MATRAINI, CLARA CANTARINI,
Was of a noble family of Lucca, and one of the best Italian poets of the sixteenth century. Her style is said to be pure, correct, and full of force and elegance; her ideas clear, noble, and ingenious; and she particularly excels as a lyrist. Many of her pieces were printed at Venice, in 1560. Many others were subjoined to her letters, which were printed at Lucca in 1595. In these she appears well instructed in sacred history, and in theology in general; one, to her son, contains many useful maxims of manners and conduct. Her "Christian Meditations," mixed with very beautiful scraps of poetry, and concluded by a female's ode to the Almighty, were printed there. She also wrote a life of the Virgin Mary, in which are many pieces of poetry; others are found in different collections. She was well skilled in the Platonic philosophy, was generally esteemed by the literati of that age, and corresponded with many of them.
MATTUGLIANA MEA.
Among the women who gave lustre to the literature of Bologna during the fifteenth century, was Bartolomea, whom her contemporaries universally called Mea. She is supposed to have been the wife of Michele Mattugliani, or Mattugani, a man honoured and respected by his fellow-citizens, both for his own merit, and for the elevated situation to which his birth entitled him. She is represented as beautiful, accomplished, and learned. A modern Bolognese writer has indulged his imagination with the probabilities of a romantic attachment between her and the young Carlo Cavalcabo; but this is mere fantasy: we have nothing to authenticate, or even afford the slightest base for such a legend. On the contrary, Mea appears to have been a prudent, virtuous wife. Carlo Cavalcabo, elevated to the lordship of Bologna in 1405, took pleasure in a select society of intellectual persons. He addressed to the Bolognese poetess' a poetical epistle which breathes nothing but the most respectful friendship. She replied to it by an answer in terza rima, which is the only one of her works now-extant. The poetry is graceful, sweet, and of an elevated moral tone. She enumerates the titles and honours of Cavalcabo, gives him just praise without adulation; in a dignified manner she thanks him for attributing so much merit to her, while she modestly disclaims his praises; she says they will be to her an incentive to improvement. Then follows a learned account of those women who have honoured their sex by virtue, with deprecations for those who have sought other than honest fame. She concludes by exhorting the Lord of Cremona to meritorious enterprises.
MAUPIN, N. AUBIGNY,
A celebrated singer at the Paris opera. She possessed great personal courage; and. On some occasions, assumed a man's dress to avenge insults offered to her. She left the stage in 1705, and died in 1707, aged thirty-three.
MAYO, SARAH C. EDGARTON,
Was born in Shirley, Massachusetts, in 1819. She began to write
