In the preceding chapters we have had notable examples of women whose beneficent influence and cooperation have enabled distinguished men of science to achieve results that would otherwise have been impossible. Among these--to mention only a few--were Mme. Lavoisier and Mme. Curie in chemistry, Mme. Lapaute and Miss Herschel in astronomy, Mrs. Agassiz and Mme. Coudreau in natural science and exploration, Mme. Schliemann and Mme. Dieulafoy in archaeology. One of the most illustrious women inspirers of France was Catherine de Parthenay, who, after attaining womanhood, became the brilliant Princess de Rohan, and was recognized as one of the most learned and most remarkable women of the sixteenth century. As a young girl she exhibited rare intelligence and displayed special aptitude for the exact sciences. For this reason her mother saw to it that her child had the benefit of instruction under the ablest masters that could be secured. The most noted of these was Francois Viete, the learned French mathematician, who is justly regarded as the father of modern algebra. In his day, especially in the higher classes of society, the education given to women was often more thorough than that afforded to men. For this reason, too, women not infrequently became distinguished in astronomy, which was then usually known under the name of astrology. Viete, in initiating his gifted pupil into the principles of this science, became himself so enthusiastic a student of astronomy that he determined to prepare an elaborate work on the subject--something on the plan of the _Almagest_ of Ptolemy--a work which he designated _Harmonicum Celeste_. In order that the instruction given his pupil might not be lacking in precision, Viete wrote out, with the most scrupulous care, the lessons designed for her benefit. The manuscripts containing these lessons were long preserved among the family archives, but nearly all of them were unfortunately consigned to the flames during the French Revolution in 1793. No one was more interested in Viete's mathematical researches--those researches which have rendered him so famous in the history of science--than was the Princess de Rohan. The former pupil was the first to receive notice of her distinguished master's discoveries and the first to congratulate him on his success. It was to this cherished pupil, who always remained his friend and benefactress, that Viete dedicated his important work on mathematical analysis entitled _In Artem Analyticam Isagoge_. The words of the dedication are a tribute to the learning and the genius of the pupil as well as an expression of the gratitude of the teacher. It reads as follows: