Family
‹ 2 · Outline · 4 ›
3.Choosing a spouse: love, property and parental consent
3a.Marriage for love and worth versus marriage for money and rank
See also: Wealth 4d · Aristocracy 4
Homer, The OdysseyVol. 22
- p. 86–87Nausicaa wishes such a man might be her husband.read · scan
Aeschylus, Prometheus BoundVol. 8
- p. 198–199Chorus praises marriage among equals and shuns wedlock with a god after seeing Io's loveless maidenhood.read · scan
Buddhist WritingsVol. 45
- p. 757–758Marriage-seeking: the Brahmans search for a bride for a treasurer's son among families of equal rank.read · scan
Plutarch, ThemistoclesVol. 12
- p. 20Joke that his son commands Greece through mother and father; choosing his daughter's suitor for worth.read · scan
Pliny the Younger, Letters of PlinyVol. 9
- p. 195–197Pompeius Julianus preferred Euphrates as son-in-law for his merit over rank.read · scan
- p. 200–201Pliny picks a husband for a friend's niece, weighing the suitor's family, virtue, children and fortune.read · scan
- p. 292Pliny congratulates a friend on his daughter's match, praising the suitor's patrician family and hoping for grandchildren.read · scan
Saint Augustine, The Confessions of St. AugustineVol. 7
- p. 95His mother presses for his marriage so that baptism may cleanse him; a maiden is sought, and the friends' plan of a shared household founders on their wives.read · scan
Stories from the Thousand and One NightsVol. 16
- p. 378–379The Wezir's son clings to marriage into the royal house for its distinction and the bride's beauty.read · scan
The Voyages to VinlandVol. 43
- p. 6Eric's children listed; Freydis married Thorvard chiefly for his wealth; Biarni resolves to winter with his father.read · scan
William Roper, The Life of Sir Thomas MoreVol. 36
- p. 89More marries the eldest Colt daughter out of pity, not to shame her by preferring her younger sister.read · scan
Benvenuto Cellini, The Autobiography of Benvenuto CelliniVol. 31
- p. 39–40Paulino's father might welcome Cellini as son-in-law, prompting more playing.read · scan
Miguel de Cervantes, The History of Don Quixote of the Mancha, Part IVol. 14
- p. 87Orphaned Marcela is kept by a priest uncle, who will not marry her off without her consent despite gain.read · scan
- p. 87The uncle says parents should not bestow children where they lack liking; Marcela declines marriage as a burden for her years.read · scan
- p. 201Both sets of parents approve the match of equal blood and wealth; Cardenio proposes lawful marriage by asking her father.read · scan
- p. 257Parents warn her of unequal rank and offer to marry her well to forestall the pursuit.read · scan
- p. 260She warns Fernando of his father's wrath and that unequal matches between differing ranks do not last.read · scan
- p. 281Dorothea's invented tale of her father's foresight, orphanhood and refusal of an unequal marriage to the giant.read · scan
- p. 499–500The father lets his daughter choose among good suitors, commended as counsel to parents on marrying children, though he then delays with excuses.read · scan
Francis Bacon, The New AtlantisVol. 3
- p. 168Bensalem's marriage: chaste and faithful union contrasted with European marriage reduced to bargain for alliance, portion or reputation, with children less esteemed.read · scan
Thomas Dekker, The Shoemaker's HolidayVol. 47
- p. 469Lord Mayor and Earl of Lincoln debate whether Lacy may marry Rose; fathers guard their kin against an unequal match.read · scan
- p. 486–487The Lord Mayor plans to match his daughter to Hammon as a fit husband.read · scan
Ben Jonson, The AlchemistVol. 47
- p. 589A young widow's marriage prospects and her brother's vow she will marry no less than a knight.read · scan
- p. 635–636Surly woos the widow as a suitor, claiming her fortune and love in return for saving her.read · scan
- p. 653–655Face plans to marry the widow to Drugger, while the partners scheme against each other over the articles.read · scan
- p. 657–658Lovewit reports he has married the widow, Kastril's sister, whom Surly hoped to wed; marriage as a trick.read · scan
Philip Massinger, A New Way to Pay Old DebtsVol. 47
- p. 862–866Overreach's ambitions for his daughter's marriage stand against Allworth's suit.read · scan
- p. 895–896Overreach plans to coach his daughter, blaming her possible modesty on her mother.read · scan
- p. 896–898Overreach pushes his daughter to seduce Lord Lovell for a match; she refuses the strumpet's fashion, calling it devilish doctrine.read · scan
- p. 908–910Overreach feigns kinship with his nephew and arranges his daughter's match with Lord Lovell.read · scan
- p. 911Overreach seeks to marry his daughter into nobility and dandle a grandson Lord Lovell.read · scan
- p. 916Doubts whether Lovell joins families for Margaret's virtues or for lands wrung from Allworth and Wellborn.read · scan
- p. 916–919Lovell holds a man's happiness lies in choosing his wife, needing equality of years, birth and fortune; refuses to mix blood.read · scan
- p. 928Marriage plans for Lovell and the widow and for the young lovers Allworth and Margaret.read · scan
John Milton, Paradise LostVol. 4
- p. 331Nuptial rites first invoked; marriage of the righteous with the wicked line.read · scan
- p. 331Woman's domestic honour and chief praise are lacking in these women; ill-matched marriages bring woe.read · scan
Molière, Tartuffe, or The HypocriteVol. 26
- p. 208–211Damis worries about his sister's marriage to Valere; Orgon inquires after household health.read · scan
John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's ProgressVol. 15
- p. 106–107Marrying a rich wife is cited as a lawful gain.read · scan
- p. 231–232Marriage refused because suitors dislike her conditions; her sister's churlish husband cast her out for kindness to the poor.read · scan
William Penn, Some Fruits of SolitudeVol. 1
- p. 330Marriage advice: marry for love.read · scan
- p. 330–331Marriage without love breeds weariness and infidelity; marrying for money lacks satisfaction; children neglected compared with horses.read · scan
- p. 331–332In marriage prefer person to money, virtue to beauty, mind to body; a wife should be friend and second self.read · scan
- p. 332He who minds a body not a soul lacks the noblest comfort of married life.read · scan
Lady Grisel Baillie, Werena My Heart Licht I Wad DeeVol. 40
- p. 398–399His mother and sister oppose the match because she is poor and of lower degree.read · scan
Henry Carey, Sally in Our AlleyVol. 40
- p. 403–405Sally's parents are humble tradespeople; he plans to wed her.read · scan
Alexander Ross, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 567–568A bride's wedding-eve quarrel with parents and siblings over her poverty and pride, and her sister's longing to marry.read · scan
Benjamin Franklin, His AutobiographyVol. 1
- p. 65Courtship arranged by Mrs. Godfrey collapses over the daughter's dowry; the family breaks off the match and Franklin quarrels with them.read · scan
Samuel Johnson, Life of Addison, 1672-1719Vol. 27
- p. 171Addison's long courtship and unhappy marriage to the Countess of Warwick, who remembered her rank and treated him as her son's tutor.read · scan
Oliver Goldsmith, She Stoops to ConquerVol. 18
- p. 210–211Mrs. Hardcastle presses Tony's match with Constance to keep her fortune in the family; Constance feigns interest while loving Hastings.read · scan
