∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
MISCELLANY.
——
It is satisfactory to know that, for the insult offered by a foreign court to Everett on the score of repudiation, we may have not only the satisfaction of lex talionius (query — legs Taglioni's) — but that the original Goddess of the Dance comes to us, leaving behind a repudiated husband. The following account of her application for a divorce, is from the Gazette des Tribunaux: —
TAGLIONI’S APPLICATION FOR A DIVORCE. — Marie Taglioni, the celebrated danseuse, on Wednesday appeared before the Civil Tribunal of the Seine to apply for a divorce (separation de corps) from her husband, M. le Compte Gilbert des Voisins. In this affair, as in many similar applications made by distinguished artistes and prime donne, the curious public were left to make their own conjectures as to the motives of the separation.
Taglioni was represented by M. Dupin, who was about to state the lady's griefs upon which the application was founded, when he was immediately stopped by the President, who confined him to reading the following formal statement:
“That in 1834 Madame Marie Taglioni married the Count Gilbert des Voisins; that at that period she was attached to the Royal Academy of Music; that subsequent to their union M. Gilbert des Voisins expressed his desire that his wife should discontinue the theatrical career in which she had already obtained so brilliant a success; that on her part Marie Taglioni, induced by the love of her profession, and asserting her right to do so, persisted in a resolution to continue therein; that from this determination resulted much domestic discord, in consequence of which she accepted several advantageous offers of engagements, some of which were abroad; that on her return to France she had hoped to find M. des Voisins more disposed to conform to her wishes, but that so far from that being the case he actually shut the door against her; that in this conduct M. des Voisins had offered her a gratuitous injury and insult, which would render it impossible that they could ever live together again as man and wife; and that she therefore prayed the tribunal to ordain that she should be separated in person and effects from her said husband, and that she should not be molested or annoyed by him.”
M. Mason, who, on the other side, represented the Count, read a statement to the following effect:
“That Madame Marie Taglioni, in breach of the obligation which she took on her marriage to five up her profession, has entered into several new engagements, both in France and abroad; that during nearly ten years she has lived away from her husband; that under these circumstances, the refusal of M. le Comte Gilbert des Voisins to receive Madame Marie Taglioni cannot be considered as an injury of a nature sufficiently grave to justify a divorce; and that he therefore prayed the tribunal to refuse the application of Madame Taglioni on the ground of insufficient reasons.”
The case having been considered by the tribunal —
The President pronounced a judgment in favor of the divorce prayed for, on the grounds of the refusal of the Count to admit Madame to the domicleconugal.
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
Notes:
This introduction and translation were attributed to Poe by T. O. Mabbott in his notes at the University of Iowa. Poe's facility with foreign languages has often been exaggerated, particularly by Poe himself, but he seems to have been able to translate French as two longer translations in the New Mirror are also attributable to him. Of especial interest here is the mention of “M. Dupin,” who three years earlier probably served as the namesake, and perhaps more, for Poe's detective in “The Murders in the Rue Morgue.” In his “Fifty Suggestions,” Poe says, “I should not say, of Taglioni, exactly that she dances, but that she laughs with her arms and legs, and that if she takes vengeance on her present oppressors, she will be amply justified by the lex Talionis” (Graham's Magazine, June 1849, item 27). This article is not mentioned by Heartman & Canny, or W. D. Hull.
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
[S:0 - NYEM, 1844] - Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore - Works - Criticism - It is satisfactory to know that ... (E. A. Poe ?, 1844)