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Nanteuil； en faisant mon image； A de son art divin signale le pouvoir； Je hais mes yeux dans mon miroir； Je les aime dans son ouvrage。
She had her share； however； of small but harmless vanities； and spoke of her impoverished family； says Tallemant； 〃as one might speak of the overthrow of the Greek empire。〃 Her father belonged to an old and noble house of Provence； but removed to Normandy； where he married and died； leaving two children with a heritage of talent and poverty。 A trace of the Provencal spirit always clung to Madeleine； who was born in 1607； and lived until the first year of the following century。 After losing her mother； who is said to have been a woman of some distinction； she was carefully educated by an uncle in all the accomplishments of the age； as well as in the serious studies which were then unusual。 According to her friend Conrart she was a veritable encyclopedia of knowledge both useful and ornamental。 〃She had a prodigious imagination；〃 he writes； 〃an excellent memory； an exquisite judgment； a lively temper； and a natural disposition to understand everything curious which she saw done； and everything laudable which she heard talked of。 She learned the things that concern agriculture； gardening； housekeeping； cooking； and a life in the country； also the causes and effects of maladies； the composition of an infinite number of remedies； perfumes； scented waters and distillations useful or agreeable。 She wished to play the lute； and took some lessons with success。〃 In addition to all this； she mastered Spanish and Italian； read extensively and conversed brilliantly。 At the death of her uncle and in the freshness of her youth； she went to Paris with her brother who had some pretension as a poet and dramatic writer。 He even posed as a rival of Corneille； and was sustained by Richelieu； but time has long since relegated him to comparative oblivion。 His sister； who was a victim of his selfish tyranny； is credited with much of the prose which appeared under his name； indeed； her first romances were thus disguised。 Her love for conversation was so absorbing； that he is said to have locked her in her room； and refused her to her friends until a certain amount of writing was done。 But； in spite of this surveillance； her life was so largely in the world that it was a mystery when she did her voluminous work。
Of winning temper and pleasing address； with this full equipment of knowledge and imagination； versatility and ambition； she was at an early period domesticated in the family of Mme。 de Rambouillet as the friend and companion of Julie d'Angennes。 Her graces of mind and her amiability made her a favorite with those who frequented the house； and she was thus brought into close contact with the best society of her time。 She has painted it carefully and minutely in the 〃Grand Cyrus；〃 a romantic allegory in which she transfers the French aristocracy and French manners of the seventeenth century to an oriental court。 The Hotel de Rambouillet plays an important part as the Hotel Cleomire。 When we consider that the central figures were the Prince de Conde and his lovely sister the Duchesse de Longueville； also that the most distinguished men and women of the age saw their own portraits； somewhat idealized but quite recognizable through the thin disguise of Persians； Greeks； Armenians； or Egyptians； it is easy to imagine that the ten volumes of rather exalted sentiment were eagerly sought and read。 She lacked incident and constructive power； but excelled in vivid portraits； subtle analysis； and fine conversations。 She made no attempt at local color； her plots were strained and unnatural； her style heavy and involved。 But her penetrating intellect was thoroughly tinged with the romantic spirit； and she had the art of throwing a certain glamour over everything she touched。 Cousin； who has rescued the memory of Mlle。 de Scudery from many unjust aspersions； says that she was the 〃creator of the psychological romance。〃 Unquestionably her skill in character painting set the fashion for the pen portraits which became a mania a few years later。
She depicts herself as Sapppho； whose opinions may be supposed to reflect her own。 In these days； when the position of women is discussed from every possible point of view； it may be interesting to know how it was regarded by one who represented the thoughtful side of the age in which their social power was first distinctly asserted。 She classes her critics and enemies under several heads。 Among them are the 〃light and coquettish women whose only occupation is to adorn their persons and pass their lives in fetes and amusementswomen who think that scrupulous virtue requires them to know nothing but to be the wife of a husband； the mother of children； and the mistress of a family； and men who regard women as upper servants； and forbid their daughters to read anything but their prayer books。〃
〃One does not wish women to be coquettes；〃 she writes again； 〃but permits them to learn carefully all that fits them for gallantry； without teaching them anything which can fortify their virtue or occupy their minds。 They devote ten or a dozen years to learning to appear well； to dress in good style； to dance and sing； for five or six； but this same person； who requires judgment all her life and must talk until her last sigh； learns nothing which can make her converse more agreeably； or act with more wisdom。〃
But she does not like a femme savante； and ridicules； under the name of Damophile； a character which might have been the model for Moliere's Philaminte。 This woman has five or six masters； of whom the least learned teaches astrology。 She poses as a Muse； and is always surrounded with books； pencils； and mathematical instruments； while she uses large words in a grave and imperious tone； although she speaks only of little things。 After many long conversations about her； Sappho concludes thus： 〃I wish it to be said of a woman that she knows a hundred things of which she does not boast； that she has a well…informed mind； is familiar with fine works； speaks well； writes correctly； and knows the world； but I do not wish it to be said of her that she is a femme savante。 The two characters have no resemblance。〃 She evidently recognized the fact that when knowledge has penetrated the soul； it does not need to be worn on the outside； as it shines through the entire personality。
After some further discussion； to the effect that the wise woman will conceal superfluous learning and especially avoid pedantry； she defines the limit to which a woman may safely go in knowledge without losing her right to be regarded as the 〃ornament of the world； made to be served and adored。〃
One may know some foreign languages and confess to reading Homer； Hesiod； and the works of the illustrious Aristee （Chapelain）； without being too learned。 One may express an opinion so modestly that； without offending the propriety of her sex； she may permit it to be seen that she has wit； knowledge； and judgment。 That which I wish principally to teach women is not to speak too much of that which they know well； never to speak of that which they do not know at all； and to speak reasonably。