"You must know, that as Jealous as Old Diego is, Jealousie is not his Predominant Passion, for he is the very Genius and Dæmon of Covetuousness."
— Dennis, John (1658-1734)
Author
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for Wm. Turner
Date
1705
Metaphor
"You must know, that as Jealous as Old Diego is, Jealousie is not his Predominant Passion, for he is the very Genius and Dæmon of Covetuousness."
Metaphor in Context
VINCENT
You are too Sanguine, Wilmot, and hope too much; consider, that Old Don Diego is the Dragon that watches this Golden Fruit.
WILMOT
Yes, as they do their Women in all these Southern Parts; for I have observ'd in most Countreys, that the Baser the Men are, and the more Slaves to one another, the more they Confine and Tyrannize over the Women; whereas we, who have our selves a due and a noble Sense of Liberty, give Freedom to our Wives and our Mistresses.
VINCENT
Here in Spain, they say, the Women are not to be trusted with Liberty.
WILMOT
Faith I am of another Opinion, for if they make an Ill Use of Liberty, they'll make as bad a one at the least of Restraint; for what signifies a Woman's being Chaste in the Flesh, if she is Whore in Spirit? And to what Purpose is it to keep her from the World, if she has suffer'd herself beforehand to be debauch'd by the Devil? But know to thy Comfort, that Don Diego's Vigilance has been his Ruin, for it has but set an Edge on my superior Genius; this very Night, my Friend, we'll take a Surfeit of Love, and to Morrow forget the Care; Men of Sense make Love their Pleasure and their Diversion; only Fools and Beaus make it their Business, or suffer it to be a Hindrance to their doing their Duty.
VINCENT
But how is this to be done, Wilmot?
WILMOT
You must know, that as Jealous as Old Diego is, Jealousie is not his Predominant Passion, for he is the very Genius and Dæmon of Covetuousness; now have I dispatch'd my Servant Fetcher with a Message to Monsieur Fourbe, Lieutenant of Marines to the French Ship that took us, who likewise came this Morning to this Place, to entreat him to gain by Presents the Alfereez to Old Diego; for the Alfereez, you must know, is Gallant to the Duenna, who absolutely governs the Ladies; but where can my Rascal loiter all this while?
(I.i)
You are too Sanguine, Wilmot, and hope too much; consider, that Old Don Diego is the Dragon that watches this Golden Fruit.
WILMOT
Yes, as they do their Women in all these Southern Parts; for I have observ'd in most Countreys, that the Baser the Men are, and the more Slaves to one another, the more they Confine and Tyrannize over the Women; whereas we, who have our selves a due and a noble Sense of Liberty, give Freedom to our Wives and our Mistresses.
VINCENT
Here in Spain, they say, the Women are not to be trusted with Liberty.
WILMOT
Faith I am of another Opinion, for if they make an Ill Use of Liberty, they'll make as bad a one at the least of Restraint; for what signifies a Woman's being Chaste in the Flesh, if she is Whore in Spirit? And to what Purpose is it to keep her from the World, if she has suffer'd herself beforehand to be debauch'd by the Devil? But know to thy Comfort, that Don Diego's Vigilance has been his Ruin, for it has but set an Edge on my superior Genius; this very Night, my Friend, we'll take a Surfeit of Love, and to Morrow forget the Care; Men of Sense make Love their Pleasure and their Diversion; only Fools and Beaus make it their Business, or suffer it to be a Hindrance to their doing their Duty.
VINCENT
But how is this to be done, Wilmot?
WILMOT
You must know, that as Jealous as Old Diego is, Jealousie is not his Predominant Passion, for he is the very Genius and Dæmon of Covetuousness; now have I dispatch'd my Servant Fetcher with a Message to Monsieur Fourbe, Lieutenant of Marines to the French Ship that took us, who likewise came this Morning to this Place, to entreat him to gain by Presents the Alfereez to Old Diego; for the Alfereez, you must know, is Gallant to the Duenna, who absolutely governs the Ladies; but where can my Rascal loiter all this while?
(I.i)
Provenance
Searching "predominant passion" in HDIS
Citation
First performed 16 Feb 1705. Only 1 entry in ECCO and ESTC (1705).
See Gibraltar: or, The Spanish Adventure, A Comedy. As it was Acted at the Theatre in Drury-Lane. By Mr. Dennis. (London: Printed for Wm. Turner, at the Angel at Lincolns Inn Back-Gate, and sold by J. Nutt, near Stationer’s-Hall, 1705). <Link to ESTC>
See Gibraltar: or, The Spanish Adventure, A Comedy. As it was Acted at the Theatre in Drury-Lane. By Mr. Dennis. (London: Printed for Wm. Turner, at the Angel at Lincolns Inn Back-Gate, and sold by J. Nutt, near Stationer’s-Hall, 1705). <Link to ESTC>
Theme
Ruling Passion
Date of Entry
06/07/2004
Date of Review
04/26/2011
