text,updated_at,metaphor,created_at,context,theme,reviewed_on,dictionary,comments,provenance,id,work_id
"Disappointment in a first love, has, I think, been ever accounted a grief scarce surmountable even by time: but this can only be the case, where the heart, extremely vulnerable by nature (like Miss Burchell's) suffers itself to be so entirely immersed in that passion, that all the other duties of life are swallowed up in it; and where an indolent turn of mind, a want of rational avocations, and perhaps of a new object, all contribute to indulge and confirm the disease. This you know was not my case. I loved, 'tis true; but it was with temperance; and though my disappointment afflicted me, it did not subdue me. I got the better of it, I think I got the better of it even before I married; but sure I am, I totally conquered all remembrance of it after I became a wife. I then laid down a new Scheme of happiness, and was for a time in possession of it; how I was thrown from this is still bitter to remembrance. You well know what I suffered, when I found myself deprived of my husband's love, and suspected of a crime at which my soul shrunk. But it pleased the just God to deliver me from this heavy misfortune, and I think the happiest days of my marriage were those which I passed with Mr. Arnold after our re-union. Then it, was, I was thoroughly sensible that the heart can love a second time, truly and ardently; but I was soon again plunged into affliction by the death of a husband endeared to me more than ever by his misfortunes. My grief for him was proportionate to my love. Yet, my friend, as time is an universal conqueror, it might have healed this wound as well as the former one; and a few, a very few years would perhaps have disposed me to return Mr. Faulkland's still unabated passion, if a variety of circumstances had not interposed, that strongly forbad our union. Convinced as I was of this, I acted agreeably to the dictates both of my reason, and my conscience, in persuading Mr. Faulkland to make Miss Burchell his wife. I should have been grieved and mortified had he rejected her, and I had determined never to have seen him more. Yet how deceitful is the human heart! this very act which I laboured with so much assiduity to accomplish, and on the accomplishment of which, I had founded, I know not how, a fort of contentment for myself, has been the very means of destroying what little peace of mind I was beginning to taste before. Sure that man was born to torment me in a variety of ways! If I was disappointed in my early love, I had however duty, and a consciousness of what I then thought superior worth, to support me. If on his account I suffered cruel and injurious aspersions, the innocence of my own self-acquitted heart bore me up under it: but he has at length sound the way to punish me without leaving me any resource. My pride is of no use, he has raised himself in my esteem superior to every thing. His whole behaviour so generous, so candid; a love so disinterested, so fervent; what noble, what uncommon proofs has he given me of it! and at length what a triumphant sacrifice has he made of that over-ruling passion, to the sober calls of reason and humanity! He has left me, my dear, to gaze after him with grateful admiration! and sometimes perhaps to sigh that our fates rendered it impossible for us to meet. But if I do sometimes sigh, it is not at the advantages of fortune, which I might have enjoyed with him; no, no, surrounded as I am with distress, I do not envy Miss Burchell's affluence or splendor. If that motive could have had weight with me, I might have been mean enough not to have acted as I have done. 'Tis the qualities of the man's mind I esteem; I think our souls have something congenial in them, and that we were originally designed for each other. And if I believed the doctrine which teaches us that there are little officious spirits that preside over the actions of men, I should think that our two evil geniuses laid their heads together in conjunction with Miss Burchell's active demon, to thwart and cross all our measures.
