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    The Sicilian Lover: 'I know that love can take all form's to please''
    The Sicilian Lover: 'I know that love can take all form's to please''
    The Sicilian Lover: 'I know that love can take all form's to please''
    Ebook103 pages1 hour

    The Sicilian Lover: 'I know that love can take all form's to please''

    By Mary Robinson

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    About this ebook

    Mary Robinson was born in Bristol, England on 27th November 1757.

    Her father, Nicholas Darby, a naval captain, deserted her mother, Hester, for his mistress when Mary was still a child. Without the support of her husband, Hester Darby supported her five children by opening a school for young girls in Little Chelsea, London, (where Mary was teaching by her 14th birthday). On a short return to the family, Captain Darby had the school closed which under English law he was entitled to do.

    Mary, who at one point attended a school run by the social reformer and poet Hannah More, came to the attention of actor David Garrick. Acting was to her way into the arts, although in those times it was also a chaotic and difficult time for any actress.

    A marriage at 15 to a clerk who claimed a large inheritance proved troublesome. After the marriage Mary discovered that her husband had no inheritance but he did have a taste for living way beyond his means and for multiple affairs that he made no effort to hide. Her husband though was now arrested and imprisoned for debt in Fleet Prison. Mary and their six-month old child accompanied him.

    However it was here that she discovered she could publish poetry and earn money, as well as be distracted from the harsh reality around her. The result was ‘Poems by Mrs. Robinson’, published in 1775.

    After their release from prison Mary returned to the theatre. Her first performance was playing Juliet, at Drury Lane Theatre in December 1776. Playing Perdita ‘A Winter’s Tale’ at 21 in 1779 attracted the attention of the young Prince of Wales and the offer of twenty thousand pounds to become his mistress.

    However, the Prince ended the affair in 1781 and refused to pay the promised sum.

    From the late 1780s, Mary’s poetry distinguished her so much that she was referred to as ‘the English Sappho’. In addition she authored eight novels, three plays, feminist treatises, and an autobiographical manuscript that was incomplete at the time of her death.

    Mary Darby Robinson died in poverty at Englefield Cottage, Englefield Green, Surrey, on 26th December 1800, aged 44, having survived several years of ill health.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPortable Poetry
    Release dateJan 20, 2019
    ISBN9781787803992
    The Sicilian Lover: 'I know that love can take all form's to please''
    Author

    Mary Robinson

    Mary Robinson is the President of Realizing Rights: The Ethical Globalization Initiative, former President of Ireland, and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (1997-2002).

    Read more from Mary Robinson

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      Book preview

      The Sicilian Lover - Mary Robinson

      The Sicilian Lover by Mary Robinson

      A DRAMATIC POEM, IN FIVE ACTS

      Mary Robinson was born in Bristol, England on 27th November 1757.

      Her father, Nicholas Darby, a naval captain, deserted her mother, Hester, for his mistress when Mary was still a child. Without the support of her husband, Hester Darby supported her five children by opening a school for young girls in Little Chelsea, London, (where Mary was teaching by her 14th birthday). On a short return to the family, Captain Darby had the school closed which under English law he was entitled to do.

      Mary, who at one point attended a school run by the social reformer and poet Hannah More, came to the attention of actor David Garrick.  Acting was to her way into the arts, although in those times it was also a chaotic and difficult time for any actress.

      A marriage at 15 to a clerk who claimed a large inheritance proved troublesome. After the marriage Mary discovered that her husband had no inheritance but he did have a taste for living way beyond his means and for multiple affairs that he made no effort to hide.  Her husband though was now arrested and imprisoned for debt in Fleet Prison.  Mary and their six-month old child accompanied him.

      However it was here that she discovered she could publish poetry and earn money, as well as be distracted from the harsh reality around her.  The result was ‘Poems by Mrs. Robinson’, published in 1775.

      After their release from prison Mary returned to the theatre. Her first performance was playing Juliet, at Drury Lane Theatre in December 1776. Playing Perdita ‘A Winter’s Tale’ at 21 in 1779 attracted the attention of the young Prince of Wales and the offer of twenty thousand pounds to become his mistress. 

      However, the Prince ended the affair in 1781 and refused to pay the promised sum.

