The Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1850-1852, 1850-06-13
CURIOUS MARRIAGES.

A curious legend isrela,cd TO Egi.
ward, a secretary Of Chsrlemagnc, and
= daughter Of the emperor. The sec.
retary fell desperately in love with the
princess, who at length allowed his adj.
vanccs One winters nigh, his visi,
was prolonged TO late hour. and in the
meantime deep body Of snow had fall.
en-. Ii he lcf, his foot marks wGnld he.
tray him. and yet to remain longer
would expose him no less to danger At
length the princess resolved to carry
him on her back to neighboring house,
which she did. !, hrppened. however r,
that from the window Of his chambe T
the emperor witnessed this novel pro.
cecding : and in the assembly Of the
lords on the following day. when dsugh.
ter and Egivard were present, he asked
what ough, 10 be done to man WIN
should c. mpel kings daughter to car
ry him on her shoulders through, frost
and snow, on winters night! They
answer that he was worthy Of death. -
The lovers became alarmed. but the
emperor. addressing Egivard, said.
"Iladst thou loved my daughter, thou
shouldst have come TO me thou are
worthy Of death - but give thee two
lives; take thy fair porter in marriage,
fear God, and love one another" This
was worthy Of one Of the greatest prin.
ccs, and also worthy the imitation of
many purse-proud aristrocrat of later
times.
Balzac, the French novelist. exhibits
another example of ecentrici,y in ma,ri.
monial affairs. According to a Partisan
correspondent, the arrival Of this cele-
brated author from Germany caused
an immense sensation in certain circles,
owing TO the romantic circumstances
connected with his marriage. 1t ap.
peares that some fifteen years ago, when
Balzac was at the zenith of his fame, he
was travelling in Switzerland, and had
arrived at the inn just at the very mo-
ment the prince and princess IIanski
were leaving it. Balzac was ushered
into the room they had just vacated,
and was leaning upon the window TO OBJ
serve their departure, when his atten-
ton was arrested by soft voice at his
elbow, asking for a book which had
been left behind upon the window seat.
The lady was certainly fair, but appear
ed doubly so in The eyes Of the poor
author, who intimated that the book
she was in quest of was pocket edit.
ion Of his own works, adding that she
never travelled without it. and that
without it she could not exist" She
drew the volume from beneath his el.
bow, and flew down stairs obedient to
the screaming summons Of her hus-
banda pussy old gentleman who was
already seated in the carriage, railing
in a loud voice against dilatory habits
of women in general, and his own
spouse in particular and the begilt
and emblazoned vehicle drove off, leav-
ing the novelist in state of self COM
placency the most enviable to be con-
ceived. This was the only occasion up
on which Balzac and the Princess
llanski had met, till his recent visit to
Germany, when he presented him self
as her accepted husband.
During these long intervening fifteen
years, however, literary correspon-
dence was steadily kept up between
the parties, till letter containing lite.
rary structures upon his writings, mis-
sivc Of another kind having n still more
direct personal tendency, reached him
from the fair hand Of the princess. 1t
contained the announcement of the de-
mise of her husband, the prince----that
he had bequeathed to her his domains,
and his great wealth.. h,.-.-and consequent.
ly that she felt bound to requite him in
some measure for his liberality, and
had determined upon giving him sue.
cessor---in the person of Balzac. 1t is
needless to say the delighted author
waited not second summons they
were forthwith united in wedlock, a
her Chateau on the Rhine, and sue
cession Of splendid fetes celebrated the
auspiciOus event.
The story of the marriage of Lamar
tine is also one of romantic interest,"
The lady whose maiden name wa;
Birch, was possessed of considerable
property, and when past the bloom O
youth she became passionately enamor
ed of the poet, from the perusal Of hi
'Meditations ; for some time she nurset
this sentiment in secret, and being ap
prised Of the embarrassed state of hi
affairs, she wrote him rendering th'
bulk Of her fortune. Touched will
this remarkable proof Of her generosity
and supposing it could be only cause'
by preference for himself, he at onc'
made an offer of his hand and heart.
lie Judged rightly and the poe, wa
promptly accepted liolden's Mag.
nrcInpnIy ONE OF 'EN-WlllIan