"This Letter (said Brook) shews that the force of Affectation draws a Veil before the Judgment, which else would govern Fancy according to Sense, and Reason."

— Gildon, Charles (1665-1724)


Place of Publication
London
Publisher
The Post-boy rob'd of his Mail: or, the Pacquet Broke Open
Date
1692
Metaphor
"This Letter (said Brook) shews that the force of Affectation draws a Veil before the Judgment, which else would govern Fancy according to Sense, and Reason."
Metaphor in Context
'We were all pleas'd with the extravagance of the humour (tho' none of us knew at what the Letter aim'd. This is the product of some unfledg'd Student (said I) of the Universities, or Inns of Court, or some raw callow Citt (said River) who not content with being a proficient in his Trade, sets up for a singularity of Wit. I rather think (pursued Chappel) 'tis some young Author, who is more in love with himself than his Mistress, and therefore thinks the highest complement he can make her, is to tell her, she's sweeter than his own Stile. Let him be what he will I am sure (said Grave) he's a Coxcomb, if he could pen that Letter with any Opinion of a serious performance, and if he have no more judgment in his works, he's but a meer simile Monger at best, and his Wit lies in a Habit, and Jingle, without any design. Oh (said Fountain) there are abundance of our modern Authors, who labour with Mr. Bays's Distemper of forgetting the Plott or design of what they write. And yet (said Temple) their idle productions shall sell among the best! But with the same Fate (pursued Church) with some of the French Scriblers mention'd by Boileau, who, tho' they were mightily admir'd and bought up at first, yet they have lived to see themselves, and their Works forgot. This Letter (said Brook) shews that the force of Affectation draws a Veil before the Judgment, which else would govern Fancy according to Sense, and Reason. True (said Summer) Similes indeed, as Mr. Dryden observes, are the products of a Luxuriant Fancy, but this Author seems like Weeds, to be wholly over-run with it. This is the more pardonable Affectation (concluded Winter) because the shorter, but some will continue the extravagance to the extent of a Volume, without any satisfaction to the mind of the Reader, who can never be content with a meer laughter at folly for so long a time.'
(pp. 31-2)
Provenance
C-H Lion
Citation
Charles Gildon, The Post-boy rob'd of his Mail: or, the Pacquet Broke Open. Consisting of Five Hundred Letters, to Persons of several Qualities and Conditions. With Observations Upon each Letter. Publish'd by a Gentleman concern'd in the Frolick. Licens'd and Entred, according to Order (London: Printed for John Dunton, 1692). <Link to EEBO-TCP>
Date of Entry
06/30/2013

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