(pp. 52-5)",2009-09-14 19:39:10 UTC,One may sacrifice an over-ruling passion to the sober calls of reason and humanity,2004-05-27 00:00:00 UTC,"",Ruling Passion,,"","","Searching HDIS for ""ruling passion""",13765,5094
"The noise she heard in the court, and which she took for the chariot, was nothing more than a little market-cart, which was used to carry home provisions, and which now arrived filled with necessaries for the house; and on its entering the court, she observed one of the servants lock the gate and take the key out. This action seemed to deprive her almost of her reason. She cast a frantic look at me, What, sir, am I a prisoner then? Am I to be detained here by force? No, no, I must not suffer this, starting up from her seat, I drew near her, and ventured to lay hold of her hand. Let me go, sir; let me be gone from hence this minute. Whither would you go, madam? Home, home; whither should I go but home to my mama! Unkind, said I, 'tis to Falkland you would fly, not to your mama; but remember he is now perhaps the husband of Cecilia. --What have I done to you, cried she, that you treat me thus inhumanly? A flood of tears succeeded her words. 'Tis a trite observation, that nothing affects a man so much as weeping beauty. I now felt the truth of it, and was really so touched at her tears, that I fell on my knees before her, and said as many tenderly extravagant things, as if I had been actually over head and ears in love; but the obdurate fair was not to be moved. Let me be gone, sir, let me go home to my mama, was the burden of her song. But think of the consequences, madam, think of your reputation; 'tis already known that you have passed two nights in my lodgings. --In your lodgings, sir! Yes, madam, those apartments in which you spent two nights at Brumpton, are mine; it will be known that you left them in my chariot, and that I accompanied you out of town, and that at a time too, when you expected to receive a visit from your uncle. It will be known, that, instead of returning home, you retired to the house of my particular friend, a single man, no lady to bear you company, and that I attended you hither: what must the world think of all this, madam? Will it not naturally conclude me to be already possessed of that happy title to which I aspire? And will it not be more for your honour, permit me to say, for the honour of your family too, to give proof to this natural conclusion, than by undeceiving people, to leave them at liberty to judge (pardon me, if I presume to say) perhaps very unfavourably of your conduct? She wrung her hands with all the marks of the bitterest anguish. I endeavoured to sooth her. Sometimes I implored her pity, and in the humblest language beseeched her to grant me the return I desired; then again I represented to her the precipice on which she stood. This last idea seemed to strike her with horror, and I really thought, more than once, that she gave some indications of a situation of mind too alarming to name; yet I hope 'tis nothing but her extreme sensibility, and that after those first violent struggles are over, reason and discretion will reassume their empire; and that finding she has no other party to choose, she will condescend to be lady Audley, with no other stain than what matrimony will wipe out, that of running away with her lover, rather than continue Miss Arnold with an indelible blot on her reputation.
(pp. 185-8)",2011-07-27 14:39:30 UTC,"""I hope 'tis nothing but her extreme sensibility, and that after those first violent struggles are over, reason and discretion will reassume their empire.""",2004-08-11 00:00:00 UTC,Conclusion,"",2011-07-27,Empire,"","Searching ""reason"" and ""empire"" in HDIS (Prose)",13768,5094
"We are indeed so much used to what they call poetical justice, that we are disappointed in the catastrophe of a fable, if every body concerned in it be not disposed of according to the sentence of that judge which we have set up in our own breasts.
The contrary we know happens in real life; let us not then condemn what is drawn from real life. --We may wish to see nature copied from her more pleasing works; but a martyr expiring in tortures, is as just, though not as agreeable, a representation of her, as a hero rewarded with the brightest honours.",2009-09-14 19:39:11 UTC,"""We are indeed so much used to what they call poetical justice, that we are disappointed in the catastrophe of a fable, if every body concerned in it be not disposed of according to the sentence of that judge which we have set up in our own breasts""",2004-11-24 00:00:00 UTC,"Vol I, Prologue","",,Court,"","Searching ""judg"" and ""breast"" in HDIS (Prose)",13770,5094
"Great was the joy of the two friends at meeting. Miss Melvyn's situation at home was rendered as irksome as possible, by Lady Melvyn's behaviour both to her and Sir Charles, who, notwithstanding her ill treatment, was extremely fond of, and totally guided by her. His mind was so entirely enslaved, that he beheld nothing but in the light wherein she pleased to represent it, and was so easy a dupe, that she could scarcely feel the joys of self triumph in her superior art, which was on no subject so constantly exerted, as in keeping up a coldness in Sir Charles towards his daughter; this she had with tolerable facility effected in her absence, and was assiduously careful to preserve now she was present. To those who know not the power an artful woman can obtain over a weak man, it would appear incredible, that any father could be prejudiced against a daughter, whose whole attention was to please him. She had so perfect a command over her temper, that she never appeared to take offence at any thing Lady Melvyn said or did, though that lady endeavoured by every provocation to throw her off her guard. This behaviour only encreased her hatred, which was not in the least abated by Miss Melvyn's taking every opportunity of being serviceable to her brothers and sisters-in-law. Lady Melvyn persuaded Sir Charles, that his daughter's calmness was only assumed in his presence, and continually complained of her insolence, when he was not by. If he ever appeared to doubt the truth of her report, she would burst into tears, complain of his want of love, and little confidence in her; and sometimes thought proper to shew her grief at such treatment, by a pretended hysteric fit, always ready at call to come to her assistance, though really so unnecessarily lavished on one easily duped without those laborious means, that it appeared a wantonness of cunning, which was thus exerted only for its own indulgence. She soon perceived that Miss Melvyn rather chose to submit to any aspersions, than to render her father unhappy, by undeceiving him; and taking advantage of this generosity, would sometimes, to establish his opinion of her veracity, accuse Miss Melvyn to her face of offences which she had never committed, and things she had never said.
