The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-08-11
OLYMPIA M0RATA.
BY REV. E. W. WHITNEY.
(Cincinnati.)

One of the most gifted and noble
hearted of Italian women was Olympia
Morata, born in 1925, in Ferrara, at
that time a magnificent city, the home
of poets, philosophers and artists.
Early in life her superior talents were
manifest, and by the advice of her emf
nent tutor, she was allowed to neglect
the ordinary duties of girls,-tO sew,
knit and spin-and devote her attention
to study and writing. At the age of
twelve she was thoroughly versed in
Greek and Latin literature, and familiar
also with rhetoric and the learned sci
ences of that day. Unlike some other
precious youths she remained through
life thoroughly modest in spirit, which
gave an added charm to her genius and
great attachments. When only fifteen
years of age she wrote polished letters
in Greek and Latin, composed defence
of Cicero against his calumniators,
which showed much of the beauty and
elegance of the great orator, and after
wards she originated essays, criticisms,
and many poems which called forth
high praise. She also gave lectures
upon classical subjects at Ferrara in
her sixteenth year, before the Duchess
Renee. Like many Of her race she was
a skillful musician. AT Ferrara she
met distinguished Protestants who
there found shelter from the persecu-
tions which ragged in other places; but a
more important source of religious cul.
ture was the Scriptures, to which she
had access both in the Greek and Latin
languages. BY these influences she
was freed from the superstitions of the
Catholic church, and until her death
was devoted and sincere believer in
the Protestant faith.
She married Andreas Grundler in
1549, man of fine talents and charac-
ter, a firm Protestant, and deyotedly
attached to her. With him she soon
afterwards moved to Augsburg. For
the sake of being able openly to profess
the Gospel; they next took up their res
idence in Schweinfurt, which, after a
siege of fourteen months by the CathO-
lies, marked by the ravages of pesti-
lence, famine, mutiny and death, was
entered and burned by its enemies.
Covered with rags and barefoot, she
fled with her husband ten weary miles
over rough roads to Hamelburg. After
many vicissitudes they found protection
and help, soon afterwards removing to
the beautiful town of Heidelburg,
where her husband had been appointed
professor of medicine in the uniyers-
ity AS a result of so many strains
and fatigues her health rapidly declined.
Realizing that her time on earth was
short, she committed herself wholly to
God and wished "to depart and be with
Christ" Shortly before death she
awoke from tranquil sleep and said,
II beheld just now place filled with
the clearest and brightest light" Again
smiling sweetly she said, q am all
gladness." "All places appear TO me to
be full of the fairest flowers" and thus
this gifted woman peacefully died, Oc-
tober 25, 1865.
Her husband and brother could not
survive her death, but expired a few
months after. Beautiful in their lives,
in their death they were not divided.
Her principal works have been de-
stroyed by the ravages of time, but nc
one can read her biography and few
surviving compositions without being
impressed with the quickness and
scope Of her mind, the greatness of her
attainments, and her exalted Christian
character.