      From the late 1780s, Mary’s poetry distinguished her so much that she was referred to as ‘the English Sappho’. In addition she authored eight novels, three plays, feminist treatises, and an autobiographical manuscript that was incomplete at the time of her death.

      Mary Darby Robinson died in poverty at Englefield Cottage, Englefield Green, Surrey, on 26th December 1800, aged 44, having survived several years of ill health.

      Index of Contents

      DRAMATIS PERSONS

      SCENE—Lombardy

      TIME—Sixteenth Century

      THE SICILIAN LOVER

      ACT I

      SCENE I.—A Pavilion at Valmont

      SCENE II

      SCENE III.—A Pavilion

      SCENE IV.—Evening. Before Valmont's Castle

      ACT II

      SCENE I.—A Gothic Hall, with a Gallery and Staircase

      SCENE II.—Before the Castle. Moonlight

      SCENE III.—Honoria's Chamber

      SCENE IV.—A Pavilion at Montalva’s Castle

      SCENE V.—In the Castle of Valmont

      ACT III

      SCENE L—The Inside of a Cavern

      SCENE II.—Night

      ACT IV

      SCENE I.—A Wood. Morning

      SCENE II.—Among the Apennines

      ACT V

      SCENE I.—The Front of an Old Monastery; with a View of the Apennines at Sunset

      SCENE II. A Thick Wood. Night. The Convent's Painted Windows Seen at a Distance

      SCENE III—The Chapel of the Convent

      MARY ROBINSON – A SHORT BIOGRAPHY

      MARY ROBINSON – A CONCISE BIBLIOGRAPHY

      DRAMATIS PERSONS

      Count Alferenzi, a noble Sicilian

      Marquis Valmont

      Leonardo, Brother to Valmont

      The Prince Montalva, an illustrious Milanese

      Duke Albert, his Son

      Ricardo, Captain of Banditti

      Francisco, an old Steward

      Banditti

      Belmonti, Lorenzi, Bellarmo, Combatants

      Honora, Daughter to the Marquis Valmont

      Constantia, Abbess of a Convent

      Agnes, the Friend and Attendant of Honoria

      Nuns

      SCENE—Lombardy.

      TIME—Sixteenth Century.

      ACT I

      SCENE I.—A Pavilion at Valmont

      Enter the MARQUIS VALMONT and PRINCE MONTALVA.

      MARQUIS VALMONT

      It shall he so! Think not, my honour'd liege,

      That after a long life of busy toil

      My reason can be sway'd by a weak girl;

      From the first dawn of helpless infancy,

      I've taught her mild obedience to my will,

      And count upon her duty more than love.

      PRINCE MONTALVA 

      I know her fix'd aversion to my son.

      MARQUIS VALMONT

      So weak a thought will not disturb my hopes.

      Firm to my purpose, though the heavens should yawn,

      And hurl their red bolts on my aged head,

      I would not waver! For your son has worth

      That makes his high descent his second claim!

      This day, in single combat, he shall prove

      The bravest youth that Lombardy e'er saw.

      PRINCE MONTALVA 

      The sacred friendship that has link'd our minds.

      From the warm sunny hour of lusty youth

      To the chill winter of declining age, I

      First turn'd my fancy towards the fair Honoria! 

      Yet, rather than by sorrow's icy touch

      To bend so sweet a blossom to the grave,

      I would renounce my hopes, and her, for ever.

      [Enter DUKE ALBERT.

      DUKE ALBERT [To MARQUIS VALMONT]

      I greet you, noble Sir; and in your looks

      Behold the herald of my future joy.

      MARQUIS VALMONT

      Alas! my son, fate frowns upon thy hopes;

      The fair Honoria, rich Italia's star—

      Alb, Say, what of her? Is there from nature's hand

      So rare a model of transcendent worth?

      The brilliant Hesperus that leads the day

      Is not so cheering to the pilgrim's sight

      As she to mine!

      PRINCE MONTALVA 

      Now, Albert, hear me speak:

      When last I saw her, on the tender theme,

      I mark'd on her pale cheek a trickling drop

      The silent herald of approaching wo!

      DUKE ALBERT

      O! 'tis the pure and fascinating gem

      That nature gives to maiden modesty,

      To make her work

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