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CAROLINE PICHI.EE. 159
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Ojste Of Tlie Most Popular Novelists, An...
Counsellor would be no undesirable inateh , soon formally declared himself her suitor , and the attachment being" _ajDproved by both
families , an engagement was contracted . Her lover being an accomefforts plished being musician directed , she now and paid assisted redoubled at various attention times to , that by Mozart art _, her ,
Haydn , Paisiello , and Metastasio , all occasional visitors at her father's house . But harmony was not long to reign uninterrupted _.
It was customary at that period for every lady , when she went into societto be surrounded by a circle of admirerswho even when they
had no y , hope or desire for any nearer connexion , , yet habitually paid her the most deferential homage , and while thus reigning like a queen
over her own little court , the declared lover was of course expected _, though not to supersede the other flatterers round his chosen fair
one , yet still to surpass them all in devoted attention . When , instead of this , Herr H presumed to exercise a sort of authority
over his betrothed , and even plainly to find fault with her , she began to doubt his affection , and to withdraw her own . Her warm
religious feelings were outraged by his bringing sceptical books for her mother's perusal , and by his ridicule of the fears she expressed
on the subject ; and feeling daily that there was less and less sympathbetween themshe at last told him , after the engagement
had lasted y three , that it must be at an endto which he readily acceded . years They , met as usual in society , and , even often sang
and acted charades together , apparently without pain on either sidebut the discovery that he who had once seemed the fulfilment
of her , ideal , was really so very commonplace a person , made her for some time very melancholy .
Caroline ' s poetic genius , which had for a time slumbered , was ere long awakened by the stirring public events of the
period . The triumphal entry of General _Loudon into Vienna , after the victory of Belgrade , inspired her with some spirited
verses , which attained great popularity , besides the compliment of the personal thanks of the hero of the day . She was little elated
by this first success , for then , as ever afterwards , she identified herself very little with her own compositionsand when once they
, were complete felt little interest in their subsequent fate . Her heart too was now filled with a new image , that of a brilliant
young nobleman and officer , who for a time seemed devoted to her , until it became apparent that he was incapable of constancy , and
again her tenderest affections were disappointed . This time the wound was very deepand she could only seek consolation in religion ;
but the sceptical reading , in which she had indulged , hindered her from attaining peace by this meansuntil again an English poet held
, out a beacon-light to guide her through the gloom . Happening to meet with a volume of the " Night Thoughts , " what Milton had
formerly done for her mind in inspiring her with a lofty theory of divinity , Young now did for 3 a _, er heart in winning her to a practical
trust in the Almighty Father . His verses sank like balm into her
Caroline Pichi.Ee. 159
_CAROLINE PICHI _. EE . 159
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Citation
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English Woman’s Journal (1858-1864), Nov. 1, 1862, page 159, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ewj/issues/ewj_01111862/page/15/
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