Marriage

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William Blackwood, Prince's-Street: and John Murray, Albemarle-Street, London, 1819 - 343 pages
Marriage (1818) is the shrewdly observant tale of a young woman's struggles with parental authority and courtship. Like her contemporaries, Maria Edgeworth and Jane Austen, Susan Ferrier adopts an ideal of rational domesticity, illustrating the virtues of a reasonable heroine who learns to act for herself. This new edition features an introduction incorporating recent critical work on national identity and gender, and firmly situating the novel within the context of both Scottish literature and women's writing.
 

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Page 100 - Still to be neat, still to be drest, As you were going to a feast ; Still to be powdered, still perfumed: Lady, it is to be presumed, Though art's hid causes are not found, All is not sweet, all is not sound. Give me a look, give me a face; That makes simplicity a grace ; Robes loosely flowing, hair as free : Such sweet neglect more taketh me, Than all the adulteries of art ; They strike mine eyes, but not my heart.
Page 70 - Beyond the pomp of dress ; for loveliness Needs not the foreign aid of ornament, But is, when unadorned, adorned the most ; Thoughtless of beauty, she was Beauty's self, Recluse amid the close-embowering woods.
Page 46 - And overcome us like a summer's cloud, Without our special wonder? You make me strange Even to the disposition that I owe...
Page 303 - Did I but purpose to embark with thee On the smooth surface of a summer's sea ; While gentle zephyrs play in prosperous gales, And fortune's favour fills the swelling sails ; But would forsake the ship, and make the shore, When the winds whistle, and the tempests roar...
Page 84 - For contemplation he and valour formed, For softness she and sweet attractive grace; He for God only, she for God in him.
Page 201 - Wha looks to dreams, my winsome dame ? Nae cause hae ye to fear : " And syne he kindly kissed her cheek, And syne the starting tear. Now to the gude green-wood he's gane, She to her painted bower ; But first she closed the windows and doors Of the castle, ha', and tower. They steeked doors, they steeked yetts, Close to the cheek and chin ; They steeked them a' but a wee wicket, And Lammikin crap in.
Page 112 - Lurk'd in her hand, and mourn'd his captive queen: He springs to vengeance with an eager pace, And falls like thunder on the prostrate ace. The nymph, exulting, fills with shouts the sky; The walls, the woods, and long canals reply. Oh thoughtless mortals ! ever blind to fate, Too soon dejected, and too soon elate: Sudden these honours shall be snatch'd away, And curs'd for ever this victorious day.
Page 24 - He was a good looking old man, with something of the air of a gentleman, in Spite of the inelegance of his dress, his rough manner, and provincial accent. After warmly welcoming his son, he advanced to his beautiful daughter-in-law, and, taking her in his arms, bestowed a loud and hearty kiss on each cheek ; then, observing the paleness of her complexion, and the tears that swam in her eyes, " What ! not frightened for our Highland hills, my leddy? Come, cheer up — trust me, ye'H find as warm hearts...
Page 31 - I'll desire Tibby to bring a few." "Will you take a little soup, love?" asked Douglas. His lady assented; and Miss Nicky vanished, but quickly re-entered, followed by Tibby, carrying a huge bowl of coarse broth, swimming with leeks, greens, and grease. Lady Juliana attempted to taste it; but her delicate palate revolted at the homely fare; and she gave up the attempt, in spite of Miss Nicky's earnest entreaties to take a few more of these excellent family broth. "I should think...
Page 189 - Not a breath was stirring, not a sound was heard save the rushing of a waterfall, the tinkling of some silver rivulet, or the calm rippling of the tranquil lake; now and then, at intervals, the fisherman's Gaelic ditty chanted, as he lay stretched on the sand in some sunny nook ; or the shrill distant sound of childish glee. How delicious to the feeling heart to behold so fair a scene of unsophisticated Nature, and to listen to her voice alone, breathing the accents of innocence and joy ! But none...

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