The Ideal of Womanhood: sposa devota, madre premurosa

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The Ideal of Womanhood sposa devota, madre
premurosa
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Coventry Patmore, The Angel in the House"
(originally published in 1854, revised through
1862).

• Man must be pleased but him to pleaseIs woman's
  pleasure down the gulfOf his condoled
  necessitiesShe casts her best, she flings
  herself.How often flings for nought, and
  yokesHer heart to an icicle or whim,Whose each
  impatient word provokesAnother, not from her,
  but himWhile she, too gentle even to forceHis
  penitence by kind replies,Waits by, expecting
  his remorse,With pardon in her pitying eyesAnd
  if he once, by shame oppress'd,A comfortable
  word confers,She leans and weeps against his
  breast,And seems to think the sin was hersOr
  any eye to see her charms,At any time, she's
  still his wife,Dearly devoted to his armsShe
  loves with love that cannot tireAnd when, ah
  woe, she loves alone,Through passionate duty
  love springs higher,As grass grows taller round
  a stone.

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Millais, Emily Augusta Andrews Patmore
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Ford Madox Brown, 1821 - 1893 Oure Ladye of
Good ChildrenDate 1847-61
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Ford Madox Brown 'Take Your Son, Sir!'
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Womans Mission, Companion of Manhood,George
Elgar Hicks, 1863
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The Order of Release, by John Everett Millais
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"King Cophetua and the Beggar Maid," 1884, by
Edward Burne-Jones,
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Alfred, Lord Tennyson (The Beggar Maid, written
1833, published 1842)

• Her arms across her breast she laidShe was more
  fair than words can sayBarefooted came the
  beggar maidBefore the king Cophetua.In robe and
  crown the king stept down,To meet and greet her
  on her wayIt is no wonder, said the
  lords,She is more beautiful than day. As
  shines the moon in clouded skies,She in her poor
  attire was seenOne praised her ankles, one her
  eyes,One her dark hair and lovesome mien.So
  sweet a face, such angel grace,In all that land
  had never been.Cophetua sware a royal
  oathThis beggar maid shall be my queen!