HOME | DD

Description

‘Egwina the fair, the pride of all hearts, the lily of beauty in the bowers of bliss, the rose of sweetness in the regions of delight, the bright star of admiration in the sphere of Virtue—Egwina awakened the soft sigh of desire, and my bosom panted for the possession of her blooming charms.
‘Artless was the maid as the transparent rill that waters the uncultured vale; tender was her soul as the turtle of the glade, whose lonely note resounds through the grove, and lures back her wandering mate: oft would she frequent the green–wood's side (the glowing noon painted on her blushing cheek) to meet me unobserved and alone—oft steal along the banks of the western Avon (her flowing ringlets glittering in the moon–light beam) to listen to my ardent vows.
‘Her artless soul reposed with confidence in my love—but her confidence, alas!, was too basely betrayed. In the hour of unbounded tenderness I triumphed over her virtue, and sullied thee pure beauties of her modest cheek with the tears of repentant shame.
‘I triumphed—and I left the sweet victim to despair; to weep in the bowers that had been the scenes of our love, and lament to the winds that had scattered my perjured vows.

From: Fitzcarey; or, the Recluse of Selwood. A Norman Tale, The Universal Magazine of Knowledge and Pleasure, Volumes 88–89. Published according to Act of Parliament, for John Hinton, 1791.

Sentimentalism at its best. Basically the same story as Nikolay Karamzin's Poor Liza, only told from the perspective of the remorseful perpetrator. The abundance of pathos in these lines even manages to exceed Karamzin's. Another key difference is that this tale has a dazzlingly happy ending. It is also worth mentioning that we're most likely talking about a mutual consent situation here: a young couple who, in their heated passion, 'went too far'. But since it was the male who was looked upon as the 'active' part of the relationship, it was he who took the blame, while she was left with shame, and possibly a rebyonok (child) to look after.

"The Universal Magazine of Knowledge and Pleasure was a periodical published in London in the period 1747–1814 by John Hinton and W. Bent. It advertised itself as dealing with ''Letters, Debates, Essays, Tales, Poetry, History, Biography, Antiquities, Voyages, Travels, Astronomy, Geography, Mathematics, Mechanics, Architecture, Philosophy, Medicine, Chemistry, Husbandry, Gardening and other Arts and Sciences; which may render it Instructive and Entertaining. To which will be added An Impartial Account of Books in several Languages, And of the state of Learning in Europe; also Of the New Theatrical Entertainments.'' The magazine was published under Royal Licence according to an Act of Parliament obtained by Hinton." (says Wiki Pedia)

Description

‘Egwina the fair, the pride of all hearts, the lily of beauty in the bowers of bliss, the rose of sweetness in the regions of delight, the bright star of admiration in the sphere of Virtue—Egwina awakened the soft sigh of desire, and my bosom panted for the possession of her blooming charms.
‘Artless was the maid as the transparent rill that waters the uncultured vale; tender was her soul as the turtle of the glade, whose lonely note resounds through the grove, and lures back her wandering mate: oft would she frequent the green–wood's side (the glowing noon painted on her blushing cheek) to meet me unobserved and alone—oft steal along the banks of the western Avon (her flowing ringlets glittering in the moon–light beam) to listen to my ardent vows.
‘Her artless soul reposed with confidence in my love—but her confidence, alas!, was too basely betrayed. In the hour of unbounded tenderness I triumphed over her virtue, and sullied thee pure beauties of her modest cheek with the tears of repentant shame.
‘I triumphed—and I left the sweet victim to despair; to weep in the bowers that had been the scenes of our love, and lament to the winds that had scattered my perjured vows.

From: Fitzcarey; or, the Recluse of Selwood. A Norman Tale, The Universal Magazine of Knowledge and Pleasure, Volumes 88–89. Published according to Act of Parliament, for John Hinton, 1791.

Sentimentalism at its best. Basically the same story as Nikolay Karamzin's Poor Liza, only told from the perspective of the remorseful perpetrator. The abundance of pathos in these lines even manages to exceed Karamzin's. Another key difference is that this tale has a dazzlingly happy ending. It is also worth mentioning that we're most likely talking about a mutual consent situation here: a young couple who, in their heated passion, 'went too far'. But since it was the male who was looked upon as the 'active' part of the relationship, it was he who took the blame, while she was left with shame, and possibly a rebyonok (child) to look after.

"The Universal Magazine of Knowledge and Pleasure was a periodical published in London in the period 1747–1814 by John Hinton and W. Bent. It advertised itself as dealing with ''Letters, Debates, Essays, Tales, Poetry, History, Biography, Antiquities, Voyages, Travels, Astronomy, Geography, Mathematics, Mechanics, Architecture, Philosophy, Medicine, Chemistry, Husbandry, Gardening and other Arts and Sciences; which may render it Instructive and Entertaining. To which will be added An Impartial Account of Books in several Languages, And of the state of Learning in Europe; also Of the New Theatrical Entertainments.'' The magazine was published under Royal Licence according to an Act of Parliament obtained by Hinton." (says Wiki Pedia)