"I was surpriz'd, taken unawares, passion ran away with me like an unbroke horse: but I have got him under now; I can govern him with a twine of thread."

— Cumberland, Richard (1732-1811)


Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for C. Dilly
Date
1785
Metaphor
"I was surpriz'd, taken unawares, passion ran away with me like an unbroke horse: but I have got him under now; I can govern him with a twine of thread."
Metaphor in Context
JACK.
Don't be frighten'd, Mrs. Phoebe! you have nothing to fear: I have seen my error, and thoroughly repent of it.

PHOEBE.
'Tis well you have, Sir.

JACK.
Very true, 'tis a happy reformation-- but who can command himself at all times, Mrs. Phoebe? Where's the man that can do it? I was surpriz'd, taken unawares, passion ran away with me like an unbroke horse: but I have got him under now; I can govern him with a twine of thread.

PHOEBE.
'Tis well you can, Sir.
(IV)
Provenance
Searching "passion" and "horse" in HDIS (Drama)
Citation
At least 8 entries in the ESTC (1785, 1792, 1794)

The Natural Son: a Comedy. Performed at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. (London: Printed for C. Dilly, 1785).
Date of Entry
07/05/2012

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