Source:
The Town and Country Magazine, Or, Universal Repository of Knowledge, Instruction, and Entertainment, volume 6, pages 639 to 640 (December, 1774), published by Archibald Hamilton, 1774; original at Harvard University
The biography:
When she came to Paris, all the supreme courts complimented her. She replied to all these harangues with a dignity consistent with her rank, and extempore. A doctor of divinity, at the head of his company, addressed her in these words, "Suecia te Christinam fecit, Roma christianam; faciat te Gallia christianissimam." "Sweden made you Christina, Rome a christian, may France make you most christian." This wish, which was the most flattering that could possibly have been offered her, intimated a hope that she might one day be queen of France; but it was very unlikely that a young king should conceive an inclination for a woman much older than himself, and who had quitted not only the amiable virtues of her sex, but every thing feminine, even to her dress.
She welcomed all the learned; she was not even ashamed to make a parade to them of her studies. Menage, whom she already knew by reputation, was appointed to introduce such persons as deserved her notice. In presenting them, he generally added, "This is Mons. such-a-one, a man of merit." One day, fatigued with a number of these visits, she said, with an air of chagrin, "This Monsieur Menage knows well the men of merit."
As she was fond of the company of scholars and men of genius, she went to one of the literary assemblies, then held at the duke of Guise's. Gilbert, her resident in France, there read a comedy of his own composing, in which the pleasantry was a little too free. Chapelain, author of the poem called The Maid, and then in high reputation, pronounced the comedy too licentious. Christina suddenly turned to Menage, who was also present at the reading of the piece, and asked what he thought of it. Menage, who divined the sentiments of the queen, commended it without reserve. "I am glad", cried Christina briskly, "that this comedy pleases you. One may depend upon you: as for Monsieur Chapelain, poor man! he would have every thing to be a maid."
Above: Kristina.
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