- p. 257–258Two fathers press a match between their children, insisting on their liking, while Sir Charles wants only a good, virtuous girl for his son.read · scan
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, Minna von Barnhelm, or The Soldier's FortuneVol. 26
- p. 367–368Minna renounces marriage to Tellheim, whom she calls fortunate.read · scan
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, EgmontVol. 19
- p. 290–291Mother urges Clara to treat Brackenburg kindly and marry him, speaking from experience.read · scan
- p. 292–293Mother urges practical prudence about Brackenburg and the passing of youth; hosts Egmont with humble hospitality.read · scan
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Hermann and DorotheaVol. 19
- p. 349–350Mother praises courtship amid ruins; father urges Hermann to marry a well-dowered bride and stresses the household's beginnings and dowry.read · scan
- p. 353Father angrily forbids a peasant-born daughter-in-law and demands one who will requite him and play piano; Hermann leaves silently.read · scan
- p. 368Mother asks the father to consent to Hermann's own choice of bride, as they had always said he should have.read · scan
- p. 369–370Hermann hopes to marry and look back with joy, seeking his father's approval of a prospective wife.read · scan
- p. 370Father laments mother and son allying against the father; he grudgingly consents to the match, and the son promises daughterly gratitude.read · scan
- p. 401–402Hermann presents Dorothea to his parents as the wished-for housekeeper; father jests about choosing a bride and his own courtship.read · scan
Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The School for ScandalVol. 18
- p. 115–116Mrs. Clackitt's gossip breaks off matches, disinherits sons and causes divorces.read · scan
Robert Burns, Poems and SongsVol. 6
- p. 262–264The lord's marriage valued for lineage and land, not affection.read · scan
- p. 406–407Young wife sold in marriage by her mother for money and land to a peevish old manread · scan
- p. 455–457Meg's marriage is mocked as a drunken, loveless match.read · scan
Friedrich Schiller, William TellVol. 26
- p. 488–489Bertha's betrothal to Rudenz closes the play.read · scan
Alessandro Manzoni, I Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed)Vol. 21
- p. 233He demands that an honest youth be able to marry an honest willing girl.read · scan
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, Household TalesVol. 17
- p. 102–103Mother urges her daughters to mutilate their feet, sacrificing them for a royal marriage.read · scan
- p. 121Hans decides that such 'understanding' suffices for his household and marries her.read · scan
- p. 178The daughter's wisdom frees her father, and she is then married to the King.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, WorshipVol. 5
- p. 275–276Marriage to a pagan wife is condemned in the Vortigern verse, which speaks of mixing blood.read · scan
Hans Christian Andersen, TalesVol. 17
- p. 321–322The Shadow intends to get betrothed and provide for more than one family.read · scan
John Greenleaf Whittier, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1351–1353Judge weighs his proud, cold sisters and vain mother and marries a rich wife who lives for fashion.read · scan
- p. 1354–1355Maud marries a poor unlearned man; many children and care and childbirth pain mark her life.read · scan
Robert Browning, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1074Marriage as possession; the duke negotiates a dowry for a new bride.read · scan
Richard Henry Dana, Jr., Two Years Before the MastVol. 23
- p. 82–83Foreigners marry natives and raise children as Mexicans, not teaching English, to win acceptance.read · scan
3b.Parental arrangement of matches and the daughter's duty to obey
See also: Wealth 4d · Love 3a · Duty 9c
Homer, The OdysseyVol. 22
- p. 15Mother may return to her father's house for marriage; Telemachus seeks his father.read · scan
- p. 23The wooers demand Telemachus send his mother to be married to a husband chosen by her father.read · scan
- p. 25Eurymachus proposes sending Penelope back to her father's house for marriage gifts.read · scan
- p. 97–98Alcinous wishes Odysseus would wed his daughter and be called his son, offering house and wealth.read · scan
Confucius, The Sayings of ConfuciusVol. 44
- p. 14Confucius gives his daughter and niece in marriage to men he judges worthy.read · scan
- p. 33Min Tzu-ch'ien is praised as a good son; Confucius gives his niece in marriage to Nan Jung.read · scan
Aesop, FablesVol. 17
- p. 40Parents use guile to refuse the king's marriage proposal for their daughter.read · scan
Herodotus, An Account of EgyptVol. 33
- p. 58The king uses his own daughter as bait and finally gives her in marriage to the thief.read · scan
Buddhist WritingsVol. 45
- p. 758–759She says daughters are raised by parents to be married into another family, and must not injure themselves and burden them.read · scan
- p. 759–760Marriage negotiations between families: equal caste confirmed, father consents since a protector is found, comparing riches.read · scan
- p. 760–762A father prepares his daughter's departure to marriage with a trousseau.read · scan
- p. 762–763A father gives his daughter a vast dowry, implements and servants so she never has to borrow from neighbors in her new home.read · scan
- p. 763–764A father admonishes his departing daughter on conduct toward husband's family, and provides her dowry and retinue.read · scan
- p. 764–765Father sends daughter to her husband's family with dowry, sponsors and retinue; father-in-law grumbles about feeding them.read · scan
Marcus Tullius Cicero, Letters of CiceroVol. 9
- p. 142–146Consent given to a marriage match for his daughter Tullia, with letters to her and Terentia.read · scan
Virgil, The AeneidVol. 13
- p. 239Latinus's lineage and only daughter heir; suitors court Lavinia, favored by her mother.read · scan
Stories from the Thousand and One NightsVol. 16
- p. 79–80The king gives his cured daughter in marriage as recompense.read · scan
- p. 148Governor reveals the damsels were his daughters, laments them, and offers his youngest daughter in marriage with no dowry, treating narrator as a son.read · scan
The Story of the Volsungs and NiblungsVol. 49
- p. 259–260Volsung weds Ljod, has ten sons and a daughter; Signy is betrothed to Siggeir, obeying her father's rule.read · scan
- p. 262Signy, unwilling in marriage, warns her father of coming evil; he refuses to undo the match.read · scan
- p. 277–278Hjordis's father lets her choose between suitors; Sigmund's marriage is arranged with kings, and he grieves over Sinfjotli's corpse.read · scan
- p. 315–316Her father and foster-father say Brynhild must wed only the man she freely chooses.read · scan
- p. 316–317Marriage arranged by fathers and dower; Sigurd lays sword between them to keep faith with Gunnar.read · scan
- p. 321–322Brynhild recounts her father's and brother's arrangement of her marriage and her vow to her father.read · scan
- p. 323–324Marriage as betrayal: Brynhild wed to Gunnar by deceit, Sigurd wed to Gudrun.read · scan
- p. 339–340Grimhild and brothers force Gudrun to marry Atli, over her protest, to atone for Sigurd's death.read · scan
Traditional BalladsVol. 40
- p. 61–62Thomas seeks counsel from mother, brother and sister; he follows his mother's advice on marriage.read · scan
Benvenuto Cellini, The Autobiography of Benvenuto CelliniVol. 31
- p. 8Giovanni's marriage to Elisabetta is arranged by the fathers, with quarrel over the dowry.read · scan
- p. 95–96Raffaello wants Cellini for his daughter and comes to love him as more than his sons.read · scan
- p. 97Raffaello seeks to marry his daughter to Cellini and offers a dowry; after the refusal she is married to another.read · scan
- p. 146Pompeo's illegitimate daughter's dowry and arranged marriage are used as a tool to avenge her father's murder.read · scan
Miguel de Cervantes, The History of Don Quixote of the Mancha, Part IVol. 14
- p. 202Lucinda's father defers to Cardenio's father; the father gives counsel and bids him go to Duke Ricardo's court for preferment.read · scan
- p. 239–240Marriage hinges on the fathers' consent, as Lucinda says her father will grant her rightful match.read · scan
- p. 240–241Marriage awaits fathers' consent; Cardenio's father wants to see what Duke Ricardo will do for him.read · scan
- p. 243–244Her father agrees to marry her to Don Fernando, swayed by his greater worth and advantage.read · scan
- p. 244–246Church marriage ceremony joins Lucinda and Don Fernando under her parents' will, over Cardenio's prior claim.read · scan
- p. 248A maiden reared to obey her parents would yield to their will in marriage.read · scan
- p. 257–258Her parents intend to marry her off, which spurs Fernando to act.read · scan
- p. 259She will submit her will to the husband her parents choose; only a lawful spouse may obtain her.read · scan
- p. 262–264Lucinda consented to Fernando only to obey her parents, though she was already Cardenio's; her parents grieve at her disappearance.read · scan
- p. 434She refuses to marry without her father's knowledge, fearing the suitor's noble, rich father's disdain.read · scan
- p. 446Judge weighs marrying his daughter to a nobleman's heir, ideally with the father's consent.read · scan
- p. 499A wealthy farmer guards his beautiful daughter and is perplexed about which of many suitors to bestow her on in marriage.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of DenmarkVol. 46
- p. 109–111Polonius commands his daughter to obey him and cease seeing Hamlet; she submits.read · scan
- p. 120–123Ophelia obeys her father's command to repel Hamlet's letters; Polonius regrets his suspicion.read · scan
- p. 126–128Polonius commands his daughter to shun Hamlet, a prince out of her star, and she obeys.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The TempestVol. 46
- p. 413Ferdinand mourns his father the king; Miranda's father watches over her match.read · scan
- p. 413Father controls a daughter's suitor; Miranda pleads and Prospero threatens to chide her.read · scan
- p. 413–417Miranda assures Ferdinand her father is of better nature than he appears.read · scan
- p. 455–458Fathers regain lost children; Alonso must ask his child's forgiveness; Ferdinand and Miranda's betrothal makes Prospero a second father.read · scan
Ben Jonson, The AlchemistVol. 47
- p. 626–628Kastril bullies his sister into marriage, threatening to kick her, treating her match as family advancement.read · scan
- p. 628–629Kastril forces his sister to kiss the Spaniard, hoping the match will advance the house of the Kastrils.read · scan
Izaak Walton, The Life of Mr. George HerbertVol. 15
- p. 392–393Marriage arranged through a father's wishes and friends; a wedded life of perfect mutual compliance and contentment.read · scan
Pierre Corneille, PolyeucteVol. 26
- p. 81Pauline's marriage was arranged by her father; she recounts wedding at his counsel and fears for her husband's life.read · scan
- p. 81–84Felix regrets that his daughter obeyed him and gave up love for duty.read · scan
- p. 90Marriage is decided by the father's choice, which Pauline obeys.read · scan
- p. 90Pauline repeats she obeyed her father.read · scan
- p. 97Pauline fears her father may repent his choice and yield to Rome, imperiling her husband.read · scan
Molière, Tartuffe, or The HypocriteVol. 26
- p. 220–222Orgon resolves to graft Tartuffe into his family by marrying him to Mariane despite objections.read · scan
- p. 222–224Dorine warns forced marriage endangers wife's virtue; Orgon asserts a father's authority over his daughter's match.read · scan
- p. 227–229Orgon demands Mariane's obedience to his choice of husband; she says a father's rights forbid her to protest.read · scan
John Locke, Some Thoughts Concerning EducationVol. 37
- p. 182Young men are hurried home to marry at twenty-one to suit parents' wishes for portion and grandchildren, to the dissatisfaction of sons and fathers.read · scan
Benjamin Franklin, His AutobiographyVol. 1
- p. 36Her mother postpones marriage as imprudent, since they are too young and he is not yet established.read · scan
- p. 143Moravian marriages are arranged by elders, sometimes by lot; Franklin objects, but is told choosing for oneself risks unhappiness too.read · scan
Oliver Goldsmith, She Stoops to ConquerVol. 18
- p. 208–209Hardcastle arranges his daughter Kate's marriage to Marlow while promising not to control her choice; she agrees to the match.read · scan
- p. 209–210Marriage arranged by father, and Kate's threatened match with Marlow.read · scan
- p. 219Marlow dreads formal courtship and marriage arranged by his father; Hastings's match with Miss Neville rests on her father's consent.read · scan
- p. 223–224Aunt-guardian intends Miss Neville to marry her son Tony, who despises her.read · scan
- p. 234–235Father and daughter negotiate consent to a proposed suitor.read · scan
- p. 242–243Hardcastle scolds his daughter Kate for seeming deceived by her suitor; she pleads with her father to forgive Marlow's faults.read · scan
- p. 243–244Hardcastle objects to Marlow as prospective son-in-law; Kate says filial duty has been her inclination, and Hastings plans elopement with Miss Neville.read · scan
- p. 267–268Elders forgive and approve matches; Mrs. Hardcastle schemes to keep her niece's fortune in the family through her son.read · scan
- p. 268–269Father Hardcastle arranges the marriage, Tony refuses his intended bride, and the couples are joined; parents' control over children's matches is resolved.read · scan
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, Minna von Barnhelm, or The Soldier's FortuneVol. 26
- p. 351–352Her uncle and guardian comes to give her in marriage to the man she chose.read · scan
Hector Macneil, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 577–578Marriage arranged by material advantage; parents say Donald would make a good husband and keep her fine.read · scan
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Hermann and DorotheaVol. 19
- p. 343–344Landlord hopes his son Hermann will choose a bride and marry, but laments his timidity toward young ladies.read · scan
- p. 352–353Father angrily reproaches Hermann as a disappointing son; mother defends him and urges Minna as his choice.read · scan
- p. 384Parents select a bride for their son and arrange the match through a suitor-envoy, binding the families.read · scan
Lady Anne Lindsay, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 557–558Poverty and parents' need drive the daughter into a loveless marriage.read · scan
Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The School for ScandalVol. 18
- p. 144–145Sir Peter as guardian presses Maria to accept Joseph; she pities Charles, her heart and understanding divided.read · scan
Robert Burns, Poems and SongsVol. 6
- p. 346–347Her mother warns against young men and her father offers money; she seeks counsel to marry the man she loves.read · scan
Friedrich Schiller, William TellVol. 26
- p. 432–434Bertha fears marriage to a parasite arranged by kinsmen for her estates.read · scan
Alessandro Manzoni, I Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed)Vol. 21
- p. 356He pays a nobleman's daughter's dowry of four thousand scudi so she may marry rather than be forced into a convent.read · scan
- p. 425–426Lucia parts in tears from her mother and native village; the nobleman's gift is offered as a dowry.read · scan
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, Household TalesVol. 17
- p. 47–48A king and his daughters; the princess's promise and the father's role frame the tale.read · scan
- p. 49The father's will makes the transformed prince her husband.read · scan
- p. 74A mother's anger at her daughter's laziness, and the offer of the prince as husband.read · scan
- p. 121Parents seek marriage for Elsie; suitor Hans demands she be wise; imagined child killed.read · scan
- p. 187–188The old man offers a daughter in marriage; the daughters' differing reactions, and the youngest's obedience, show family duty.read · scan
- p. 196A king sets suitor trials for his three daughters, refusing to give away the eldest until tests are passed.read · scan
- p. 201A mother's kiss and arrangements for her son's marriage displace his betrothed; marriage is arranged by the queen.read · scan
- p. 201The prince's mother locks his door and obstructs his reunion; the marriage concludes the tale.read · scan
Hans Christian Andersen, TalesVol. 17
- p. 262–263The old elf judges the maidens as prospective wives and housewives, and the king presents his daughters for marriage.read · scan
- p. 263–264Marriage is the theme: daughters displayed as brides, the old elf takes the storyteller as wife, sons reluctant.read · scan
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1282–1283The master promises his daughter's hand and his house to the youth upon the ship's completion; heir and bride.read · scan
Robert Browning, A Blot in the 'ScutcheonVol. 18
- p. 359Earl Mertoun comes to ask for the hand of Lord Tresham's sister Mildred.read · scan
- p. 363Tresham stands as father to motherless Mildred and negotiates her marriage suit, praising her character.read · scan
- p. 363Brother and cousins discuss Mertoun's suit for Mildred; Tresham insists on her youth and speaks for her.read · scan
- p. 363–369Cousins and brother press Mildred about her suitor and the proposed match.read · scan
Richard Henry Dana, Jr., Two Years Before the MastVol. 23
- p. 169Californian domestic life: jealous husbands, watchful parents guarding daughters' marriages, and Indians lacking domestic duty.read · scan
Ernest Renan, The Poetry of the Celtic RacesVol. 32
- p. 149–150Mabon is stolen from his mother at three days old; a father sets conditions on his daughter's marriage.read · scan
Walter Bagehot, John MiltonVol. 28
- p. 180Account of Milton's sudden first marriage to Mary Powell, arranged amid his father's money-lending to her father.read · scan
3c.Defiance of parents and forced marriage
See also: Love 3f · Aristocracy 4 · Duty 7a
Homer, The OdysseyVol. 22
- p. 87Nausicaa fears reproach for appearing with a man before wedlock while her father and mother live; she leads Odysseus toward her father's house.read · scan
Aeschylus, Prometheus BoundVol. 8
- p. 196–197Io's descendants: Epaphos, and the fifty daughters fleeing forced marriage with cousins and slaying their husbands.read · scan
Sophocles, AntigoneVol. 8
- p. 276Father and son quarrel; Haemon threatens to leave; Creon forbids the marriage.read · scan
Virgil, The AeneidVol. 13
- p. 248Juno plans to turn kindred blood to mutual hate; Amata resents the new match for her daughter.read · scan
- p. 248Amata pleads with her husband against giving Lavinia to a foreigner, invoking a parent's heart and Turnus' prior betrothal.read · scan
Stories from the Thousand and One NightsVol. 16
- p. 160The barber exposes to the Kadi that his daughter loves the youth.read · scan
Songs from the Elder EddaVol. 49
- p. 383–386Gudrun's forced marriage, sons and kin destroyedread · scan
- p. 400–403Grimhild urges Gudrun to marry Atli with gifts; Gudrun refuses, foreseeing the fall of her kin and Atli's kin as hatefulread · scan
- p. 403–406Gudrun is given in marriage against her heart by her kinsfolk to Atli; concern for her sons and slain kinread · scan
The Story of the Volsungs and NiblungsVol. 49
- p. 263Signy warns kin of treachery and weeps; her father sends her back to her husband.read · scan
- p. 273Sigrun's father has betrothed her to Hodbrod against her will.read · scan
- p. 340–341Loveless marriage of Gudrun and Atli; she yields against her will.read · scan
Dante Alighieri, ParadiseVol. 20
- p. 296–297Brother Corso violently abducts his sister for a forced marriage; Frederick II's birth is glossed.read · scan
Traditional BalladsVol. 40
- p. 51–53Mother wakes father and seven brothers to pursue her eloped daughter; Margret laments choosing between father and lover.read · scan
- p. 70–72She begs her father for a boon; family prepares a costly bier and shroud, believing her dead.read · scan
Benvenuto Cellini, The Autobiography of Benvenuto CelliniVol. 31
- p. 127The girl's mother, suspicious of the affair, spirits her away to prevent an elopement.read · scan
- p. 312–314Cellini forces Micceri at sword point to wed Caterina, ratifying the marriage by notaries' contract as a form of vengeance.read · scan
Miguel de Cervantes, The History of Don Quixote of the Mancha, Part IVol. 14
- p. 170The princess hides her feelings so her parents will not suspect.read · scan
- p. 170–173Marriage against a father's will and questions of lineage and inheritance of a kingdom.read · scan
- p. 364Parents hindered Fernando's attack on Lucinda after her scroll declared Cardenio her husband.read · scan
- p. 397She fears her father would kill her if he learned of the plan; marriage is offered.read · scan
- p. 414Moorish father confronts daughter Zoraida over her betrayal and flight; conflict of paternal authority and daughter's choice.read · scan
- p. 434She hides the affair from her father; the youth's father has no other heir.read · scan
- p. 500–501Leandra abandons and robs her father's house; her father is sorrowful and her kinsfolk ashamed.read · scan
Francis Bacon, The New AtlantisVol. 3
- p. 168–169Marriage laws: no polygamy, a month's acquaintance before contract, and children of marriage without parental consent inherit only a third.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The TempestVol. 46
- p. 432Miranda defies her father's command not to reveal her name; Prospero watches approvingly.read · scan
Thomas Dekker, The Shoemaker's HolidayVol. 47
- p. 475–478Rose's father imprisons her to keep her from Lacy; Ralph asks Jane to remember him.read · scan
- p. 491–493Lord Mayor tries to force his daughter into marriage with Hammon; she defies him.read · scan
- p. 494–496The Mayor rebukes his daughter for coyness and sends her to Old Ford.read · scan
- p. 496–497Mayor suspects his daughter knows of Lacy in London and refused Hammon for that reason.read · scan
- p. 502–503The Lord Mayor wants his daughter Rose to obey him in marriage; Eyre urges her to wed a grocer rather than a courtier.read · scan
- p. 503Rose and Sybil plot to marry in spite of the father's policies.read · scan
- p. 513–514Rose and Lacy evade the father's anger and the uncle's hate; a disguise as shoemaker hides them.read · scan
- p. 514–515The Lord Mayor and Earl of Lincoln each guard against the young lovers, guarding daughter and nephew, and disclaim knowledge of them.read · scan
- p. 518–520Lord Mayor and Lincoln scheme to stop the elopement of Rose and Lacy; Eyre promises to shield the young lovers' marriage.read · scan
- p. 523–524Lincoln and the Mayor hunt for their missing nephew and daughter, and are fooled by Firk into unmasking Jane instead.read · scan
- p. 524–527Lacy and Rose have wed at the Savoy; Lincoln vows to disjoin the match while Eyre stands as their defender.read · scan
- p. 532Marriage of Rose against her father's and uncle's wishes is settled by royal decree; the Mayor yields his child.read · scan
Philip Massinger, A New Way to Pay Old DebtsVol. 47
- p. 902–903Overreach forces the weeping Margaret to accept a noble match; she resists that duty forced too much may break.read · scan
- p. 903–905Lovell secretly promises to protect Margaret from her father's designs, and she feigns amorous carriage to deceive him.read · scan
- p. 911Overreach hurries his daughter's marriage to Lovell, sending for a licence.read · scan
- p. 924Margaret defies her father's tyrannical will over her marriage, refusing to be enslaved by his obedience-demanding ambition.read · scan
- p. 925Overreach forces his daughter's hasty secret marriage; Margaret insists on her father's consent and a proper ceremony.read · scan
- p. 925–928Overreach coarsely dictates his daughter's marriage, gives a mock blessing and gloats over her coming rank.read · scan
Izaak Walton, The Life of Dr. John DonneVol. 15
- p. 326They marry secretly without the consent of friends, whose approbation is necessary to make virtuous love lawful.read · scan
- p. 326–327Secret marriage disclosed to the bride's father, who is enraged and works to ruin Donne.read · scan
- p. 328Donne's secret marriage brings a lawsuit to recover his wife and her father's anger, softened by renewed parental love and paternal blessing.read · scan
John Milton, Samson AgonistesVol. 4
- p. 415Discussion of Samson's marriages to Philistine women, against his parents' wishes, Dalila a specious monster.read · scan
- p. 415Manoa disapproves Samson's marriage choices.read · scan
Molière, Tartuffe, or The HypocriteVol. 26
- p. 216–220Orgon commands daughter Mariane to marry Tartuffe, breaking promise to Valere and demanding obedience.read · scan
- p. 224–227Orgon insists on marrying his daughter to Tartuffe against her will; Dorine objects to forced marriage.read · scan
- p. 229Mariane torn between filial duty and love, threatening suicide rather than marry Tartuffe.read · scan
- p. 231–232Dorine mocks the rule that a daughter must obey her father even in an unwanted marriage; Mariane pleads to escape Tartuffe.read · scan
- p. 233–237The father's decision to marry Mariane to Tartuffe provokes the crisis.read · scan
- p. 239–242Dorine calls the father's plan to marry his daughter to Tartuffe nonsense.read · scan
- p. 242–245Household allies, stepmother and brother, are enlisted against the father's plan.read · scan
- p. 264–266Mariane begs her father not to force her into a hated marriage; Orgon insists on his paternal rights.read · scan
George Halket, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 571–572Her parents frown on Jamie for poverty, yet she prefers him to them.read · scan
William Hamilton of Bangour, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 572–574Sisters called to build the tomb; marriage arranged by force after killing.read · scan
- p. 574–576Her father and brother pursue her with rage and threats to force marriage; sisters scoff.read · scan
Benjamin Franklin, His AutobiographyVol. 1
- p. 49–50Miss Read is persuaded by her friends to marry Rogers, an unhappy match; Denham counsels Franklin as a father.read · scan
Oliver Goldsmith, She Stoops to ConquerVol. 18
- p. 233–234Hastings plots with Tony to take Miss Neville off his hands, freeing him from the arranged match.read · scan
- p. 235–236Tony steals his mother's jewels to give his cousin Constance, defying her scheming guardianship.read · scan
- p. 253–254Mrs. Hardcastle, discovering the elopement plot, rages at Tony and Miss Neville and resolves to carry the girl off to aunt Pedigree.read · scan
- p. 259–261Tony misleads his own mother through mud and ponds to help his cousin escape with Hastings.read · scan
Hector Macneil, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 576–577Marriage pledged despite what the old ones say; plighted for life.read · scan
Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The School for ScandalVol. 18
- p. 137–138Maria opposes her guardian Sir Peter's will over her marriage; Lady Teazle takes lovers as fashion demands.read · scan
Robert Burns, Poems and SongsVol. 6
- p. 293–295Young girl refuses marriage, wanting to stay with her mammy.read · scan
- p. 295–297Girl clings to her mammy and fears marriage bed as too young.read · scan
- p. 300–302Marriage prospects and a cotter's daughter's dowry; parents forbid the match.read · scan
- p. 302–304Father and friends disown her for her love.read · scan
- p. 411–413Daughter defies father's marriage contract to marry for loveread · scan
- p. 415–416Kin pressure her to wed a wealthy fool, but she will choose Tam at twenty-oneread · scan
- p. 453–455The forsaken maid is an exile from her father's hall for love.read · scan
- p. 467–469The girl defies father and mother to meet her lover.read · scan
- p. 532–534Laments cruel parents who sacrifice a daughter to a wealthy match, leaving her a choice between a tyrant father's hate and a wretched marriage.read · scan
Sir Walter Scott, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 740–742The lady is pressed to wed the chief's son but elopes.read · scan
- p. 749–751The bride's father and kinsmen oppose the match and the bride is taken from her wedding.read · scan
- p. 751–752The parents fret and fume as their daughter is carried off from the arranged marriage.read · scan
Thomas Campbell, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 772–774The lovers flee the daughter's angry father and his horsemen.read · scan
- p. 774–776Lord Ullin, too late, forgives and cries for his daughter as the waves drown her; father's wrath turns to wailing.read · scan
- p. 776–778Earl March relents and recalls the exiled suitor as his daughter dies.read · scan
William Hazlitt, Of Persons One Would Wish to Have SeenVol. 27
- p. 269–271Reference to the mistress's father's wrath and her nurse.read · scan
Alessandro Manzoni, I Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed)Vol. 21
- p. 14–15Bravoes forbid the marriage of Renzo and Lucia on Don Rodrigo's orders.read · scan
- p. 46–47Renzo's marriage to his betrothed was prevented on the wedding day.read · scan
- p. 397–398Agnese explains the thwarted marriage of her daughter and the flight from Don Rodrigo.read · scan
- p. 414–415The questioning concerns the refused marriage of the betrothed couple, Lucia and Renzo.read · scan