(104-5)",2012-01-06 18:36:00 UTC,"""His mind was so entirely enslaved, that he beheld nothing but in the light wherein she pleased to represent it, and was so easy a dupe, that she could scarcely feel the joys of self triumph in her superior art, which was on no subject so constantly exerted, as in keeping up a coldness in Sir Charles towards his daughter; this she had with tolerable facility effected in her absence, and was assiduously careful to preserve now she was present.""",2004-01-25 00:00:00 UTC,"","",,"","",Reading and using HDIS to doublecheck search,13798,5106
"The new married pair set out early the next morning, and arrived at Mr. Morgan's seat the following day. The house was large and old, the furniture not much less ancient, the situation dreary the roads every where bad, the soil a stiff clay, wet and dirty, except in the midst of summer; the country round it disagreeable, and in short, destitute of every thing that could afford any satisfaction to Mrs. Morgan. Nature no where appears graced with fewer charms. Mrs. Morgan however had vexations so superior, that she paid little regard to external circumstances, and was so fully determined to acquit herself properly in her new sphere, that she appeared pleased with every thing around her. Hypocrisy, as she observed, was now become a virtue, and the only one which she found it difficult to practise. They were received on their arrival by a maiden sister of Mr. Morgan's, who till then had kept his house, and he intended should still remain in it; for as through the partiality of an aunt, who had bred her up, she was possessed of a large fortune, her brother, in whom avarice was the ruling passion, was very desirous of keeping in her favour.
(iii, pp. 103-4)",2013-06-27 21:16:11 UTC,"""They were received on their arrival by a maiden sister of Mr. Morgan's, who till then had kept his house, and he intended should still remain in it; for as through the partiality of an aunt, who had bred her up, she was possessed of a large fortune, her brother, in whom avarice was the ruling passion, was very desirous of keeping in her favour.""",2004-05-27 00:00:00 UTC,Chapter 3,Ruling Passion,2010-10-04,"","","Searching HDIS for ""ruling passion""",13807,5106
"When Lady Lambton took leave of Louisa, she would have forced her to receive a very handsome present; Louisa had accepted many while she lived with her ladyship, but at this time she said, 'it would look like receiving a compensation for the loss of Sir Edward; and as she chose to sacrifice both her inclinations and happiness to her regard for Lady Lambton, she could not be induced to accept any thing that looked like a reward for an action, which if she had not thought it her duty, nothing could have prevailed with her to perform.' The tenderest affections of her heart were too much concerned in what she had done, to leave her the power of feeling any apprehensions of poverty; all the evils that attend it then appeared to her so entirely external, that she beheld them with the calm philosophy of a stoic, and not from a very contrary motive; the insensibility of each arose from a ruling passion; the stoic's from pride, her's from love. But though she feared not poverty, she saw it was advisable to fix upon some establishment, as soon as it could be obtained; and therefore received great satisfaction from being assured of Mrs. Thornby's acceptance of her services. Mr. d'Avora was not without hopes, that if Sir Edward continued constant till Lady Lambton's death, Louisa might then, without any breach of honour or gratitude, marry him; though to have engaged herself to do so, would, as she observed, have been scarcely less inexcusable than an immediate consent; therefore he advised her to assume another name, as Sir Edward might not choose, after she was his wife, to have it known that she had been reduced to servitude.
