GIRLHOOD SHAKESPEARES HEROINES A S OIF TALES MARY COWDEN CLARKE, Of
TH OOMCOKAKC TO SHA-KESPEAXtE, TOEK G. P. PUTNAMS SONS IBS FIFTH A,
V3SNtJB 1878 UNIFORM WITH THIS VOLUME BY MRS. COWDEN CLARKE. THE
SISLHOOD OF SHAKESPEARES HEROINES, CONTAINING THK FOLLOWING TALKS
ISABELLA THE VOTARESS. KATHRINA AND BIANCA THE SHREW AND THE
DEMURE. OPHELIA THE ROSE OF ELSINORK. ROSALIND AND CELIA THE
FRIENDS JULIET THE WHITE DOVE OF VERONA. PREFACE. IF ever Preface
were especially needful, it is surely so in tlie preseoj instance,
to state an explanatory word concerning the design of the work, and
an exculpatory word touching the choice of its subject. The design
has been, to trace the probable antecedents in the history of some
of Shakespeares women to imagine the possible circumstances and
influences of scene, event, and associate, surrounding the infant
life of his heroines, which might have conduced to originate and
foster those germs of character recognized in their maturity, as by
him developed to conjecture what might have been the first
imperfect dawnings of that which he has shown us in the meridian
blaze of perfection and it was believed that such a design would
combine much matter of interesting speculation, afford scope for
pleasant fancy, and be productive of enter tainment in the various
narratives. Although little or no attempt will be found in these
tales to give pictures of the times in which their chief actors may
be supposed to have lived, yet it is hoped that no gross violation
of probability in period, scene, or custom, has been committed. The
development of character, not of history, has been the intention.
In the case of the early historic personage who figures in
thesebiographic tales Lady Macbeth names and facts have been used
but with as little regard to their strict place in history, as was
paid by the poet himself, who took the story from, the old
chronicles, and modelled it after his own fashion.. If it be borne
in mind that all climax in incident, and sentiment was to be
carefully avoided throughout these stories, inasmuch as they are
PREFACE. merely preliminaries to catastrophes already ordained, the
obstacles in the way of giving them startling features of romance
will be understood. The aim has been to invent such adventures as
might be snppost x d to color the future lives to place the
heroines in such situations as should naturally lead up to, and
account for, the known conclusion of their sub sequent confirmed
character and after-fate in short, to invest each story with
consistent and appropriate interest, 1 would also remind my
indulgent readers and may mine be such, when they find me venturing
to make Shakespeares people act and speak, that here, his women are
in their girlhoodf - these are their sallet day, when they are
green in judgment, -immature, -but the opening buds of the future u
bright consummate flowers which he haa given to us in immortal
bloom. My exculpatory word ray word in extenuation is this. I
beseech tny readers to believe that love, not presumption, prompted
the subject of this series of stories Hot mine the sweetness or t
But mine the love that will not tlr And, born of love th vague
tolra That spurs an Imitative will, Shakespeare himself is my
voucher that ISTcver any thing can b amiss When stmplenees and duty
tender it And what poor duty cannot do, Noble respect takes It in
might, not merit CONTENTS, PORTIA THEHEIRESS OF BELMONT, ... - f
THE THANES DAUGHTER, 91 HELENA THE PHYSICIANS ORPHAN, . 178
rDESDEMONA THE MAG-NIFICOS CHILD, ., 9S ISO AND ALICE THE MERRY
MAIDS OF WINDSOR, S83 POET A THE OF BELMONT.
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