Book digitized by Google from the library of the University of California and uploaded to the Internet Archive by user tpb. Principal authorities ( p. xv-xviii) Introduction: Visions of fair women.--Women of the middle ages.--the duchesse d'Etampes queen of fetes.--Diane de Poitiers, the hymph of Fontainebleau. Catherine de Medicia. Monther of three kings--Gabrielle d'Estrees, almost a queen.--Marie de Medicis and Henriette d'Entragues, a queen and her rival.--Anne of Austria, a queen-mother.--Christina of Sweden, the sybil of the North.--Marie, Henriette, and Louise, a trio of fair women.--Mme, de Montespan and Mme, de Maintenon, passion and piety.--The Demoiselles de Nesle and Mme, de Pompadour, four sisters and a siren.--Mme du Barry and Marie-Antoinette, the shame and the pride of the palace.--Empress Josephine, a repudiated wife.--Helena of Mecklenburg, the bride of Fontainebieau.--Index