‘Sagesse d’une Reine’ – Carmen Sylva’s aphorisms, edited by Gabriel Badea Paun

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Carmen Sylva, Queen Elizabeth of Romania

A new edition of the book ‘Les pensées d’une reine. Carmen Sylva reine de la Roumanie’ (Golden Thoughts of Carmen Sylva Queen of Romania) was published recently by Via Romana publishing house in Paris.  The volume is edited by Gabriel Badea Paun and has the complete title Elisabeth de Roumanie Carmen Sylva. Sagesse d’une Reine; paperback, 10×16 cm, 136pp. The foreword is by HRH Prince Radu, and post-scriptum by Gabriel Badea Paun. The first French edition (Calmann-Lévy, Paris) was published in 1882 Les pensées d’une reine. Carmen Sylva reine de la Roumanie. It is a beautifully presented and easy to read book that helps the reader to discover the literary talent and personality of Romania’s poetess queen.

Fresco from the private chapel in Pelesh Castle

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Carmen Sylva, Pelesh Castle, Queen Elizabeth of Romania, Royal Chapel

Fresco from the private chapel in Pelesh castle. The chapel was a recollection place much loved by Queen Elisabeta of Romania (Carmen Sylva). Photo by Diana Mandache.

Painted Bible of Queen Elisabeth of Romania

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Carmen Sylva, Curtea de Arges, Familia regala, Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, istoria regalitatii, King Carol I, Queen Elizabeth of Romania, Regina Elisabeta

The painted Bible of Queen Elisabeth of Romania (1886-1892) dedicated to the Cathedral Curtea de Arges and exhibited there, remains a wonderful and precious piece of work, designed in an arts & crafts manner.

Photos by Diana Mandache

Weekly Picture: Carmen Sylva

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Carmen Sylva, European royal families, Familia regala, istoria regalitatii, Noblesse et Royautés, Queen Elizabeth of Romania, Regina Elisabeta, Romanian Royal Family, Royal Palaces

Queen Elisabeth of Romania (Pelesh castle). Diana Mandache's weblog Royal History (Weekly Picture: 28 Dec.2009) Photo©Valentin Mandache

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I endeavour in the “Weekly Pictures” post series to bring to light worthy of note, often less known images from the royal past and present and thus further enhance the understanding of royal history and what it represents for us.

Weekly picture: ©Diana Mandache’s weblog Royal History

Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author is strictly prohibited.

Carmen Sylva: ART

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Carmen Sylva, European royal families, Familia regala, Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, istoria regalitatii, Noblesse et Royautés, Princess Elizabeth of Wied, Queen Elizabeth of Romania, Regina Elisabeta

It is more essential for the poet to be  true in sentiment than in invention.

The artist is in love with a blank canvas, an empty sheet of paper, a piece of rough marble. As soon as his hand has rendered them immortal, he regards them with horror ; and woe to him if he remains in love with them.

Bad poets make of language what bad priests make of religion : a narrow prison.

People call ugliness truth, just as they call coarseness candour.

A bad novel awakens the senses, a good novel the conscience.

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Diana Mandache’s Weblog Royal History

Carmen Sylva: Political Aphorisms

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Carmen Sylva, European royal families, Familia regala, istoria regalitatii, Noblesse et Royautés, Queen Elizabeth of Romania, Regina Elisabeta, Romanian Royal Family

We hasten to implant in new countries the civilization of old ones. This is like putting false teeth in the place of sound ones. In certain situations one has so often to hold one’s tongue that it at last becomes paralysed and can stammer out nothing but old worn-out phrases.

To every mortal is granted a tongue and even a pen to defend himself. Sovereigns alone are expected to be like God, who allows Himself to be slandered without replying.

A little contradiction animates conversation. This explains why courts are so dull.

To be the friend of a sovereign you must be without passion, without ambition, without egotism, clear-sighted and far-sighted; in short, not a man.

One often hears the phrase, “Put not your trust in princes!” quoted from the Bible; but the rest of the verse, “for they also are men,” is overlooked.

Women who meddle with politics are hens who make themselves vultures.

Politics resemble a desert: a blast of wind forms an enormous mountain, while mirages are frequent and dangerous.

Strictly speaking, a prince requires nothing but eyes and ears;  he does not need a mouth, except to smile.

The profession of queen demands but three qualities: beauty, bounty, and fecundity.

The multitude is like the sea: it either bears you up or swallows you, according to the wind.

All rights reserved Diana Mandache’s Weblog Royal History

On this day Princess Elizabeth of Wied married Prince Carol of Romania 140 years ago

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Carmen Sylva, European royal families, Familia regala, Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, King Carol I, Noblesse et Royautés, Queen Elizabeth of Romania, Regele Carol I, Regina Elisabeta, Romanian Royal Family, South-East European Monarchs

On 3/15 November 1869 the palace in Neuwied and every single house in the town was decorated with flags and garlands. At half past five the marriage procession started and proceeded to a salon which had been arranged as a Catholic chapel. After this ceremonial they proceeded down the staircase to a hall below richly arranged as a Protestant chapel. The royal couple made their sacre promise on their knees, exchanged rings. The text of the sermon was aptly chosen, as alluding to the difficulties and troubles which were to be encountered in the far-off Eastern country: “Whither thou goest, I will go : and where thou lodgest, I will lodge; thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God”.  The thunder of cannons announced that the marriage was concluded.

A reception and a state dinner was held at the  Neuwied Castle. In the image below is the royal menu served with that occasion at Neuwied.

Source: RNL

All rights reserved©Diana Mandache’s weblog Royal History

Protected: Weekly Picture: Elisabeth of Romania w. Pearl and Diamond Tiara

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Carmen Sylva, European royal families, Familia regala, istoria regalitatii, Noblesse et Royautés, Princess Elizabeth of Wied, Queen Elizabeth of Romania, Regina Elisabeta, Romanian Royal Family, Royal jewels, Royal tiaras

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To the Memory of Queen Victoria by Carmen Sylva

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British Royal Family, Carmen Sylva, European royal families, Familia regala, istoria regalitatii, Noblesse et Royautés, Princess Elizabeth of Wied, Queen Elizabeth of Romania, Queen Victoria, Regina Elisabeta, Regina Victoria

Queen Victoria

These ever wakeful eyes are closed. They saw

Such grief, that they could see no more. The

heart —

That quick’ning pulse of nations — could not bear

Another throb of pain, and could not hear

Another cry of tortur’d motherhood.

Those uncomplaining lips, they sob no more

The soundless sobs of dark and burning tears,

That none have seen; they smile no more, to breathe

A mother’s comfort into aching hearts.

The patriarchal Queen, the monument

Of touching widowhood, of endless love,

And childlike purity — she sleeps. This night

Is watchful not. The restless hand, that slave

To duty, to a mastermind, to wisdom

That fathom’d history and saw beyond

The times, lies still in marble whiteness. Love

So great, so faithful, unforgetting and

Unselfish — must it sleep? Or will that veil.