CHAPTER XIV

“TEMPORAL POWER”

This, Marie Corelli’s latest work, appeared on August 28th, 1902, the first edition totalling up to the unprecedented number of 120,000 copies. We understand that, since the primary issue, a further 30,000 copies have been printed. Thus it comes about that in spite of all the newspaper invective of which she has been the victim and the verbal floodgates that have been opened upon her, Marie Corelli has with her latest production broken the bookselling record for a six-shilling volume on its first appearance.

“Temporal Power” is not an inviting name. As a schoolmiss would say, “It sounds dry.” It has not the mystery-suggesting flavor of “The House on the Marsh” or the thrilling and adventuresome qualities of a title like “Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea”; yet “Temporal Power,” despite its appellation, is, at the time of writing, the most-talked-about book in the world.

“For,” to quote Marie Corelli, “it must be borne in mind that ‘Temporal Power’ are the two dazzling words which forever fascinate the Pope, and are the key-notes of every attempt at supremacy. ‘Temporal Power’ is the desire of kings, as of commoners. There is nothing really prosaic about such a title, unless the thing itself be deemed prosaic, which, if this were proved, would make out that all the work of the world was useless and that nothing whatever need be done except fold one’s hands and sit down in unambitious contentment.”

“Temporal Power” was not issued to the Press for review, but no less than three hundred and fifty journals--big and little--paid Miss Corelli the compliment of purchasing the book in order to comment on its plot and characteristics. Conning the mass of critical matter which is the outcome of this action on the part of the newspapers, it would seem that the attitude of the Press towards the authoress is growing less hostile than of yore, for quite a number of the reviews are couched in distinctly favorable language.

From _Lloyd’s Weekly Newspaper_, September 21st, 1902, we cull the following notice, which will serve as a brief _resumé_ of the plot--no doubt already familiar to the majority of our readers--and at the same time as an example of how an entire stranger to the novelist--as the author of this article was--can disregard the prejudice which has arisen with respect to our subject, and write as he thinks, combining, as it appears to us, a happy knack of lucid expression with a calm and temperate judgment.

A text from St. Paul as follows, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places,” prefaces and in a measure explains this very remarkable book. The hero of the story is a king reigning in these latter days over a Christian country that never once throughout the book receives a name. The omission, however, is not likely to be very early noticed by the reader, so intense is the interest aroused by the narrative, so rapid and sustained is its action. The king, married to a beautiful but cold consort who has borne him three sons, suddenly awakes to the fact that he is not doing his duty to his people, and resolves to go amongst them to see things for himself. He accordingly does so in disguise, and actually joins a society of Socialists. Hearing what is said about his Ministers he tests them and vetoes a declaration of war which is being brought about in the interests of certain capitalists and through the agency of a corrupt Press. Another conspiracy he contends with and defeats is a Jesuit one, during which an attempt is made upon his life, an attempt foiled by a beautiful woman of the people, who receives the knife-thrust in his place. One of the main themes of the book is the love of the king’s eldest son Humphry for Gloria, a poor but beautiful girl. He has secretly wedded her, and the fact coming to the king’s knowledge he upbraids his son and tells him that, the marriage with Gloria being of necessity morganatic, he must make a speedy alliance with a princess of a neighboring state. Then ensues a fine scene in which the young prince firmly refuses to abandon Gloria, or to commit bigamy by another marriage. It is one of those scenes in which Miss Corelli is seen at her best. There is deep scorn in the prince’s utterance when he declines the other marriage: “Three or four Royal sinners of this class I know of who for all their pains have not succeeded in winning the attachment of their people, either for themselves or their heirs.” He further emphatically assures his royal father that he will, if needful, “make it a test case, and appeal to the law of the realm. If that law tolerates a crime in princes which it would punish in commoners, then I shall ask the People to judge me!” The whole book throughout is so arranged that Miss Corelli is everywhere enabled to give utterance to the views of life she holds, and to attack the things she considers wrong. This she does in every instance with eloquent vehemence, and there will be many who must feel that she usually has right on her side. “Of things temporal there shall be no duration--neither Sovereignty nor Supremacy, nor Power; only Love, which makes weak the strongest, and governs the proudest.” The end of the book is the abdication and death of the king, his son and Gloria sailing to happier climes, rejoicing in a pure love. In its scope and imagination this is one of the most striking volumes Miss Corelli has given us.

From this exceedingly able summing-up of the work we will now turn to the article on “Temporal Power” which was published in _The Review of Reviews_.

To begin with, it needs to be explained that Mr. Stead first of all wrote a private letter to Miss Corelli telling her that it was “by far the strongest book she had yet written.” He then went on to suggest that she meant her characters for certain living Royalties and celebrities. Miss Corelli wrote back to him at once, stating that he was entirely in error. He having made the suggestion that she had described Queen Alexandra as the cold and irresponsive Queen of “Temporal Power,” Miss Corelli referred him to her “Christmas Greeting,” published at the end of the previous year, for the description of the Queen as seen in “The Soul of Queen Alexandra.” The general tone of Mr. Stead’s review was to accuse Miss Corelli of “disloyalty” (though he himself, Miss Corelli complains, had long expressed views that were distinctly Pro-Boer), and to inquire sarcastically how it happened that she was invited to the Coronation? It may be stated that she was invited to the Coronation because the King knows her personally, and, knowing her, is perfectly aware that he has no more loyal subject--a conviction that is not likely to be disturbed by the casual statement even of an experienced reviewer like Mr. Stead. From certain letters and messages Miss Marie Corelli has received from both the King and Queen (if she cared to make them public), it is very evident that she is thoroughly appreciated by the Royal Family, and that they are the last people in the world to believe the numerous adverse statements circulated about her merely on account of her brilliant success.

It was in the September (1902) _Review of Reviews_ that Mr. Stead devoted four pages to his criticism of “Temporal Power,” which was described as “a tract for the guidance of the King.”

“The fact” (continued Mr. Stead) “that her pages reflect as in a glass darkly, in an exaggerated and somewhat distorted shape, the leading personages in the English Court, and in contemporary politics, _may_ be one of those extraordinary coincidences which occur without any intention on the part of the authoress of the book.”

The King and the Queen are then described, and attention is drawn to the position of the Heir Apparent after he has contracted what is known as a morganatic marriage.

The King and Queen (proceeds the review) insist upon ignoring the marriage, and try to compel their son to commit bigamy by marrying a woman of the royal caste. The Prince, however--and in this Marie Corelli departs from the old legend which appears to have suggested this episode--has an unconquerable repugnance to the demand that he should commit bigamy for the good of the State.

The King, at the time when the story opens, has as his Prime Minister an aged Marquis, who is a dark, heavy man of intellectual aspect, whose manner is profoundly discouraging to all who seek to win his sympathy, and whose ascendancy in his own Cabinet is overshadowed by that of a Secretary of State, who bears an extraordinary resemblance to a certain Secretary of State who shall be nameless. This “honorable statesman” is hand-in-glove with an alien journalist, who is described here and there in terms which fit more or less loosely to one or two proprietors of journals of very large circulations in London town. With the aid of this supreme embodiment of the mercenary journalism of our latter day, the Secretary of State conceives the idea of working up a war for the annexation of a small State, whose conquest was certain to increase the value of various shares in which the Secretary and his friends had largely speculated, and further, to extricate them from various political difficulties in which they had found themselves involved.

We have Miss Corelli’s authority for stating, with all possible emphasis, that “Temporal Power” was written without the least intention on the part of the author to introduce living personalities under a romantic disguise. As touching the character of the defaulting Secretary of State, Carl Perousse, with which a large number of writers (including Mr. Stead) have sought to identify Mr. Joseph Chamberlain, it may be pointed out that if the author had any prominent European statesman at all in view, it was a well-known Italian minister, now deceased, as any one with judgment and knowledge of Italian affairs could testify--though Perousse is made tall and thin in the book, with the express object that he shall escape association with the said Italian minister, who was short and fat. Nothing has astonished the novelist more than the numerous letters she has received from members of Mr. Chamberlain’s party in which it is stated that the villainous Perousse is “exactly like” their leader. We have only to refer such correspondents to Miss Corelli’s public speeches in Edinburgh and Glasgow to prove that she has always spoken in high praise of the Colonial Secretary.

The King of the book is no more intended to be a suggested picture of Edward the Seventh than of Haroun Alraschid. The performances of the latter potentate are certainly “impossible” and “outrageous”--to quote press diatribes on “Temporal Power”--but they _live_, and their forgotten writer is not branded with _lèse-majestè_. This romance of Marie Corelli’s was written to show how a King, in spite of modern surroundings, can still be a hero. Marie Corelli’s king is the best man in the whole story, and is represented as winning the love of all his people.

