Life and Letters of Elisabeth, Last Duchess of Gordon (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1865. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... chapter iii. the marchioness of huntly. 1813-1827. A good that never satisfies the mind, A beauty fading like the April flowers, A sweet with floods of gall that runs combined, A pleasure passing ere in thought made ours, --To me this world did once seem sweet and fair: Now like imagined landscape in the air And weeping rainbows, her best joys I find. Therefore, as doth the pilgrim whom the night Hastes darkly to imprison on his way, Think on thy Home, my soul, and think aright Of what's yet left thee of life's wasting day. The wary mariner so fa3t not flies An howling tempest, harbour to attain; Nor shepherd hastes, when frays of wolves arise, So fast to fold his bleating train, As I Now fly the world and what it most doth prize, And Sanctuary seek, free to remain." Dbummond Of Hawthornden. I. her early married life. The Marquis of Huntly was possessed of many attractions. He was tall, and handsome in form and feature; was amiable, affectionate, generous; and was endowed with excellent natural talents, though they had been little cultivated either in boyhood or in his youthful service in the army abroad. A great favourite in his own circle, he was likewise highly popular with all classes of the community. But he was a thorough man of the world, and made no conscience of keeping himself from its follies and its sins. Miss Brodie herself was still only of the world, and in that sense the yoke was not unequal, while the marriage was both approved of and desired by her father. But the reasonable prospect of its yielding true happiness was slender; the step was a hazardous one for a simpleminded girl to take; and her old friend Lady Leven affectionately warned her of the risk she was about to run. The marriage, how...