—Editor ↩
After the death or murder of her husband, Peter III, Catherine Alexievna (1729–1796) (born Sophia Augusta), daughter of the Prince of Anhalt Zerbst, was solemnly crowned (September, 1762) Empress of all the Russias. —Editor ↩
And almost died for the scarce-fledged Lanskoi.
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He was the grande passion of the grande Catherine. See her Lives under the head of “Lanskoi.”
Lanskoi was a youth of as fine and interesting a figure as the imagination can paint. Of all Catherine’s favourites, he was the man whom she loved the most. In 1784 he was attacked with a fever, and perished in the arms of her Majesty. When he was no more, Catherine gave herself up to the most poignant grief, and remained three months without going out of her palace of Tzarsko-selo. She afterwards raised a superb monument to his memory. (See Life of Catherine II, by W. Tooke, 1800, III 88, 89.) —Editor ↩
Ten months after the death of Lanskoi, the Empress consoled herself with Iermolof, described, by Bezborodky, as “a modest refined young man, who cultivates the society of serious people.” In less than a year this excellent youth is, in turn, displaced by Dmitrief Mamonof. His petit nom was Red Coat, and, for a time, he is a “priceless creature.”
“He has,” says Catherine, “two superb black eyes, with eyebrows outlined as one rarely sees; about the middle height, noble in manner, easy in demeanour.”
But Mamonof suffered from “scruples of conscience,” and, after a while, with Catherine’s consent and blessing, was happily married to the Princess Shtcherbatof, a maid of honour, and not, as Byron supposed, a rival “man of the moment.”—See The Story of a Throne, by K. Waliszewski, 1895, II 135, sq. —Editor ↩
This was written long before the suicide of that person. [For “his parts of speech” compare—
“… that long mandarin
Moore’s “Fum and Hum, the Two Birds of Royalty”]
C‑stle-r‑agh (whom Fum calls the Confucius of Prose)
Was rehearsing a speech upon Europe’s repose
To the deep double bass of the fat Idol’s nose.”
Compare Beppo, stanza XVII line 8, Poetical Works, 1901, IV 165. See, too, letter to Hoppner, December 31, 1819, Letters, 1900, IV 393. —Editor ↩
Beneath his chisel—
or,
Beneath his touches—.
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—and bound fair Helen in a bond.
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Hor., Sat., lib. I sat. III lines 107, 108. ↩
That Riddle which all read, none understand.
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—thou Sea which lavest Life’s sand.
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“Fortune and victory sit on thy helm.”
—Richard III, act V, sc. 3, line 79
—Editor ↩
“Catherine had been handsome in her youth, and she preserved a gracefulness and majesty to the last period of her life. She was of a moderate stature, but well proportioned; and as she carried her head very high, she appeared rather tall. She had an open front, an aquiline nose, an agreeable mouth, and her chin, though long, was not misshapen. Her hair was auburn, her eyebrows black and rather thick, and her blue eyes had a gentleness which was often affected, but oftener still a mixture of pride. Her physiognomy was not deficient in expression; but this expression never discovered what was passing in the soul of Catherine, or rather it served her the better to disguise it.”
—Life of Catherine II, by W. Tooke, III 381 (translated from Vie de Catherine II (J. H. Castéra), 1797, II 450)
—Editor ↩
“His fortune swells him: ’Tis rank, he’s married.”
—Sir Giles Overreach, in Massinger’s New Way to Pay Old Debts, act V sc. 1
—Editor ↩
Hamlet, act III sc. IV lines 58, 59. —Editor ↩
“Not Caesar’s empress would I deign to prove;
Pope, “Eloisa to Abelard,” lines 87, 88
No! make me mistress to the man I love.”
—Editor ↩
O’er whom an Empress her Crown-jewels scattering
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Was wed with something better than a ring.
“Several persons who lived at the court affirm that Catherine had very blue eyes, and not brown, as M. Rulhières has stated.”
—Life of Catherine II, by W. Tooke, 1800, III 382
—Editor ↩
The historic Catherine (aet. 62) was past her meridian in the spring of 1791. —Editor ↩
Her figure, and her vigour, and her rigour.
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In
