"[A guardian] claps a pen in my hand, and ties me like a seal to his ugly parchment, while my heart can receive no impression, but the idea of my beloved Aircourt"

— O'Keeffe, John (1747-1833)


Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for the author, by T. Woodfall [etc.]
Date
1788
Metaphor
"[A guardian] claps a pen in my hand, and ties me like a seal to his ugly parchment, while my heart can receive no impression, but the idea of my beloved Aircourt"
Metaphor in Context
SOPH.

(Dashing the Pen away.)

I won't, I will not write any more of his plaguy conveyances and law-gibberish!--Was ever poor girl so used as I am by this wicked old Attorney! Cruel Mama! --to make such a wretch her executor, and condemn me to the guardianship of one, who will never suffer me to be united to the man I esteem, whilst it's his interest to keep my fortune in his hands.--Here--won't even hire a clerk, but claps a pen in my hand, and ties me like a seal to his ugly parchment, while my heart can receive no impression, but the idea of my beloved Aircourt--

"Young Harry's the lad for me."

(Sings and walks about.)
Provenance
Searching "seal" and "heart" in HDIS (Drama)
Date of Entry
04/24/2005

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