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, Household TalesVol. 17
- p. 142–143Father angrily marries his daughter to a beggar to keep his oath, against her protest.read · scan
- p. 143–144Marriage forced on her; husband complains of her wishing for another.read · scan
- p. 200The king refuses to marry off his youngest daughter before her elder sisters; the couple elope and evade the pursuing father.read · scan
Alfred, Lord Tennyson, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 979–981Amy's marriage to a coarse husband, coerced by father's threat and shrewish tongue.read · scan
3d.Dynastic and political marriages
Virgil, The AeneidVol. 13
- p. 152Juno proposes joining Dido and Aeneas in marriage, with Carthage as dowry, and plans the cave nuptials.read · scan
- p. 245Latinus's only daughter heir to crown; her marriage arranged by fate.read · scan
- p. 412Jove's plan for a mixed people from Trojan and Latin blood, and marriage binding the peace.read · scan
Plutarch, CaesarVol. 12
- p. 274Caesar marries Julia to Pompey and himself weds Calpurnia for political alliance; Cato protests government prostituted by marriages.read · scan
- p. 283Julia and her child die in labor; Caesar and Pompey grieve, and their alliance, kept by the marriage, is feared broken.read · scan
Plutarch, AntonyVol. 12
- p. 344–345Antony's marriage to Octavia is meant as a close tie sealing friendship with Caesar.read · scan
- p. 388Genealogy of Antony's children and descendants, their marriages, adoptions and dynastic alliances leading to Nero.read · scan
BeowulfVol. 49
- p. 59Bride given to Heathobard lord to settle feud; a father's death demands the son's vengeance.read · scan
- p. 86–87Hygelac gives Eofor his only daughter in pledge of grace.read · scan
Stories from the Thousand and One NightsVol. 16
- p. 306Suleyman demands the king's daughter in marriage as part of the terms.read · scan
- p. 373–374The Sultan promises his daughter to Ala-ed-Din, but the Wezir's request for delay reflects his own son's claim to the match.read · scan
- p. 374Wedding of the Wezir's son to the princess is announced as the Sultan's promise is set aside; the mother learns of it in the city.read · scan
The Song of RolandVol. 49
- p. 185–187Karl offers his son Louis in place of Roland as husband to Alda.read · scan
Jean Froissart, The Chronicles of FroissartVol. 35
- p. 23Edward bases his claim on the inheritance of his mother the queen, land given at her marriage, challenged against Philip of Valois.read · scan
William Roper, The Life of Sir Thomas MoreVol. 36
- p. 91The King's marriage question threatens disturbance to Christendom.read · scan
Miguel de Cervantes, The History of Don Quixote of the Mancha, Part IVol. 14
- p. 281–283The proposed marriage of the knight to the princess, who is to make him possessor of herself and her kingdom.read · scan
Christopher Marlowe, Edward the SecondVol. 46
- p. 38–39Edward marries Gaveston to his niece, heir of Gloucester; the queen is suspected and pardoned.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of King LearVol. 46
- p. 216Lear divides his kingdom among daughters according to professed love, testing filial affection and arranging dowers and marriages.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The TempestVol. 46
- p. 417Alonso regrets marrying his daughter to Tunis, since it cost him his son and in effect her.read · scan
- p. 419Alonso grieves for his lost heir and daughter; Sebastian blames him for marrying her to an African.read · scan
Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher, Philaster, or Love Lies A-BleedingVol. 47
- p. 669The King presents his modest daughter to her suitor, marriage joining kingdoms and succession.read · scan
- p. 742–744King welcomes Philaster as son, gives him his daughterread · scan
Blaise Pascal, ThoughtsVol. 48
- p. 246Iron and clay rulers will not cleave together though united by marriage; dynastic marriage fails to unify.read · scan
- p. 248A royal daughter is married for political peace, and she and her son are killed.read · scan
- p. 249Antiochus gives his daughter Cleopatra in marriage as an instrument to betray her husband.read · scan
John Dryden, All for Love; or, The World Well LostVol. 18
- p. 46Fulvia's jealousy, her death, and Antony's political marriage to Octavia.read · scan
Oliver Goldsmith, She Stoops to ConquerVol. 18
- p. 255–257Hardcastle rejoices that the marriage union of the families will make their friendships hereditary, though his daughter's fortune is small.read · scan
Edmund Burke, Reflections on the Revolution in FranceVol. 24
- p. 245Marriage uniting noble and moneyed families did not end enmity; the wealth was thought to degrade the family.read · scan
Robert Burns, Poems and SongsVol. 6
- p. 210–211Princes urged to marry properly; royal daughters wished ladsread · scan
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, Household TalesVol. 17
- p. 96The wedding is held with magnificence and small joy, the king's daughter given unwillingly.read · scan
- p. 132–133The king, to escape death, consents to marry the witch's daughter though she fills him with secret horror.read · scan
Hans Christian Andersen, TalesVol. 17
- p. 254–255The Prince's parents desire his royal marriage but will not compel him.read · scan
- p. 261–262The Elfin King plans marriages of two daughters to the Norwegian Mountain Elf's sons, discussing the old friend and the sons' character.read · scan
Alfred, Lord Tennyson, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1038–1039Feud between houses, fathers betrothing the children at Maud's birth, a dying mother's wish for reconciliation, brother's harsh control of Maud.read · scan
Robert Browning, A Blot in the 'ScutcheonVol. 18
- p. 363Marriage proposal uniting two Houses; Tresham as head of family grants consent conditional on his sister's choice.read · scan
Edward Augustus Freeman, Race and LanguageVol. 28
- p. 257–258A dynastic marriage between Castile and Aragon determined the shape of nations.read · scan
Dante Gabriel Rossetti, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1155–1157The Queen's devotion and her wish for homely lovers' freedom.read · scan
William Morris, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1185–1187She was bought by Arthur's name and little love, a marriage without affection.read · scan
3e.Courtship, betrothal and wedding rites
See also: Custom and Convention 8b
Homer, The OdysseyVol. 22
- p. 46–47Menelaus holds a wedding feast for his daughter and his son born of a slave woman; Helen bore no more children.read · scan
- p. 81–82Athene urges Nausicaa to prepare for her approaching marriage; parents delight in a daughter's good report.read · scan
- p. 203–204Helen's gift is kept for Telemachus's future bride, and Menelaus recalls Nestor's fatherly kindness.read · scan
- p. 287–288The suitors compete to win Penelope in marriage with bridal gifts.read · scan
Aeschylus, The FuriesVol. 8
- p. 156–157Gifts for childbirth and wedlock are offered as part of the honour.read · scan
Aeschylus, Prometheus BoundVol. 8
- p. 186–188Chorus recalls singing wedding hymns at Prometheus's marriage to Hesione, a kinswoman.read · scan
The Book of PsalmsVol. 44
- p. 197–199The bride is told to forget her father's house and revere her lord; children will replace fathers as princes.read · scan
Sophocles, AntigoneVol. 8
