"Mr. Falkland began with beseeching lord V--- to blot from his memory his past ill conduct, for which he expressed the sincerest contrition"

— Sheridan [née Chamberlaine], Frances (1724-1766)


Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for J. Dodsley, in Pall-mall
Date
1770
Metaphor
"Mr. Falkland began with beseeching lord V--- to blot from his memory his past ill conduct, for which he expressed the sincerest contrition"
Metaphor in Context
Mr. Falkland began with beseeching lord V--- to blot from his memory his past ill conduct, for which he expressed the sincerest contrition; and acknowleging with the utmost gratitude his obligations to lord V---, owned that shame would not permit him to do it personally. He then informs him of the large fortune which was just fallen to him, and proceeds in these words: 'Were it not for this event, I should wish that my very name might be forgotten, and that Miss Arnold should never more call back to her recollection the man who deserves nothing from her but contempt and aversion. I acknowlege, my lord, Ideserve nothing else from her, and must even applaud her justice, if the distinction with which she once honoured me is turned into disdain: but, if on the contrary, the same fatality which first impelled, should still persist in attaching her inclinations to so unworthy an object, tell her I lay myself at her feet, not to make her an atonement, it would be a prophanation of the word to use it on this occasion; but to deliver myself up to her justice, and to endue her with a power (pardon the boldness of the expression) like that of Omnipotence, either to pardon and reward the repenting sinner, or to condemn him to punishment.
(pp. 317-9)
Categories
Provenance
Searching "blot" and "memory" in HDIS (Prose)
Citation
6 entries in ESTC (1767, 1770, 1796).

Conclusion of the Memoirs of Miss Sidney Bidulph, As prepared for the Press By the Late Editor of the Former Part (London: Printed for J. Dodsley, in Pall-mall, 1770).
Date of Entry
03/25/2005

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