(pp. 122-3)",2013-06-27 21:15:42 UTC,"""The tenderest affections of her heart were too much concerned in what she had done, to leave her the power of feeling any apprehensions of poverty; all the evils that attend it then appeared to her so entirely external, that she beheld them with the calm philosophy of a stoic, and not from a very contrary motive; the insensibility of each arose from a ruling passion; the stoic's from pride, her's from love.""",2004-05-27 00:00:00 UTC,Chapter 3,Ruling Passion,,"",•Should I include twice? [NO],"Searching HDIS for ""ruling passion""",13808,5106
"But soon I found I had mistook,
And that was not the cause;
'Twas reason had her throne forsook,
To stoop to Cupid's laws;
",2009-09-14 19:39:17 UTC,"Reason may her throne forsake ""To stoop to Cupid's laws""",2004-07-19 00:00:00 UTC,"","",,"","","Searching ""throne"" and ""reason"" in HDIS (Poetry)",13816,5114
"This young lady was almost a new character to Mr. Alworth. He had lived constantly, at his grand-mother's till he went abroad, and as soon as he returned into the kingdom he went thither; from which, as it was the middle of summer, and consequently London had no temptations, he had never stirred. He therefore had been little used to any woman but his sober and sensible grand-mother's two cousins who were pretty enough, but had no great charms of understanding; a sister rather silly, and the incomparable Harriot, whose wit was as sound as her judgment solid and sterling, free from affectation, and all little effeminate arts and airs. Reason governed her thoughts and actions, nor could the greatest flow of spirits make her for a moment forget propriety. Every thing in her was natural grace, she was always consistent and uniform, and a stranger to caprice.",2013-06-27 21:33:12 UTC,"""Reason governed her thoughts and actions, nor could the greatest flow of spirits make her for a moment forget propriety.""",2005-06-02 00:00:00 UTC,Chapter 6,"",,"","",Searching in HDIS (Prose),13881,5106
"Fables and Dreams my sportive Genius feigns:
Yet Dreams and Fables while I range with Art,
Caught by their magic Force, to serious Pains
Th’ inventive Head betrays the simple Heart:
Imagin’d Woes with real Grief I mourn,
Imagin’d Wrongs resent with real Scorn.
Yet, when by Fancy’s Influence unconfin’d,
Does Wisdom give my throbbing Bosom Laws?
Do calmer Thoughts compose my ruffled Mind?
Springs Love or Anger from a better Cause?
Ah! not alone the Muse’s gay Deceit
Is empty Fable, but my Hopes and Fears:
This busy Scene is one perpetual Cheat,
One wild Delirium all my fruitless Years!
(p. 49)",2011-06-23 20:15:45 UTC,"""Yet, when by Fancy’s Influence unconfin’d, / Does Wisdom give my throbbing Bosom Laws? / Do calmer Thoughts compose my ruffled Mind?""",2011-06-23 20:15:45 UTC,"","",,"","",Reading,18802,6975
"Mr. Faulkland paused a little while, and then, with a noble frankness, replied: 'You know, my dear Miss Burchell, with what an excess of passion I have ever loved Mrs. Arnold: Had no such woman existed, you would have been my choice, preferably to any other: but when I first knew you, I looked upon myself as bound to her, though, at that time, I had never seen her: my knowledge of her afterwards confirmed me her's. I made no secret of this to you, and you may remember what my declarations to you were, even at the time my hopes were frustrated. I have loved her fervently ever since; even in the arms of a husband I adored her; and I will be candid enough to own to you, that, as my attachment to her has, during all that time, estranged me from you, so should I still, had I the least hopes of succeeding, have persisted in my suit. But she has cut off all hope; she has declared she never can be mine, and at the same time has represented my obligations to you in so strong a light, that I am convinced I ought to be your's. And let me own, Madam, (you who are generous, and know what it is to love, will pardon a declaration which I durst not make to any other woman) to you I will confess that Mrs. Arnold is arbitress of my fate; and in approving myself to her, I do so to my own conscience. I do not therefore, though my actions have been guided by her, yield with reluctance to her will: her virtue, her religion, and enlarged mind, have only dictated to me, what my own reason tells me I ought to do. I have been a slave to a hopeless passion too long; I am now resolved to struggle with my chains: you, Madam, must assist me in breaking them intirely; and I make no doubt but that time, joined to my own efforts, and aided by your sweetness of disposition, your tenderness, and admirable sense, will enable me to conquer what I must now call a weakness, and make the triumph equally happy for us both. But remember, Madam, I never see Mrs. Arnold more. 'Tis for your peace sake as well as my own, that I make this a preliminary to our marriage. I will, when you shall vouchsafe me the honour of your hand, receive it, if you please, from Lady Bidulph; and as I presume it will be agreeable to you to have the ceremony intirely private, that I may, for our dear little boy's sake, present you rather as my acknowledged wife, than as my new-made bride, I will, with the utmost speed and secrecy, have such dispositions made, as shall be suitable to my condition, and your own merit.
(pp 25-8)",2011-07-27 14:37:06 UTC,"""I have been a slave to a hopeless passion too long; I am now resolved to struggle with my chains: you, Madam, must assist me in breaking them intirely; and I make no doubt but that time, joined to my own efforts, and aided by your sweetness of disposition, your tenderness, and admirable sense, will enable me to conquer what I must now call a weakness, and make the triumph equally happy for us both.""",2011-07-27 14:37:06 UTC,"","",,Fetters,"","Searching ""passion"" and ""chain"" in HDIS (Prose)",19017,5094