"Micklegift and Dulcia" — Phiz's third illustration for William Harrison Ainsworth's "Ovingdean Grange: A Tale of the South Downs" (1859-60)

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Micklegift and Dulcia

Phiz

Dalziel

Part 2: December 1859

Wood-engraving

15.1 cm high by 10.2 cm wide, vignetted, facing 48.

Ovingdean Grange, originally published in Bentley's Miscellany; Book the Second, Chapter 2.

[Click on image to enlarge it.]

Scanned image and text by Philip V. Allingham.

[You may use these images without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the photographer and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document or cite the Victorian Web in a print one.]

Passage Illustrated: The Calvinist Preacher and the Fair Maiden

Having come to a halt, as related, Micklegift said, in a supplicatory tone, while a flush overspread his pale features, “Hearken unto me, maiden. Ever since I set eyes upon thee, my heart hath yearned towards thee. Thy charms have been a snare unto me, in which I have fallen. Yet though I have burnt with love for thee, I have not ventured to declare my passion, for I have perceived that I am an object of aversion in thy sight.”

“Forbear this discourse, sir,” Dulcia cried, “or you will drive me away from you instantly.”

“Despise me not, but pity me, maiden,” implored the preacher. “My love for thee is as a tormenting fire which consumes my very vitals. It disorders my brain, and drives me to the verge of madness. Have compassion upon me! I will be thy slave — anything thou wilt have me be — if thou wilt but love me.” [Book II, "Increase Micklegift," Chapter II, "What passed between the Independent Minister and Dulcia in the Churchyard," 48]

Related Materials

Bibliography

Ainsworth, William Harrison. Ovingdean Grange: A Tale of the South Downs. (1860). Illustrated by Phiz. Ainsworth's Works. London & New York: George Routledge, 1876.

Buchanan-Brown, John. Phiz! Illustrator of Dickens' World. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1978.

Lester, Valerie Browne. Phiz: The Man Who Drew Dickens. London: Chatto and Windus, 2004.

Vann, J. Don. "William Harrison Ainsworth's Ovingdean Grange: A Tale of the South Downs in Bentley's Miscellany, November 1859 — July 1860." Victorian Novels in Serial. New York: Modern Language Association, 1985. 30-31.

Created 29 December 2019

Last modified 12 May 2020