Chapter Mariana to Marine of M by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Mariana to Marine

Mariana, sister of Ludovi’co Sforza duke of Milan, and wife of Francesco his chief minister of state.—Massinger: The Duke of Milan (1622).

Mariana, daughter of lord Charney; taken prisoner by the English, and in love with Arnold (friend of the Black Prince). Just before the battle of Poitiers, thinking the English cause hopeless, Mariana induces Arnold to desert; but lord Charney will not receive him. Arnold returns to the English camp, and dies in the battle. Lord Charney is also slain, and Mariana dies distracted.—Shirley: Edward the Black Prince (1640).

Mariana, the young lady that Lovegold the miser wanted to marry. (For the tale, see Lovegold, p. 632.)—Fielding: The Miser (1732).

Mariana, the daughter of a Swiss burgher, “the most beautiful of women.” “Her gentleness a smile without a smile, a sweetness of look, speech, act.” Leonardo being crushed by an avalanche, she nursed him through his illness, and they fell in love with each other. He started for Mantua, but was detained for two years captive by a gang of thieves; and Mariana followed him, being unable to support life where he was not. In Mantua count Florio fell in love with her, and obtained her guardian’s consent to their union; but Mariana refused, was summoned before the duke (Ferrardo), and judgment was given against her. Leonardo, being present at the trial, now threw off his disguise, and was acknowledged to be the real duke. He assumed his rank, and married Mariana; but, being called to the camp, left Ferrardo regent. Ferrardo, being a villain, laid a cunning scheme to prove Mariana guilty of adultery with Julian St. Pierre, a countryman; but Leonardo refused to believe the charge. Julian, who turned out to be Mariana’s brother, exposed the whole plot of Ferrardo, and amply cleared his sister of the slightest taint or thought of a revolt.—Knowles: The Wife (1833).

Mariana, daughter of the king of Thessaly. She was beloved by sir Alexander, one of the three sons of St. George the patron saint of England. Sir Alexander married her, and became king of Thessaly.—R. Johnson: The Seven Champions of Christendom, iii. 2, 3, II (1617).

Mariana in the Moated Grange, a young damsel who sits in the moated grange, looking out for her lover, who never comes; and the burden of her lifesong is, “My life is dreary, for he cometh not; I am aweary, and would that I were dead!”

The sequel is called Mariana in the South, in which the love-lorn maiden looks forward to her death, “when she will cease to be alone, to live forgotten, and to love forlorn.”—Tennyson: Mariana (in two parts).

Mariana, the lady betrothed to Angelo, passed her sorrowful hours “at the Moated Grange.” Thus the duke says to Isabella—

Haste you speedily to Angelo.… I will presently to St. Luke’s. There, at the moated grange, resides the dejected Mariana.—Shakespeare: Measure for Measure, act iii. sc. I (1603).

Marianne , a statuette to which the red republicans of France pay homage. It symbolizes the republic, and is arrayed in a red Phrygian cap. This statuette is sold at earthenware shops, and in republican clubs, enthroned in glory, and sometimes it is carried in procession to the tune of the Marseillaise. (See Mary Anne, p. 682.)

The reason seems to be this: Ravaillac, the assassin of Henri IV. (the Harmodius or Aristogiton of France), was honoured by the red republicans as “patriot, deliverer, and martyr.” This regicide was incited to his deed of blood by reading the celebrated treatise De Rege et Regio Institutione, by Mariana the Jesuit, published 1599 (about ten years previously). As Mariana inspired Ravaillac “to deliver France from her tyrant” (Henri IV.), the name was attached to the statuette of liberty, and the republican party generally.

(The association of the name with the guillotine favours this suggestion.)