"But alas! better had it been for us both, had she for ever shut herself from the World, and spent her time in conquering, instead of endeavouring to gratify and indulge her Passion."

— Fielding, Sarah (1710-1768)


Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for A. Millar
Date
1744, 1753
Metaphor
"But alas! better had it been for us both, had she for ever shut herself from the World, and spent her time in conquering, instead of endeavouring to gratify and indulge her Passion."
Metaphor in Context
The Match was soon concluded, for her Friends all greatly approved of it: I was forced to tell my Father the whole Truth, to prevent his thinking himself injured by his Friend. He chid me at first, for not informing him of it sooner; but as he always looked with a favourable Eye on what I did, he soon forgave me. My Friend and I, both thought ourselves now quite happy; Juliè in the Completion of her Wishes, and I in having been instrumental in bringing them about. But alas! better had it been for us both, had she for ever shut herself from the World, and spent her time in conquering, instead of endeavouring to gratify and indulge her Passion: for Monsieur Le Buisson, in a very short time, grew quite tired of her. For as she had never been really his Inclination, and it was only by working on the different Turns of his Passion, that he was at first engaged to marry her, he could not keep himself from falling. at least, into a cold Indifference: However, as he was a polite Man, it was some time before he could bring himself to break through the Rules of good Breeding, and he treated her with the Respect and Civility he thought due to a Woman. This, however, did not prevent her being very miserable; for the great Tenderness she felt for him, required all that Delicacy and soft Sensations in his Behaviour, which only could have completed the Happiness of such a Heart as her's; but which it is impossible ever to attain, where the Love is not perfectly mutual.
(pp. 107-8)
Provenance
Searching "conque" and "passion" in HDIS (Prose)
Citation
At least 15 entries in ESTC (1740, 1744, 1753, 1758, 1761, 1772, 1775, 1782, 1788, 1792). [Note, Volume the Last published in 1753.]

The Adventures of David Simple: Containing an Account of his Travels through the Cities of London and Westminster, in the Search of a Real Friend. By a Lady, 2 vols. (London: A. Millar, 1744) <Link to ECCO>
Date of Entry
01/26/2005
Date of Review
07/18/2011

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