WHO WAS
ROSE MARY? In one of Dante Gabriel Rossetti’s ballads he tells the story of an enchanted beryl stone, and its sinister influence on the lives of two lovers. The legend which surrounded the stone was that it was inhabited by an angelic spirit, which would reveal to its owners anything which they desired to know. The beryl came into the possession of the maiden Rose Mary, who enlisted its aid to protect her lover from falling into the hands of his sworn enemy. The knight took the road directed by the stone, but was caught in an ambush and slain. The weeping lady sought an explanation of this strange miscarriage of fate, but, alas for poor Rose Mary, only to a pure maiden could the beryl reveal the truth. When its possessor fell guilty of unchastity a host of demons, with lying, tongues, invaded the stone' and drove out the guardian angel. Rose Mary mourned over the dead body, and bade her servants prepare it for burial; but when the coat of mail was removed fresh grief awaited her. Underneath the armour were found proof of her lover's faithlc&'ness, love tokens from the sister of his enemy. Now at last she was moved to repentance, and cleft the fatal stone in two, whereat the good angel reappeared, and carried her off to receive the divine forgiveness.
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Bibliographic details
Southland Times, Issue 21263, 9 December 1930, Page 6
Word Count
228WHO WAS Southland Times, Issue 21263, 9 December 1930, Page 6
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