The authoress readily admits that an attack on Jesuitism is contained in the book, nor is she the only one who has waylaid that persuasion. She is strenuously opposed to the political and educational system of Jesuitry, and believes that the whole civilized world is with her.

The much-discussed question of “royal bigamy” as condemned by the action of Miss Corelli’s young Prince Humphry and his love for “Gloria,” is a matter that has nothing to do with one Royal Family more than another. Our author’s ideas are, that if any crime is a crime in commoners, it should not be excused in persons of Royal birth; moreover, she thinks that many a Royal Prince has been made hopelessly miserable, and the springs of his life poisoned at their very fount, by his being forced to wed where he does not love, merely for “Reasons of State.” The Pope has quite recently condemned Royal alliances between cousins; and as all Royal Families are at the present day very closely allied, Miss Corelli thinks it will soon be necessary for heirs to thrones to enjoy the same honest freedom of purpose in their loves and marriages as the simplest gentlemen in the land.

The novelist has been told that she has made enemies among the “extra-loyal” and “Imperialistic” party. She presumes the “extra-loyal” means the “extra-toadies.” If the “Imperialistic” party is a party which seeks to curtail and restrict the rights of the People, then she goes with the People against all political parties whatsoever. But she takes no side in party politics: she is a stickler for Justice and Right for the great majority.

Two apparent attempts in journals catering specially for the book trade, were made to quash the success of the novel. One of these journals plainly stated that “Temporal Power” had not obtained the triumph claimed for it. The publishers, Messrs. Methuen and Co., instantly taxed the paper in question with having misstated the case, with the result that the following retractation was published: “With reference to our statement last month, regarding the sales of ‘Temporal Power,’ we learn that, so far from the repeat orders not comparing favorably with those of ‘The Master Christian,’ they have established a record even in the gigantic sales of Marie Corelli’s novels. Up to the present, during the same period, the sales of ‘Temporal Power’ have exceeded those of ‘The Master Christian,’ by over twenty thousand, and some idea of the demand for the book, even after the first rush, may be obtained from the fact that all the retail book-sellers, with one exception, in Brighton, sent large repeat orders within a few weeks of publication, while a single repeat order from one retail bookseller alone in another part of the country was for seven hundred and twenty-eight copies.”

The other periodical, after making one or two attempts to stem the great wave of “Temporal Power,” printed the following somewhat halfhearted comment: “Although few reviewers have spoken kindly of this novel, its sale has reached a figure which it is unnecessary to repeat here; whether its merits deserve such popularity we must refrain from discussing.”

In some quarters it has been boldly alleged that “Temporal Power” is like “The Eternal City.” There are absolutely no points of resemblance. Miss Corelli has never read “The Eternal City” or any of Mr. Hall Caine’s books except “The Christian.” She declares, however, that she searched in vain for a real follower of Christ in that work. It is interesting to note, by the way, that although the two novelists met years ago at a social function, they are practically strangers to one another, and are probably content to remain so.

From a book containing scores of powerful passages which would well bear reproduction independently of the context, we only propose to make a single quotation. The following extract concerns one of the most touching events of the story, _i. e._, the rejection of the King’s offered love by “Lotys,” woman of the people:

“Lotys!” he said; “Are you so cold, so frozen in an icewall of conventionality that you cannot warm to passion--not even to that passion which every pulse of you is ready to return? What do you want of me? Lover’s oaths? Vows of constancy? Oh, beloved woman as you are, do you not understand that you have entered into my very heart of hearts--that you hold my whole life in your possession? You--not I--are the ruling power of this country! What you say, that I will do! What you command, that will I obey! While you live, I will live--when you die, I will die! Through you I have learned the value of sovereignty,--the good that can be done to a country by honest work in kingship,--through you I have won back my disaffected subjects to loyalty;--it is all you--only you! And if you blamed me once as a worthless king, you shall never have cause to so blame me again! But you must help me,--you must help me with your love!”

She strove to control the beating of her heart, as she looked upon him and listened to his pleading. She resolutely shut her soul to the persuasive music of his voice, the light of his eyes, the tenderness of his smile.

“What of the Queen?” she said.

He started back, as though he had been stung.

“The Queen!” he repeated mechanically--“The Queen!”

“Ay, the Queen!” said Lotys. “She is your wife--the mother of your sons! She has never loved you, you would say,--you have never loved her. But you are her husband! Would you make me your mistress?”

Her voice was calm. She put the plain question point-blank, without a note of hesitation. His face paled suddenly.

