Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - XXII - Hirschholm
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
340
HIRSCHHOLM.
Chap. XXII.
fine stories they tell of her; but she too becomes a
widow, and retires to the pleasant shades of
Fredensborg, and Caroline Matilda, fifteen years of age, reigns
in her stead, wife of Christian VIL, a debauched
halfmaniac prince, who has, however, at first the good taste to
admire his English wife, and would have done so longer
had he remained uninfluenced by his worthless favourites.
Like Queen Louisa, she dismissed on her arrival her
English attendants, but she never loved the Danish
language. Caroline Matilda is thus described by a
Danish writer of the day: “ A majestic person, with
well-shaped head and pretty complexion; clear blue
eyes, large and shining; good mouth, full underlip;
hair, silvery white, in profusionan heirloom
transmitted to her son (does not this vindicate Juliana?);*
a tendency to embonpoint already visible. Molbech, who,
after the fashion of the day, shows her little favour,
continues: “ She had good abilities, flighty, fond of
pleasure (fifteen years of age!), friendly and loveable
when she chose, a quick comprehension, indifferent
to politics and intrigue; when aroused, passionate and
vindictive (she had reason to be so), quite astonishing
for a person of her phlegmatic temper. She liked her
own way and to rule (I should think so, a queen!) in
her own circle, and had no real religion about her.”
Such is the description given of her. Unprotected,
without a friend in the most dissolute court of Europe,
she was ill fitted to war against the venom of her
enemies.
A road to the right, across the forest, leads to the
country place (Frydenlund) of Struensee, sacked by the
See p. 318. Frederic inherited the white hair from his mother.
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
