Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-01-19

earnings on the lowest, both of his sex and
her own; he was almost always in dis
graceful state of intoxication; and not con-
tent with heaPing every neglect on his pa
tlent wife, he openly repIoached her with
her want of beauty.
'Now, too, she began to experience that
her position at court was only gilded sla-
very for the king, who hated the worthless
husband, made the innocent wife feel his
anger. A request she made, to be allowed,
on account of her health, to visit the Bohe-
mian baths, was refused anc on the edge
of petition her husband compelled her to
present for leave to accompany him on a
tour, she found written in pencil by the
king :-'Let him 60, but you shall remain.
''Mara was furious against the king, and
behaved most brutally to his wife, who per-
suaded him IN vain to keep prudent ST.
lence he complained loudly of Frederick S
tyranny, and even wrote ridiculous pamph-
lets upon his wrongs.
"This was, perhaps, the most miserable
period of Madame Mara's unhappy mar
ried life. The king showed his displeasure
openly against her, and she shared the odi-
am with which her husband was univer-
sally regarded anxiety, grief and distress,
threw her into dangerous fever. Just at
this iuncture, the Grand Duke Paul of Rus
sia, great admrer, almost worshipper,
of the COLOSSUS of the century, as he styl-
ed Frederick, arrived at Berlin. Among
the festivities arranged for the occasion was
great opera, by Tomelli in which Mad
anne Mara was to sing the principal part
On the morning of the day on which it was
to be performed, it was announced that
Mara was very i'll. The king sent her a
message to the effect that she could be well
if she pleased, and it was his pleasure that
she should be. She returned respectful
answer saying that she was really very
i'll. All Berlin was in commotion, and ca
gerly watched the result of battle between
Frederick the Great and his first singer
No other entertainment was arranged for
the evening; the king commanded the prep
arations to be completed Evening ap-
preached; the director, in despair, hastily
donned his court dress, and repaired to the
king, to whom he represented that he had
seen Mara that she was really i'll, and could
not be induced to leave her bed. FIeder-
ick, who either really thought, or affected
to believe, the indiSpostion ieigned, merely
said, Do not disturb yourself, she will be
present. and, half an hour afterwards, one
ofthe royal carriages, accompanied by eight
dragons, stopped before Madame Mara
door, and the officer announced to the ter
ri6ed servants, that he had orders to bring
their sick mistress by force to the theatre.
We will detail the story in Madame Mara's
own words to Goethe. She says:
"'Irose from my sick bed, and dressed,
with the soldiers standing at the door of my
apartment. Ill as was, only thoughts o.!
the direst revenge filled my soul. AS |
placed the dagger of ,frm,da it, my girde.
wished with all my heart that ! could slay
my pitiless tyrant with it. Yes, | said to
myself, as the heavy diadem was pressed
on my poor aching head, yes Twill obey
the tyrant; will sing, but in such accents
as he has never heard before; he shall lis
ten to the terrible reproaches dare not ut
ter in words In this mood | went 10 the
opera; the common people showed their
sympathy, when they saw my guard OF dra-
goons, my face wet with tears, and wan
with sickness. Some even rushed forward
TO rescue me, but they were driven back
by the soldiers The officer had orders to
accompany me to the siGe-scene, and stand
there until was called upon the stage to
sing nv part. felt sick unto death as
stood waiting, and my physician, who ac-
companed me, has since said that he fear
ed the worst looked on the stage once.
as the 5allet-dancerS swept past; it seemed
to me as If they were dancing on my grave.
Now, had to appear; sang the bravoura
in weak, trembling voice; but | felt very
much vesed that | could only sing so fecbly,
for ambition awoke in me. When in the
second act, had to sing the mi serame,
| poured out the whole sorrow and oppres-
sion of my heart. | glanced at the king,
and my looks and tones said, fyrant, am
here to obey your will, but you shall listen
only to the voice of my agony AS the
last plteous tones died on my lips, I looked
round all was still as death. Not soand
escaped the audience; they seemed as if
they were witnessing some execution. l
saw nv power, even in my weakness; this
gave me strength; felt my illness yield
for the time to the power Of melody within
me. Vanity, too, came to my assistance !;
she whispered that it would be an eternal
disgrace if allowed the grand duke, who
heard of my fame in a foreign land, to sup
pose that was not equal to my renown-
Then came that magnificent duet, in which
had to address RinoMo, Dove corri, 0
Rlnaldo? ? and then | raised my voice, but
did not put forth all my power. until had
to sing those burning words, .'Vivi felice /?
fndegno, profdo, traditore = My audience
seemed overpowered the grand duke lean
ed over his box, and testified his delight in
the most evident manner. For some mo-
ments after had finished, there was a
breattl.ss silence, and then came the full
thunder of applause. was sent for to ap-
pear again, and receive the plaudits; but
no sooner had | got behind the scene, than
| fell into faintng fit. was carried home,
and for many days my life was despaired
Of"
"Such was Madame Maras account of
this singular act Of despotism-one worthy
Of Nero himself. The Colossus of the age
certainly behaved like petty tyrant to his
principal singer. In vain she pleaded ILL
health and begged to be allowed to resign
her honorable post; the answer was always
the same-'You are to remain here. AT
length, urged by her husband, and heart
sick of her slavery, she attempted to fly
with him; but the fugitives were discover
ed, and brought back as state prisoners.
"Frederick, who desired nothing more
than praise from the French press, had been