The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 12, No. 332, September 20, 1828

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Various. The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 12, No. 332, September 20, 1828

ANNE HATHAWAY'S COTTAGE

THE NOVELIST

ANTONELLI;

UGGOLINO

MODERNIZED FROM THE "MONK'S TALE" IN CHAUCER

A LAPLANDER'S FAREWELL TO THE SETTING SUN

ANCIENT VALUE OF BOOKS

MARINE GLOW WORMS

EPITAPHS

THE COSMOPOLITE

WET WEATHER

MANNERS & CUSTOMS OF ALL NATIONS

DUELS IN FRANCE

SUPERSTITION RELATING TO BEES

NOTES OF A READER

LAW REFORMS

SUPPERS

TEA

POETS NOT BOTANISTS

RIVAL SINGERS

SHARKS

JONAH'S "WHALE."

MUSHROOMS

USEFUL KNOWLEDGE

MR. CANNING

NATURE AND ART

THE KING OF PRUSSIA

THE OPERA OF "OTELLO."

FRENCH NOVELS

AMBER

MUSICAL TALENT

COFFIN OF KING DUNCAN

AN IMPERIAL ENCORE

LARKS

PAINTING CATS

PLAY-WRITING

RETROSPECTIVE GLEANINGS

THE BISHOPRICKS OF ENGLAND AND WALES

ADDINGTON, SURREY

THE BELL-SAVAGE INN

PARISH FEASTING

THE GATHERER

STATIONERY LETTER

RUSTIC SIMPLICITY

TALL PEOPLE

A FLASH CARD

Отрывок из книги

When I was in Italy, Antonelli, an opera-singer, was the favourite of the Neapolitan public. Her youth, beauty, and talents insured her applause on the stage; nor was she deficient in any quality that could render her agreeable to a small circle of friends. She was not indifferent either to love or praise; but her discretion was such as to enable her to enjoy both with becoming dignity. Every young man of rank or fortune in Naples, was eager to be numbered among her suitors; few however, met with a favourable reception; and though she was, in the choice of her lovers, directed chiefly by her eyes and her heart, she displayed on all occasions a firmness, and stability of character, that never failed to engage even such as were indifferent to her favours. I had frequent opportunities of seeing her, being on terms of the closest intimacy with one of her favoured admirers.

Several years were now elapsed, and she had become acquainted with a number of gentlemen, many of whom had rendered themselves disgusting by the extreme levity and fickleness of their manners. She had repeatedly observed young gentlemen, whose professions of constancy and attachment would persuade their mistress of the impossibility of their ever deserting her, withhold their protection in those very cases where it was most needed; or, what is still worse, incited by the temptation of ridding themselves of a troublesome connexion, she had known them give advice which has entailed misery and ruin.

.....

This concession he insisted on, the first day he was able to leave his chamber, and visit her. He demanded nothing less than that she should resign herself up to him entirely, dismiss her other friends and acquaintances, leave the stage, and live solely with him, and for him. She showed him the impossibility of granting his demands, at first mildly, but was at last obliged to confess the melancholy truth, that their former relation existed no more. He left her, and never saw her again.

He lived some years longer, seeing but few acquaintances, and chiefly in the company of a pious old lady, with whom he occupied the same dwelling, and who lived on the rent of an adjoining house, her only income. During this interval, he gained one of his law-suits, and soon after the other; but his health was destroyed, and his future prospects blasted. A slight cause brought on a relapse of his former illness; the physician acquainted him with his approaching end. He was resigned to his fate, and his only remaining wish was, once more to see his lovely friend. He sent the servant to her, who, in more happy days, had often been the bearer of tender messages. He prayed her to grant his request: she refused. He sent a second time, entreating most ardently she might not be deaf to his prayers, with no better success. She persisted in her first answer. The night was already far advanced, when he sent a third time; she showed great agitation, and confided to me the cause of her embarrassment, (for I had just happened to be at supper, at her house, with the Marquess, and some other friends.) I advised her—I entreated her, to show her friend this last act of kindness. She seemed undecided, and in great emotion; but after a few moments she became more collected. She sent away the servant with a refusal, and he returned no more.

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