sculpture of her husband, and formed perfect figures in terra cotta. She was celebrated by Guarrico and other writers.

Abec. Pitt.


DIDO, (or ELISA) Queen of Carthage, Sister to Pigmalion, King of Tyre, and Wife of Sichœus, her Relation, who was murdered by her Brother on account of his great Riches.

Dido, detesting the execrable deed, and desirous to disappoint him of the expected fruit of his crime, lulled his suspicions to sleep till she had all things in readiness, and then privately eloped with her sister Anna, the flower of the Tyrian youth, and her most valuable effects.

After a long series of disastrous events, she landed on the coast of the Mediterranean, at a little distance from the place where the city of Tunis now stands. There, having purchased some land of the natives, she settled a colony of those who had followed her fortunes, B. C. 888. The natives of the country, invited by a prospect of gain, soon resorted to the strangers with the necessaries of life, and such other commodities as were most wanted. Finding themselves always civilly treated, they gradually incorporated themselves with them, and became one people. After a time, the citizens of Utica also, beginning to consider them as countrymen, sent ambassadors, with considerable presents, exhorting them to build a city on the place where they first landed. This proposal being agreeable to the secret

wishes