- p. 276–281Antigone laments dying with no marriage rites and no friends to weep.read · scan
Buddhist WritingsVol. 45
- p. 679–680Marriage-purchase illustration: the first suitor keeps claim on the girl though she has grown up.read · scan
- p. 689Dobson's wedding day, bride, and children frame his attachment to life.read · scan
- p. 781She is born as daughter of a king, then of a treasurer, and marries.read · scan
Luke, The Gospel According to LukeVol. 44
- p. 354Mary betrothed to Joseph; Elisabeth's barrenness ended, removing her reproach.read · scan
Plutarch, AristidesVol. 12
- p. 98–99Those about to marry sacrifice at the altar of Euclia before the nuptials.read · scan
Tacitus, GermanyVol. 33
- p. 103Husband gives dowry of oxen, horse and arms; wife is partner in hazards; monogamy, chastity and heirs carrying arms.read · scan
The Destruction of Dá Derga's HostelVol. 49
- p. 200–201Bride-price and marriage; the king dies leaving a daughter also named Etain, wedded to Cormac.read · scan
Stories from the Thousand and One NightsVol. 16
- p. 53–54The king and prince marry the fisherman's two daughters.read · scan
- p. 74The lady tells how she, a king's daughter married to her cousin, was carried off on her bridal night by the 'Efrit.read · scan
- p. 107–108Inherited wealth, widowhood and a second marriage arranged through a ruse; the marriage contract is made before a Kadi and witnesses.read · scan
- p. 112Marriages are arranged: the sisters to the mendicants, the beaten lady to El-Emin, the cateress to the Khalifeh himself.read · scan
- p. 125–126Their marriage must be kept secret, and a marriage tie is invoked.read · scan
- p. 130–131She marries him by contract before witnesses and makes over all her property to him as husband.read · scan
- p. 139–140Zubeydeh treats her maid as her own child, entrusts her to the narrator in marriage, arranges contract, dowry and wedding festivities.read · scan
- p. 165A sham marriage to the slave-girl is contrived by the couple to mock him.read · scan
- p. 372–373A mother asks the Sultan for marriage of her son to his daughter.read · scan
- p. 391–392Marriage contract is drawn between Ala-ed-Din and the Sultan's daughter; he insists on first building a palace fit for her rank.read · scan
- p. 394Wedding festivities celebrate Ala-ed-Din's marriage to the Sultan's daughter.read · scan
- p. 396Wedding processions escort the bride and groom to the marriage chamber with elaborate ceremony.read · scan
- p. 397The bride is unveiled at the wedding feast, and the groom's mother observes her beauty.read · scan
- p. 440Ali Baba rewards Marjaneh by marrying her to his son, calling her preserver of the family; wedding celebrated with feast.read · scan
The Voyages to VinlandVol. 43
- p. 14Karlsefni courts and marries Gudrid, who defers to Leif; the couple leads the settlement venture.read · scan
The Story of the Volsungs and NiblungsVol. 49
- p. 278–279Sigmund's wedding to Hjordis and his father-in-law Eylimi fighting alongside him.read · scan
- p. 317–318Marriage feast of Gunnar and Brynhild; Brynhild leaves daughter Aslaug with her foster-father.read · scan
Traditional BalladsVol. 40
- p. 62–64Annet's father rouses her to attend the wedding.read · scan
Sir Thomas More, UtopiaVol. 36
- p. 207–208Marriage ages set; premarital unchastity punished; mutual naked viewing of bride and groom before wedding to avoid deceit.read · scan
Martin Luther, Address to the Christian Nobility of the German NationVol. 36
- p. 332–333Rulers should help young people to marry, protecting them from temptation.read · scan
Benvenuto Cellini, The Autobiography of Benvenuto CelliniVol. 31
- p. 10–11Father's courtship of the future mother and his dealings with his children.read · scan
Miguel de Cervantes, The History of Don Quixote of the Mancha, Part IVol. 14
- p. 294Sancho advises Quixote to marry at once in the first village with a priest.read · scan
Edmund Spenser, PoemsVol. 40
- p. 229–230Flowers gathered for brides' bridegrooms against the coming wedding day.read · scan
- p. 232–233Brides' wedding day approaches as the swans are attended by the river's creatures.read · scan
- p. 233–234Two knights receive their brides at the river's edge; poet begins wedding song and calls his beloved to her wedding day.read · scan
- p. 235–236Preparation of bridal bowers and posies for the wedding day.read · scan
- p. 236–237Bride prepared and the groom approaching; minstrels, dancers and people cry Hymen in celebration of marriage.read · scan
- p. 238–239Praise of the bride's womanhood as she comes to her wedding.read · scan
- p. 239–240Church rite makes endless matrimony; groom rejoices at the wedding day and feasts the bride home.read · scan
- p. 241Marriage festivities: the bride is led to the bridal bower and bed.read · scan
Francis Bacon, The New AtlantisVol. 3
- p. 169–170Marriage custom: friends of each party see the man and woman bathe naked at Adam and Eve's pools before contract, rather than the couple themselves.read · scan
William Shakespeare, The TempestVol. 46
- p. 432–435Miranda proposes marriage and they join hands; Prospero blesses the affection of the pair.read · scan
- p. 443Prospero gives his daughter to Ferdinand, calling her a third of his life, and the betrothal is conditioned on marriage rites.read · scan
- p. 447–448Juno and Ceres bless the betrothed couple with honour, riches, lasting marriage and fruitful issue.read · scan
Thomas Dekker, The Shoemaker's HolidayVol. 47
- p. 517–518Firk claims Rose and Hans will be married at St Faith's Church.read · scan
- p. 520–521Eyre sends the lovers to be wed at the Savoy and promises Hans a home.read · scan
Pedro Calderón de la Barca, Life Is a DreamVol. 26
- p. 66Rosaura, seduced by Astolfo's wedding promises, seeks to retrieve her family's shame.read · scan
Molière, Tartuffe, or The HypocriteVol. 26
- p. 296Play ends with the promise of Mariane's wedding to Valere.read · scan
John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's ProgressVol. 15
- p. 230–231Courtship and marriage prospects: Brisk seeks Mercy as a good housewife.read · scan
- p. 267–268Matthew is married to Mercy at Gaius's house.read · scan
- p. 274–275Matthew and Mercy wed; Gaius gives his daughter Phebe to James in marriage.read · scan
Benjamin Franklin, His AutobiographyVol. 1
- p. 25Passes his future wife's door and she sees him looking ridiculous.read · scan
John Woolman, The Journal of John WoolmanVol. 1
- p. 187–188Woolman's marriage to Sarah Ellis and his father's care for his children's upbringing and death.read · scan
Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, Minna von Barnhelm, or The Soldier's FortuneVol. 26
- p. 343–344Minna foretells a husband for Franziska in the Sergeant.read · scan
- p. 361–363Renewed betrothal: Tellheim declares himself bound to Minna forever, pledging fidelity.read · scan
- p. 363–364Dispute over the betrothal ring and whether the engagement stands.read · scan
- p. 368–370Minna's marriage prospects and the bond between them.read · scan
- p. 371–372Minna's uncle the Count is called her father and Tellheim's father; the engagement is renewed.read · scan
- p. 374Werner and Franziska agree to marry, with talk of being a general's wife or widow.read · scan
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Hermann and DorotheaVol. 19
- p. 348–349Mother recalls how she and her husband were joined in marriage amid the ruin of the fire.read · scan