“Lotys!” he said, and stretched out his hands towards her; “Lotys, I love you!”

A change passed over her,--rapid and transfiguring as a sudden radiance from heaven. With an impulsive gesture, beautiful in its wild abandonment, she cast herself at his feet.

“And I love you!” she said. “I love you with every breath of my body, every pulse of my heart! I love you with the entire passion of my life! I love you with all the love pent up in my poor starved soul since childhood until now!--I love you more than woman ever loved either lover or husband! I love you, my lord and King!--but even as I love you, I honor you! No selfish thought of mine shall ever tarnish the smallest jewel in your Crown! Oh, my beloved! My Royal soul of courage! What do you take me for? Should I be worthy of your thought if I dragged you down? Should I be Lotys,--if, like some light woman who can be bought for a few jewels,--I gave myself to you in that fever of desire which men mistake for love? Ah, no!--ten thousand times no! I love you! Look at me,--can you not see how my soul cries out for you? How my lips hunger for your kisses--how I long, ah, God! for all the tenderness which I know is in your heart for me,--I, so lonely, weary, and robbed of all the dearest joys of life!--but I will not shame you by my love, my best and dearest! I will not set you one degree lower in the thoughts of the People, who now idolize you and know you as the brave, true man you are! My love for you would be poor indeed, if I could not sacrifice myself altogether for your sake,--you, who are my King!”

He heard her,--his whole soul was shaken by the passion of her words.

“Lotys!” he said,--and again--“Lotys!”

He drew her up from her kneeling attitude, and gathering her close in his arms, kissed her tenderly, reverently--as a man might kiss the lips of the dead.

“Must it be so, Lotys?” he whispered; “Must we dwell always apart?”

Her eyes, beautiful with a passion of the highest and holiest love, looked full into his.

“Always apart, yet always together, my beloved!” she answered; “Together in thought, in soul, in aspiration!--in the hope and confidence that God sees us, and knows that we seek to live purely in His sight! Oh, my King, you would not have it otherwise! You would not have our love defiled! How common and easy it would be for me to give myself to you!--as other women are only too ready to give themselves,--to take your tenderness, your care, your admiration,--to demand your constant attendance on my lightest humor!--to bring you shame by my persistent companionship!--to cause an open slander, and allow the finger of scorn to be pointed at you!--to see your honor made a mockery of, by base persons who would judge you as one, who, notwithstanding his brave espousal of the People’s Cause, was yet a slave to the caprice of a woman! Think something more of me than this! Do not put me on the level of such women as once brought your name into contempt! They did not love you!--they loved themselves. But I--I love you! Oh, my dearest lord, if self were concerned at all in this great love of my heart, I would not suffer your arms to rest about me now!--I would not let your lips touch mine!--but it is for the last time, beloved!--the last time! And so I put my hands here on your heart--I kiss your lips--I say with all my soul in the prayer--God bless you!--God keep you!--God save you, my King! Though I shall live apart from you all my days, my spirit is one with yours! God will know that truth when we meet--on the other side of Death!”

Her tears fell fast, and he bent over her, torn by a tempest of conflicting emotions, and kissing the soft hair that lay loosely ruffled against his breast.

“Then it shall be so, Lotys!” he murmured at last. “Your wish is my law!--it shall be as you command! I will fulfil such duties as I must in this world,--and the knowledge of your love for me,--your trust in me, shall keep me high in the People’s honor! Old follies shall be swept away--old sins atoned for;--and when we meet, as you say, on the other side of Death, God will perchance give us all that we have longed for in this world--all that we have lost!”

His voice shook,--he could not further rely on his self-control.

“I will not tempt you, Lotys!” he whispered--“I dare not tempt myself! God bless you!”

He put her gently from him, and stood for a moment irresolute. All the hope he had indulged in of a sweeter joy than any he had ever known, was lost,--and yet--he knew he had no right to press upon her a love which, to her, could only mean dishonor.

“Good-bye, Lotys!” he said huskily; “My one love in this world and the next! Good-bye!”

She gazed at him with her whole soul in her eyes,--then suddenly, and with the tenderest grace in the world, dropped on her knees and kissed his hand.

“God save your Majesty!” she said, with a poor little effort at smiling through her tears; “For many and many a long and happy year, when Lotys is no more!”

This beautiful passage alone is a literary _tour-de-force_. “Temporal Power,” in short, shows no abatement of Marie Corelli’s energetic and varied genius, and the public will await her next work with all possible interest.