"Vanity is the predominant Passion in the [female] Sex."
— Baker, Thomas (b. 1680-1)
Author
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for Bernard Lintott
Date
1708
Metaphor
"Vanity is the predominant Passion in the [female] Sex."
Metaphor in Context
MRS. LOVEJOY
Why, Madam, shou'd your Ladyship keep so many Fellows in suspence, is it only to mortifie other Women, and maintain the Vanity of being universally admir'd; you won't marry, and yet love to be courted: In other matters your Ladiship's gen'rous enough, but as for parting with your Lovers, you are as stingy as the Widow Scrape-all, that lets out her Mourning-Coach to Funerals.
LADY RODOMONT
Cozen, we're alone, and I'll discover t' you the Soul of ev'ry Woman: Vanity is the predominant Passion in our Sex, what Lady that has Beauty, Wit and Fortune, does not excel in Dress, brighten in Talk, and dazle in her Equipage; and Lovers are but Servants out o'Liveries: Who then that has Attractions to command, to sooth, to frown, to manage as we please, wou'd raise those crawling Wretches that adore us, that fawn and sigh, and catch at ev'ry Glance, but once embolden'd, as our Courage fails us, the flatt'ring Knaves exert their Sov'reign Sway, and crush the darling Pow'r we possess.
MRS. LOVEJOY
'Tis their Prerogative to rule at last, our Reign is short, because 'tis too Tyrannical; we're pleas'd to have Admirers gaze upon us, they're pleas'd with gazing, 'cause they cannot help it; but yet they think us strange fantastick Creatures, and curse themselves for loving such vain Toys; for my part, I'm for ballancing the pow'r of both Sexes, if a fine Gentleman addresses a fine Lady, his Reception ought to be suitable to his Merit, and when two fine People get together--
(IV.iv)
Why, Madam, shou'd your Ladyship keep so many Fellows in suspence, is it only to mortifie other Women, and maintain the Vanity of being universally admir'd; you won't marry, and yet love to be courted: In other matters your Ladiship's gen'rous enough, but as for parting with your Lovers, you are as stingy as the Widow Scrape-all, that lets out her Mourning-Coach to Funerals.
LADY RODOMONT
Cozen, we're alone, and I'll discover t' you the Soul of ev'ry Woman: Vanity is the predominant Passion in our Sex, what Lady that has Beauty, Wit and Fortune, does not excel in Dress, brighten in Talk, and dazle in her Equipage; and Lovers are but Servants out o'Liveries: Who then that has Attractions to command, to sooth, to frown, to manage as we please, wou'd raise those crawling Wretches that adore us, that fawn and sigh, and catch at ev'ry Glance, but once embolden'd, as our Courage fails us, the flatt'ring Knaves exert their Sov'reign Sway, and crush the darling Pow'r we possess.
MRS. LOVEJOY
'Tis their Prerogative to rule at last, our Reign is short, because 'tis too Tyrannical; we're pleas'd to have Admirers gaze upon us, they're pleas'd with gazing, 'cause they cannot help it; but yet they think us strange fantastick Creatures, and curse themselves for loving such vain Toys; for my part, I'm for ballancing the pow'r of both Sexes, if a fine Gentleman addresses a fine Lady, his Reception ought to be suitable to his Merit, and when two fine People get together--
(IV.iv)
Provenance
Searching "predominant passion" in HDIS
Citation
First performed December 14, 1708. Only 1 entry in ESTC (1708).
See The fine lady’s airs: Or, An equipage of lovers. A comedy. As it is acted at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane. Written by the author of the Yeoman of Kent. (London: Printed for Bernard Lintott at the Cross-Keys, between the Two Temple Gates in Fleetstreet, [1708?]). <Link to ESTC>
See The fine lady’s airs: Or, An equipage of lovers. A comedy. As it is acted at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane. Written by the author of the Yeoman of Kent. (London: Printed for Bernard Lintott at the Cross-Keys, between the Two Temple Gates in Fleetstreet, [1708?]). <Link to ESTC>
Theme
Ruling Passion
Date of Entry
06/07/2004
