Carrying Over the Threshold

A romantic scene between two lovers as the man carries his fiancée over the threshold.

Great Lovers’ Day: 11 Greatest Lovers

It’s Great Lovers’ Day! In case you forgot the card: http://www.123greetings.com/events/great_lovers_day/

May your lover be the one or may you soon find your great lover.

11. Tristan and Isolde

Tristan and Isolde is an old Celtic myth. It was rewritten and many consider it part of the Arthurian legends. Tristan was wounded in a fight with a giant. The princess of Ireland, Isolde, took pity on him and healed him. She had the most beautiful golden hair in the world. Tristan returned home, with his uncle, King Mark. One day a bird flying by dropped a lock of golden hair. King Mark declared that he would marry the woman whose hair that was. Tristan recognized the hair and said he would go and fetch Isolde for Mark. Isolde’s parents agreed to the marriage. Isolde’s mother thought there might be trouble, so she gave Isolde’s maid a magic love potion to give Isolde on the wedding night. On the ship to Mark’s kingdom Tristan grew thirsty and drank the love potion and gave some to Isolde. They fell madly in love. Isolde could not break her word to Mark so she married him. On the wedding night she sent to maid to sleep with the king instead of herself. The lovers met in secret for many years until the king found them while they were sleeping. The king could not bring himself to kill them so he replaced Tristan’s sword with his own so they would know he knew. Tristan and Isolde were wrought with guilt and agreed to never meet again. Tristan sent himself into exile. He married a woman, Isuelt, because she reminded him of Isolde. He was unhappy in his marriage and would occasionally return to see Isolde. A war broke out in the kingdom. Tristan was badly wounded. He sent for Isolde to heal him. If the ship returned with white sails Isolde was on board and would heal him. If the ship had black sails she refused. Isuelt saw the white sails and grew jealous. She told Tristan that the sails were black. Tristan killed himself by throwing himself on his sword. When Isolde learned of Tristan’s death she died of a broken heart.

10. Napoleon and Josephine

Napoleon and Josephine’s marriage was originally out of convenience. As they lived together their passion grew. They were known for being devoted and passionate lovers. When Josephine could not bear Napoleon an heir they were forced to separate and remarry. Their passion and love continued throughout the rest of their lives, despite their seperation.

I awake all filled with you. Your image and the intoxicating pleasures of last night, allow my senses no rest.

Sweet and matchless Josephine, how strangely you work upon my heart.

Are you angry with me? Are you unhappy? Are you upset?

My soul is broken with grief and my love for you forbids repose. But how can I rest any more, when I yield to the feeling that masters my inmost self, when I quaff from your lips and from your heart a scorching flame?

Yes! One night has taught me how far your portrait falls short of yourself!

You start at midday: in three hours I shall see you again.

Till then, a thousand kisses, mio dolce amor! but give me none back for they set my blood on fire.

9. Anthony and Cleopatra

You could say Cleopatra had a thing for Italians since she had a son with Julius Caesar. Mark Anthony was married to a woman in Rome. Rome was in a long, expensive war. Anthony knew Egypt was rich and decided to ask for some finances. Cleopatra was ruling with her half brother and wanted him dead. She appeared to Anthony on a golden barge, dressed in her finest to look like Venus, the goddess of love. The two agreed on helping each other and within a week they were lovers. They were married. They had a passionate marriage. The Romans were unhappy with Anthony’s new wife and plotted against him. In Rome, Anthony’s wife led a rebellion against Octavius, the ruler, in an attempt to bring Anthony home. The rebellion failed but Anthony decided to return to Rome. Cleopatra was pregnant and begged Anthony not to go. Anthony couldn’t stay and left. Octavius forced Anthony to marry Octavius’s sister. Cleopatra was angry with Anthony’s new marriage. She bore Anthony’s twins, a boy and a girl. Anthony could not stay away from Cleopatra long and returned to Egypt. At this point Cleopatra was queen of Egypt. Octavius was furious, since Anthony had left while Octavius’s sister was ill and expecting Anthony’s son. Octavius spread rumors and lies about Anthony and Cleopatra. Rome attacked Egypt. Anthony fought bravely. Octavius devised a plot. He had a messenger tell Anthony that Cleopatra was dead.  Broken hearted Anthony threw himself on his sword and died. The war was lost. When Cleopatra heard of Anthony’s death she mourned deeply. At Anthony’s funeral Octavius told Cleopatra that he would parade her in the streets of Rome in shame. Proud and broken hearted, Cleopatra had some poisonous snakes snuck into her room. She was bitten and died.

8. Guinevere and Lancelot

Guinevere was married to King Aurthur. Their marriage had a lot of respect and caring. But that did not compare to the passion Guinevere felt for the knight, Lancelot. Lancelot was Arthur’s most trusted right-hand man.  At first the two tried to resist their love, for the love of their king. But passion and true love could not be stopped. They became devoted lovers. Lancelot carried a lock of Guinevere’s hair wherever he went. The two felt guilty for their betrayal against Arthur. They tried to keep their affair secret but other knights began to suspect. One knight spoke out against the two. Lancelot challenged him to a fight of honor. Lancelot cut the knight’s head in two. More knights began to suspect as the lovers struggled to keep their passions secret. A group of knights charged into a bedroom with the lovers intertwined. Lancelot managed to escape, killing several knights. Guinevere was captured and sentenced to death.  The queen was burning at the stake when Lancelot rescued her and rode off with her on his horse. That was the end of the round table. Consumed by guilt Guinevere entered into a nunnery, where she died. Lancelot became a hermit.

