Henry and Maria have let the sun go down on their anger. Dawn does not bring any improvement. If you have just stumbled upon Henry's and Maria's story, I suggest you click on The Matrimonial Ladder in the sidebar and scroll down to Part One.
Desperation
Breakfast renews the quarrels of my fable,
She spoils the tea, and he upsets the table.
All patience lost, no power can peace impart,
Only in one thing they are agreed_to part.
Breakfast renews the quarrels of my fable,
She spoils the tea, and he upsets the table.
All patience lost, no power can peace impart,
Only in one thing they are agreed_to part.
Detestation
Loud she proclaims the thousands which she brought him,
He cool retorts “twas only that which caught him”,
“The world shall know your conduct brute,” she cries,
“Sooner the better sweet,” the youth replies.
Loud she proclaims the thousands which she brought him,
He cool retorts “twas only that which caught him”,
“The world shall know your conduct brute,” she cries,
“Sooner the better sweet,” the youth replies.
Seperation
Equipped for parting see these quondam turtles,
Dead are love’s roses, withered all his myrtles,
Such are the ups and downs of love’s short story,
“For better or for worse,” tis death or glory.
Equipped for parting see these quondam turtles,
Dead are love’s roses, withered all his myrtles,
Such are the ups and downs of love’s short story,
“For better or for worse,” tis death or glory.
Unfortunately we are not shown what happens next, but it looks as if their parents got together.
Reconciliation
Now for a Kiss!—long as our absence,
Sweet as—our return
Now for a Kiss!—long as our absence,
Sweet as—our return
Our author does not leave us without an epilogue.
O happy they, the happiest of their kind
Whom gentler stars unite, & in one fate,
Their hearts, their fortunes & their beings blend.
Rarely’s a Rose without a Thorn,
To all our shares some stinging Nettles fall,
ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL.
Whom gentler stars unite, & in one fate,
Their hearts, their fortunes & their beings blend.
Rarely’s a Rose without a Thorn,
To all our shares some stinging Nettles fall,
ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL.
But I am not sure that the author is convinced of his motto, for he finishes with the images from the title pages, as if to remind us that this is a cautionary tale.
NB
Nought but Love can answer Love
And render Bliss secure.
Moral!
Always look before you leap
For as you sow, you’re like to reap.
Nought but Love can answer Love
And render Bliss secure.
Moral!
Always look before you leap
For as you sow, you’re like to reap.
MATRIMONIAL LADDER
or
Such Things are
“So they ripe and ripe!
And rot, and rot!!
And hereby hangs a tale!!
“ ‘Tis true, tis pity
And pity ‘tis,—‘tis true—!!!”
or
Such Things are
“So they ripe and ripe!
And rot, and rot!!
And hereby hangs a tale!!
“ ‘Tis true, tis pity
And pity ‘tis,—‘tis true—!!!”
And so we come to the end of our story. It casts an interesting light on the Regency view of romantic love. Is Henry a civilian Wickham (Pride and Prejudice) do you think, or just immature? Will Henry and Maria be able to develop a reasonable relationship or are they condemned to live beside rather than with each other for the rest of their marriage?
I think this tale was written for girls, warning them not to fall victim to a smooth-talking suitor. What do you think?
I think this tale was written for girls, warning them not to fall victim to a smooth-talking suitor. What do you think?