- p. 381Delicate wooing on another's behalf; the maiden expected to brighten the youth's married life.read · scan
- p. 383–384The pastor blesses the hoped-for marriage, the wife of his youth, and bringing her home.read · scan
- p. 404–406Hermann's mother seizes her, declaring she is Hermann's betrothed.read · scan
- p. 406–407The father, impatient with womanish weeping, wants to go to bed; Hermann pleads with him and the betrothal is affirmed.read · scan
- p. 407–408The pastor betroths the children with the parents' rings and consent; Dorothea promises a daughter's service.read · scan
Anonymous PoemsVol. 41
- p. 498–499Willie's promise of marriage unfulfilled.read · scan
Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The School for ScandalVol. 18
- p. 194–195Sir Oliver arranges the marriage of Charles and Maria; Sir Peter and Lady Teazle promise a happy married life.read · scan
Robert Burns, Poems and SongsVol. 6
- p. 117–118Dish charm foretells marriage or none; Uncle John, wanting wedlock, is enraged at the empty dish.read · scan
- p. 136–137Parents watch over Jenny's suitor; mother's wiles and worry, simple household supper and family worship.read · scan
- p. 148–149Mare came as a dowry from his father-in-law and carried his bride home.read · scan
- p. 457–459Meg's drunken wedding night; Nancy's mother's dwelling and her grandsire's legacy.read · scan
- p. 536–538Marriage proposals and courtship, with the lass resolving to wed the wooer.read · scan
Samuel Taylor Coleridge, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 707–708Marriage of the lover to his bride.read · scan
Alessandro Manzoni, I Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed)Vol. 21
- p. 34–36Betrothal and wedding day preparations frame the household's expectations of marriage.read · scan
- p. 36–37Mother adorns the bride; the wedding is postponed as Renzo tells Lucia of the curate's refusal.read · scan
- p. 40–41Renzo and Lucia's unconsummated betrothal, blocked by the curate; Agnese, the mother, counsels the young couple and takes charge of the household's response.read · scan
- p. 88–89Agnese proposes a plan to get Renzo and Lucia married, acting as mother to both.read · scan
- p. 89–90Agnese explains how a couple can wed by declaring themselves spouses before curate and witnesses; Renzo plans life in Bergamo with Lucia.read · scan
- p. 93–95Renzo schemes to force a valid marriage before the curate with two witnesses, enlisting Tonio and his brother.read · scan
- p. 96Lucia longs to be Renzo's wife, blushing, but in the right way.read · scan
- p. 98–99Lucia fears losing her betrothed to violence; Agnese reproves him.read · scan
- p. 99–101Lucia, pressed by Renzo, promises to go to the curate for marriage, dismayed by his fury.read · scan
- p. 101–102Planning the marriage stratagem; Agnese and Renzo arrange parts, while decorum sends Renzo away from the women at night.read · scan
- p. 112Gervase blurts out that Renzo wants to marry; the wedding scheme must stay secret.read · scan
- p. 116–117Marriage subterfuge: Renzo and Lucia sneak in to wed before the curate, aided by her mother.read · scan
- p. 118Renzo and Lucia try to seize a surprise marriage by declaring themselves husband and wife before the curate and witnesses.read · scan
- p. 613–614He imagines the wedding and setting up house together.read · scan
- p. 616–617He anticipates marrying Lucia, with his friend as witness, whatever the plague.read · scan
- p. 626–627Renzo seeks to arrange the wedding; Don Abbondio hesitates with excuses.read · scan
- p. 627–628Wedding delayed again; the women plan to persuade the curate, the widow acting as Lucia's mother.read · scan
- p. 628The women press Don Abbondio to perform the marriage; he evades, suggesting they wed elsewhere.read · scan
- p. 629–630Argument over the wedding continues; news that the heir succeeds to Don Rodrigo's estate.read · scan
- p. 630–631Don Abbondio at last agrees to marry Renzo and Lucia, asking banns on Sunday.read · scan
- p. 631–632Many weddings after the plague; dispensations sought for banns.read · scan
- p. 632–633Plague-era marriages abound, fifty weddings in one Sunday; jesting that even Agnese might marry.read · scan
- p. 633–634The betrothed will be man and wife as soon as possible; Lucia and Renzo's marriage is settled.read · scan
- p. 636The wedding of Renzo and Lucia is finally celebrated by Don Abbondio, completing their long-delayed union.read · scan
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, Household TalesVol. 17
- p. 67–68Marriage is proposed and pledged between the prince and Rapunzel, in secret from her guardian.read · scan
- p. 76The bride's wedding and her insistence on honoring her helpers as aunts.read · scan
- p. 145–146Reconciliation ends in marriage, with her father and court wishing the couple happiness.read · scan
- p. 152–153Prince and Snow-white marry with great splendour.read · scan
Thomas Carlyle, Sir Walter ScottVol. 25
- p. 416Scott's marriage and appointment as Sheriff are noted as unromantic steps on his way to the Minstrelsy.read · scan
- p. 431Lockhart is to marry Scott's eldest daughter; Scott plans a cottage for her and her future husband.read · scan
- p. 432Scott plans a cottage as summer residence for his daughter and future son-in-law.read · scan
Hans Christian Andersen, TalesVol. 17
- p. 327–328The Princess chooses the Shadow as consort; nuptials planned for that evening.read · scan
- p. 345Marriage proposal, and the Princess's parents' differing tastes in stories, mother moral and father merry.read · scan
- p. 347–348Wedding is decided and the Merchant's Son is made one of the family.read · scan
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1287Wedding on the deck; the old master weeps, shakes his son's hand and kisses his daughter.read · scan
- p. 1289–1290The bride is urged to sail life's sea with gentleness, love and trust, safe from adversity.read · scan
- p. 1306–1307The betrothal contract night; the notary is father of twenty children and beloved of the children.read · scan
- p. 1309The betrothal contract records the bride's dower in flocks and cattle; the notary blesses bride and bridegroom.read · scan
- p. 1309Her woven linen is the dower she will bring her husband, proof of her skill as housewife.read · scan
- p. 1310–1311The feast of betrothal for Evangeline and Gabriel, with old and young dancing together.read · scan
Charles Darwin, The Voyage of the BeagleVol. 29
- p. 211–213York Minster determined to marry Fuegia Basket once settled on shore.read · scan
Edgar Allan Poe, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1233–1234Wedding bells foretell the happiness of marriage and the future.read · scan
Richard Henry Dana, Jr., Two Years Before the MastVol. 23
- p. 235Wedding of the agent to the daughter of the leading family of California, celebrated with salutes and a procession.read · scan
- p. 314–315The Finn tells of his courtship and marriage to a dressmaker in Boston.read · scan
James Russell Lowell, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1376–1378Parents hover over the courtship; the mother arrives and the match proceeds toward marriage.read · scan
- p. 1378–1379Mother blesses the pair, and they are published for marriage in meeting the next Sunday.read · scan
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