7. Paris and Helen of Troy

Helen was the most beautiful woman in the world. When she became of marrying age many kings and suitors came for her hand. She was married to Menelaus, King of Sparta. Paris, prince of Troy was visiting Sparta and saw Helen. He instantly fell in love with her. He abducted Helen, took her to Troy, and married her. Menelaus was furious and wanted his wife back. He sent armies to attack Troy. The war lasted for 9 years. Near the end of the war Paris was mortally wounded. Paris knew that only one person could save his life- Oenone, his ex girlfriend. Helen traveled to Oenone was angry with Paris for leaving her for Helen and refused. Helen rushed back to be with Paris as he died. Some say Helen was taken back to Sparta, others that the gods carried her to Mount Olympus, and others that the Spartans hung her from a tree.

6. Greg and Jenny

These two fell in love in high school. Greg’s ex girlfriend, Liza tries her hardest to make sure that Greg and Jenny can never be together. Liza even makes sure that Jenny cannot win contests, hoping to make Jenny look smaller in Greg’s eyes. All this fails and Greg tells Jenny he wants to marry her. Liza threatens to tell Greg Jenny’s secret about her father. Jenny leaves Greg and runs away to New York City. Greg follows Jenny to New York City and they are reunited. Greg falls and becomes paralyzed from the waist down. He doesn’t want to keep Jenny down so he breaks up with her and tells her to go to New York City and to become a model. Jenny becomes engaged to another model, Tony. Greg manages to walk again and runs to New York to win Jenny back. Jenny breaks off her engagement and marries Greg instead. Tony is furious and decides to have Greg murdered. Tony wires Greg’s jet ski to explode. At the last moment Jenny and Greg switch jet skis and Jenny is killed. Greg never fully recovers from the loss of Jenny.

5. Scarlett O’Hara and Rhett Butler

The charming Rhett Butler takes a shining to Scarlett O’Hara from the first moment he sees her. Rhett’s unpredictability infuriates Scarlett. They dance back and forth in passion but Scarlett refuses to give into Rhett’s love. Rhett manages to convince Scarlett to marry him for convenience and they have a little girl together, Bonnie. Rhett becomes frustrated with Scarlett and leaves for Europe with Bonnie. Neither Bonnie nor Rhett can stay away from the beautiful Scarlett so they return. Scarlett nearly dies from falling down the stairs during a fight. She calls out for Rhett in her illness. Rhett is not allowed to see her so she feels slighted. The two are driven even more far apart at the death of Bonnie. By the time Scarlett realizes that she loves Rhett and wants to be with him, it is too late, and he is gone. Scarlett decides that she will find Rhett and be with him, no matter what.

4. Dr. Zhivago and Laura

Yuri Zhivago is a married medical officer stationed in a small town. He falls in love with a beautiful woman, Laura. Laura is married to a missing soldier. She has come to the town in an attempt to find him, leaving her daughter at home. Yuri is mesmerized by Laura but returns to his wife and son in Moscow. There is no food or firewood in Moscow so the family moves to an estate in the country. Yuri goes to a nearby town and runs into Laura. They have a passionate love affair for two months. Yuri feels guilty and breaks it off with Laura. On his way home to tell his wife he is captured by an army and forced to be a medical doctor. Yuri is forced to remain in the army until the end of the war. Once it is over Yuri returns to Laura. He remains with her for several months. Laura’s husband returns and says that he knows of a place to keep everyone safe. Yuri tricks Laura into going to safety with her daughter while he remains behind. He returns to Moscow and begins a life with a new woman, has two children, but can never forget Laura. He lives like this for many years. One day on his way to work he has a heart attack. Laura attends the funeral and is utterly heart broken. She dies in a gulag- a Russian concentration camp.  Later friends of Yuri find Yuri and Laura’s daughter working as a laundry girl.

The great love story inspired a song well-known around the world for its romance.

3. Edward and Vivian

Edward is a wealthy lawyer visiting LA. He picks up a beautiful prostitute, Vivian. He instantly likes her fun personality and offers to pay her to stay the week. He gives her jewelry and beautiful clothing. Edward takes her to fancy dinners, the opera, and other events, showing her off to his friends and colleagues. The two fall deeply in love. One of Edward’s colleagues, Phillip, finds out who Vivian is. He is angry and thinks Vivian is getting in Edward’s way. Phillip hits Vivian and tries to rape her. Edward comes to Vivian’s rescue. Vivian leaves. Edward chases after her, arriving at her home with roses and a limo. He climbs up the fire escape to rescue her and whisk her away to a better life.

2. Disney

Disney is the best for making beautiful romance and lovers. They’re always deeply in love and always end up together and live happily ever after.

1. Romeo and Juliet

Juliet is promised to be married. Romeo and Juliet’s families were in a feud. Despite the danger, Romeo attends a party at Juliet’s house. They fall in love at first sight. They speak briefly and fall deeper in love. Romeo cannot stand to leave Juliet and remains in the garden, under he balcony. They exchange vows of love. Romeo and Juliet are secretly married. Romeo enters into a duel with Juliet’s cousin and kills him. Juliet remains faithful to her lover and they spend the night together to consummate their marriage. In the morning Romeo must leave, not knowing if they’ll see each other again. Juliet’s engagement is pushed forward so that it will be in a couple days. Juliet goes to the friar that married her to Romeo for advice. She is given a potion to take the night before her wedding that will make her seem dead. Her family will put her in the crypt and she will be rescued by Romeo. Juliet came home to find that her marriage was pushed forward to the next day. Juliet takes the potion that night. Romeo does not get the friar’s message that Juliet only took a potion and thinks that Juliet is dead. Romeo goes to Juliet’s body and takes poison so that he dies beside her. Juliet wakes up. She is distraught to see her dead lover before her. She tries to kiss the poison from his lips. When this doesn’t kill her she stabs herself with Romeo’s dagger.

A Romantic Moment

I think we’d all love to be in this moment: