The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-11
the affair.

Sarah walker, at the time Ha2utt became &C.
| quainted with her. seems to have been not
| more than 10 years OF age, and to have DOS
sessed at least tho devil's beauty" which all
women are said to have at that time OF life To
Hazlitt she was perfectly lovely. He speaks Of
her once as Of dlminutive stature. but he says
her form was exQuisitely turned and COM
pares her face to that OF the Madonnas Of the
Italian painters What Is presumably a
likeness OF her. printed as vlRnette on the
title page OF the Lber Amoris." does indeed
suggest the heads which Guido was fond OF de-
picting An outline OF it Is reproduced hero
with, but Of course 1t fails OF being ac-simie.
Hazlltt begins his narrative with conversa-
ton between her and himself about q copy Of
a painting by Guido or by Raphael he did not
know which, but which he rather thought to
be st. Cecilia by Raphael. and said 1t resem-
bled her. He tells her: :" II your color were
little heightened and you wore the same dress.
and your hair were let down over your Shout
ders as it is here. 1t might be taken for a
picture OF you. Look here. only see
how like it Is. The forehead Is like,
with that little obstinate protrusion in the
middle: the eyebrows are like. and the eyes are
Just like yours when you look Up and say Mol
never!" In the conversation Immediately fol-
lowing this. We find him telling her: How
beautiful your arms look In those short
sleevesl" and on her replying that she did not
like to wear them. he rejoins Then that Is
because you are mercful. and would spare
frail mortas who might die with gazing"
Further on he says: 81 should almost like you
to wear veil. and to be mufled UP from head
to foot; but even II you WERE and not a glimpse
OF you could be seen, it would be to no purpose;
you would only have to move, and you would
be admired as the most graceful creature in
the world"
In mind and education the young woman,
even in the partial light in which her lover
presents her. appears to have been no more
than might be expected from her station. The
few brief epistles attributed to her are OF tho
most commonplace character. and even the
language put into her mouth reveals no senti-
ment and no capacity for elevated passion. She
was simply the tailor's daughter. and the
lodging house drudge, who was not 80 much
pleased as frightened by the passion she ex-
cited in man 30 much her superior In station.
without being able to appreciate his claims to
her admiration Her very rusticity was her
safeguard, and she allowed her lover freedoms
with her person which. II she had possessed
moro refinement. would have been perilous to
her chastity. When she brought him his
breakfast In tho morning. as she was aocus-
toned to do. she would sit In his lap and per-
NIT him to kiss her and embrace her. without
being aware. apparently, that she was COM
promising herself. Indeed. her father once
saw her through the doorway sitting on Haz-
litt's lap. with her arms round his neck. and
his twlned round hers In the fondest manner.
and made no remonstrance although he after
ward profossed to have been surprised and
hurt" by what he saw. How she coquetted
with him In her clumsy way will appear from
the following passage In letter he wrote her:
aho Mr. DIV -dnv
and this put me mind OF that delicious night whom
went with your mother and you to SEQ Romeo and
Juliet" Can forget It for q momentf Your sweet
modest ooka your infinite propriey OF behavior, all
your winning ways your hesitancy about taking
my cRme out, till your mother did; your
laughing about nearly losing cloak your stepping
into tho coach without my being able to make tho
slightest discovery and. Obi my sitting down beside
you there-you whom had loved so long. 90 we'll and
your assuring me had lesSsned your pleasure at
the play by being with and giving your dear hand
to press in mnel thought in heaven, that slen
der, exquisitey turned form contained my all OF
heaven upon earth and IS folded you. my own, best
Sarah TO my BOSOM there was As you say tie betweeH
You did to mo for those few short moments to
be mine In all truth and honor and EAcTedneBs Oh that
we could be always so. Do not mock me, for am q
very child in love. ought to beg pardon for behaving
III AfsrwGrd, but Ihope tho little image made 1t up
between us.
Tho little Image" here referred to was q |
Of Napoleon Bonaparte. which he had
given her and which will be mentioned again
further on.
Habits passion soon became 80 imperious |
that he resolved TO bo divorced from his wife |
In order that no might offer himself in mar
rage TO Its object AS no divorce could be had |
In England in those days but by act OF Par |
lament, 1t was necessary to resort to Scotland.
In January. 1922 therefore. he removed to |
Edinburgh. and thither in April. his wife. who |
appears to have fully consented to the pro- |
ceedinR. came also. and by the middle OF July
the divorce was accomplished. During thiSp
enforced absence his love rose to pitch OF In. |
sanity, and he INDUCED In the widest imARi- |
nations. He took into his confidence friend,
Mr. 7. q. PRtmoro. the father OF the poet and |
poured out his soul TO him. In one Of his let |
tiers to this gentleman. he says:
am come back to Edinburgh about this cursed bust
ness aud Mira - " coming fron MonroSS nsXt
week How II will end can't say and don't care
except a Il regards the other AnAir should, con
R.ss Ia hAVs n n m make her the OHSF