[83]: De là le bonheur et la solidité de leur mariage. En France, il n'est qu'une association de deux camarades, presque semblables et presque égaux, ce qui produit les tiraillements et la tracasserie continue.
[84]: Voir la peinture de ce caractère dans toute la littérature anglaise et allemande. Le plus grand des observateurs, Stendhal, tout imprégné des mœurs et des idées italiennes et françaises, est stupéfait à cette vue. Il ne comprend rien à cette espèce de dévouement, «à cette servitude, que les maris anglais, sous le nom de devoir, ont eu l'esprit d'imposer à leurs femmes.» Ce sont «des mœurs de sérail.» Voyez aussi Corinne.
[85]:
A perfect woman already: meek and patient.
Heywood.
[86]: Voir par contraste toutes les femmes de Molière, si françaises, même Agnès et la petite Louison.]
[87]: Beaumont and Fletcher. Philaster, acte V, sc. v.
EUPHRASIA.
My father oft would speak
Your worth and virtue; and as I did grow
More and more apprehensive, I did thirst
To see the man so praised; but yet all this
Was but a maiden longing, to be lost
As soon as found; till sitting in my window,
Printing my thoughts in lawn, I saw a God,
I thought (but it was you), enter our gates.
My blood flew out, and back again as fast,
As I had puff'd it forth and suck'd it in
Like breath. Then was I call'd away in haste
To entertain you. Never was a man
Heaved from a sheep-cote to a sceptre, raised
So high in thought as I: You left a kiss
Upon these lips then, which I mean to keep
From you for ever; I did hear you talk,
Far above singing! After you were gone,
I grew acquainted with my heart, and search'd
What stirr'd it so: Alas I found it love:
Yet far from lust. For could I have but lived
In presence of you, I had had my end....
.... Blest be that hand!
It meant me well; Again for pity's sake!
.... Never, sir, will I
Marry; it is a thing within my vow:
But if I may have leave to serve the princess,
To see the virtues of her lord and her,
I shall have hope to live:
ARETHUSA