Maria, wife of Frederick, the unnatural and licentious brother of Alphonso, king of Naples. She is a virtuous lady, and appears in strong contrast to her infamous husband.—Beaumont and Fletcher, A Wife for a Month (1624).
Maria, daughter and only child of Thorowgood, a wealthy London merchant. She is in love with George Barnwell, her father’s apprentice; but George is executed for robbery and murder.—George Lillo, George Barnwell (1732).
A dying man sent for David Ross, the actor [1728-1790], and addressed him thus: “Some forty years ago, like ‘George Barnwell’ I wronged my master to supply the unbounded extravagance of a ‘Millwood.’ I took her to see your performance, which so shocked me that I vowed to break the connection and return to the path of virtue. I kept my resolution, replaced the money I had stolen, and found a ‘Maria’ in my master’s daughter.... I have now left £1000 affixed to your name in my will and testament.”—Pelham, Chronicles of Crime.
Maria, the ward of Sir Peter Teazle. She is in love with Charles Surface, whom she ultimately marries.—Sheridan, School for Scandal (1777).
Maria, “The maid of the Oaks,” brought up as the ward of Oldworth, of Oldworth Oaks, but is in reality his daughter and heiress. Maria is engaged to Sir Harry Groveby, and Harry says, “She is the most charmingest, sweetest, delightfulest, mildest, beautifulest, modestest, genteelest young creature in the world.”—J. Burgoyne, The Maid of the Oaks.
Maria, a maiden whose banns were forbidden, “by the curate of the parish who published them;” in consequence of which, Maria lost her wits, and used to sit on the roadside near Moulines (2 syl.), playing on a pipe vesper hymns to the Virgin. She led by a ribbon a little dog named Silvio, of which she was very jealous, for at one time she had a favorite goat that forsook her.—Sterne, Sentimental Journey (1768).
Maria, a foundling, discovered by Sulpizio, a sergeant of the 11th regiment of Napoleon’s Grand Army, and adopted by the regiment as their daughter. Tonio, a Tyrolese, saved her life and fell in love with her. But just as they were about to be married the marchioness of Birkenfield claimed the foundling as her own daughter, and the sutler girl had to quit the regiment for the castle. After a time, the castle was taken by the French, and although the marchioness had promised Maria in marriage to another, she consented to her union with Tonio, who had risen to the rank of a field-officer.—Donizetti, La Figlia del Reggimento (an opera, 1840).
Maria [Delaval], daughter of colonel Delaval. Plighted to Mr. Versatile, but just previous to the marriage Mr. Versatile, by the death of his father, came into a large fortune and baronetcy. The marriage was deferred; Mr. (now Sir George) Versatile went abroad, and became a man of fashion. They met, the attachment was renewed, and the marriage consummated.
Maria [Latham.] “An elderly woman with a plain, honest face, as kindly in expression as she can be perfectly sure she feels, and no more;” aunt to Lydia Blood. When she hears that the stewardess on the Aroostook is a boy, and the cook not a woman, she is slightly confounded, but rallies under the conviction that “Lyddy’ll know how to conduct herself wherever she is.”—W. D. Howells, The Lady of the Aroostook (1879).
Maria [Wilding], daughter of Sir Jasper Wilding. She is in love with Beaufort; and, being promised in marriage against her will to George Philpot, disgusts him purposely by her silliness. George refuses to marry her, and she gives her hand to Beaufort.—Murphy, The Citizen (1757).