"Guilt is never without a Character, we may Read it in the Criminals Faces; it will appear in their very Eyes, and express that the Contempt of Virtue hath caused an Insurrection of the Passions."

— Manley, Delarivier (c. 1670-1724)


Place of Publication
London
Date
1705
Metaphor
"Guilt is never without a Character, we may Read it in the Criminals Faces; it will appear in their very Eyes, and express that the Contempt of Virtue hath caused an Insurrection of the Passions."
Metaphor in Context
Tonnario, no Enemy to Volpone and Zarah, and a Friend in the Interest with those Lords then Discoursing, standing near, and hearing great Part of what had been said, join'd Company with them, and spoke thus, My Lords, If I may have the Liberty to give my Opinion of the Affair you seem to take Notice of betwixt Volpone and Zarah ; that Lady hath never much troubled her self at what either the C---t or the Town hath said concerning her frequent meeting Early and Late with Volpone, since they are so nearly Ally'd. Tho' some Enemies and Ill-natur'd People, censure her Guilty of a great deal of Im---, for showing so little Shame at it, yet the most Religious and Moderate Sort of People are perswaded to the contrary, and the most clear-sighted Eyes turn it to her Advantage, that her Constancy and Perseverance in the Matter are the Justification of her Innocence; and that good Intentions never make any Account at all of the Noise rais'd from Detraction: Guilt is never without a Character, we may Read it in the Criminals Faces; it will appear in their very Eyes, and express that the Contempt of Virtue hath caused an Insurrection of the Passions.
(II, p. 30)
Provenance
Searching in C-H Lion
Citation
At least 15 entries in the ESTC (1705, 1708, 1711, 1712, 1713, 1743, 1745, 1749).

Joseph Browne [ascribed to Delariviere Manley], The Secret History of Queen Zarah, and the Zarazians; Being a Looking-glass for In the Kingdom of Albigion. Faithfully Translated from the Italian Copy now lodg'd in the Vatican at Rome and never before Printed in any Language (Albigion [i.e. London]: Printed in the year 1705). <Link to ECCO>
Date of Entry
06/21/2013

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