"Would it were possible, returned I, (without minding his compliment) to make a conquest of that inexorable heart of his!"

— Lennox, née Ramsay, (Barbara) Charlotte (1730/1?-1804)


Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for J. Payne, and J. Bouquet
Date
1751
Metaphor
"Would it were possible, returned I, (without minding his compliment) to make a conquest of that inexorable heart of his!"
Metaphor in Context
Dumont, who had watched for an opportunity of speaking to me, took the governor's place the moment he had left it. "I see, said he, (smiling) there is nothing impossible to a person of your merit; and the governor's advanced age will hardly defend him against the force of your attractions." "Would it were possible, returned I, (without minding his compliment) to make a conquest of that inexorable heart of his! I should take an infinite deal of pleasure in using him ill." "Ah, there is no one doubts it, interrupted Dumont: I am but too sensible of your abuse of power." According to the rules I had prescribed myself in my behaviour to this gentleman, there was a necessity for seeming displeased at this insinuation. I frowned in so intelligible a manner, that he did not dare to explain it any other way than by some very deep sighs, a sort of eloquence in love which I very well understood, and was always pleased with, as it gave me an opportunity of triumphing in a passion I was at liberty to dissemble the knowledge of.
(pp. 133-4)
Provenance
Searching "conque" and "heart" in HDIS (Prose)
Citation
2 entries in ESTC (1751).

The Life of Harriot Stuart. Written by Herself., 2 vols. (London: Printed for J. Payne, and J. Bouquet, 1751).
Date of Entry
09/23/2004

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