"Love does my ev'ry other Thought controul, / And is the Master-Passion of my Soul."

— Amhurst, Nicholas (1697-1742)


Date
1718, 1720
Metaphor
"Love does my ev'ry other Thought controul, / And is the Master-Passion of my Soul."
Metaphor in Context
But if some waspish Critick should accuse
Of canker'd Prejudice the railing Muse,
Should he object that I'm to love a Foe,
Some sapless Dotard, or demolish'd Beau,
That at the Sex maliciously I strike,
And hate all Women equally alike;
False were the Charge; for Love's my constant Guest,
And reigns a Lordly Tyrant in my Breast;
Love does my ev'ry other Thought controul,
And is the Master-Passion of my Soul
,
In Love each golden Minute I employ,
And in my Laura centers all my promis'd Joy.
Provenance
Searching HDIS for "ruling passion"; confirmed in ECCO.
Citation
At least 5 entries in ESTC (1718, 1720, 1724).

See Strephon's Revenge: A Satire on the Oxford Toasts. Inscrib'd to the Author of Merton Walks. (London: Printed for R. Francklin, at the Sun against St. Dunstan’s Church in Fleetstreet: and sold by J. Bettenham in Pater-Noster-Row, 1718). <Link to ESTC>

Text from Strephon's Revenge: A Satire on the Oxford Toasts. 3rd ed., corr. (London: Printed for R. Francklin, 1720).
Theme
Ruling Passion
Date of Entry
05/25/2004

The Mind is a Metaphor is authored by Brad Pasanek, Assistant Professor of English, University of Virginia.