"For partly the Recommendation of his Person, but chiefly the Profusion of his Expences made her think him a very desireable Lover; and as she saw that his ruling Passion was Vanity, she was too good a Dissembler, and too much a Mistress of her Trade, not to flatter this Weakness for her own Ends."
— Coventry, (William) Francis Walter (1725-1753/4)
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for M. Cooper
Date
1751
Metaphor
"For partly the Recommendation of his Person, but chiefly the Profusion of his Expences made her think him a very desireable Lover; and as she saw that his ruling Passion was Vanity, she was too good a Dissembler, and too much a Mistress of her Trade, not to flatter this Weakness for her own Ends."
Metaphor in Context
But nobody distinguished himself more on this Subject than our English Hillario; who had now made a considerable Progress in the Affections of his Mistress: For partly the Recommendation of his Person, but chiefly the Profusion of his Expences made her think him a very desireable Lover; and as she saw that his ruling Passion was Vanity, she was too good a Dissembler, and too much a Mistress of her Trade, not to flatter this Weakness for her own Ends. This so elated the Spirits of Hillario, that he surveyed himself every Day with Increase of Pleasure at his Glass, and took a Pride on all Occasions to shew how much he was distinguished, as he thought, above any of her antient Admirers. Resolving therefore to out-do them all as much in Magnificence, as he imagined he did in the Success of his Love, he was continually making her the most costly Presents, and and among other Things, presented Master Pompey with a Collar studded with Diamonds. This so tickled the little Animal's Vanity, being the first Ornament he had ever worn, that he would eat Biscuit from Hillario's Hands with twice the Pleasure, with which he received it from any other Person's; and Hillario made him the Occasion of conveying indirect Compliments to his Mistress. Sometimes he would swear, he believed it was in the Power to impart Beauty to her very dogs, and when she smiled at the Staleness of the Conceit, he, imagining her charmed with his Wit, would grow transported with Gaiety, and practise all the fashionable Airs that Custom prescribes to an Intrigue.
(pp. 14-15)
(pp. 14-15)
Provenance
Searching HDIS (Prose) for "ruling passion"
Citation
At least 17 entries in the ESTC (1751, 1752, 1753, 1761, 1773, 1784, 1785, 1788, 1799, 1800)
See The History of Pompey the Little: or, the Life and Adventures of a Lap-Dog. (London: Printed for M. Cooper, at the Globe in Paternoster Row, 1751).
See The History of Pompey the Little: or, the Life and Adventures of a Lap-Dog. (London: Printed for M. Cooper, at the Globe in Paternoster Row, 1751).
Theme
Ruling Passion
Date of Entry
05/27/2004
Date of Review
08/13/2012
