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Charms may be sufficient of themselves to gain a Conquest over any Heart that is not already ingaged

— Manley, Delarivier (c. 1670-1724)

Author

Manley, Delarivier (c. 1670-1724)

Work Title

Memoirs of Europe

Place of Publication

London

Publisher

Printed for John Morphew

Date

1710

Metaphor

Charms may be sufficient of themselves to gain a Conquest over any Heart that is not already ingaged

Metaphor in Context

'Tis hard to see two Persons more handsome than the young General and Ismena, they immediately exchang'd Eyes, and if it be permitted me to say, Souls. There happen'd an inevitable Simpathy, but alas! their Love was born in Sorrow, no sooner did they know they were worthy each others Admiration, but they began to mourn their mutual Sensibility; no sooner did they feel that their Heart, by strong Impulse carry'd 'em to Friendship, but they knew their Houses were mortal Enemies to each other. Ismena the only remaining Branch of the Amori, of the Viceroy's side, and Iuvius the darling Son of the General Iagello, between whose Families there had till then been an unextinguishable Hatred! This youngIagello had been sent that Morning by his Father, with a Detachment to secure the Borders, he had chanced to rescue the Daughter of his Enemy from Slavery, the Fears of which had made so terrible an Impression upon her Mind, that her Joy and Gratitude smooth'd the way, assisted by Juvius's Graceful Form, so that Love found an unforbidden Entrance; her Charms were sufficient of themselves; there needed no Prepossession but what departed from them, to gain a Conquest over any Heart that was not already ingaged. Iagello was vanquish'd! and being born with a lofty Soul, and height of Courage, he did not hesitate at the Prospect of Danger and Difficulty, but resolved to prosecute his Wishes, till they were crown'd in Ismena's Arms. It appear'd Meritorious to him, and the Work of Heaven thus to extinguish that long Hatred and Barbarity of Families, by a Reconciliation of Animosities, immerging the rougher Passions in the more tender. As Indifferency had began the fatal Disunion, Juvius told himself, his induring Perseverance should end it. Ismena bred to no Dissimulation, and who for a long time had beheld at her Aunts only Objects disagreeable, was struct by his Beauty and good Mien, young and sensible as she was, untaught to refuge in Affectation and Cruelty, Habits acquir'd in the Sex by mistaken Pride, she would have thought it Criminal to begin the Artifice here to her Benefactor and her Lover, for such he immediately declar'd himself, and having a Soul as sensible as Great, a vast Capacity and sound Judgment, he foresaw all they were like to suffer from their unlucky Stars, and the implacable Hatred of their Families: Therefore after some hours Conversation, he endeavour'd to dissuade the Maid from returning to her Father's Court, since the cruel Gonneril, whose Ill-nature and Dishonesty was the publick Discourse, wou'd certainly prepossess the Viceroy to their Disadvantage: She was known a publick Enemy to Virtue, and the Quiet of Persons less wicked than her self; nor cou'd he expect more Tenderness fromIagello, who was implacable in his Temper, and not to be mollify'd or influenc'd, but by those more mighty than himself; therefore this ardent Lover, full of his New-born Passion, proposed that they should proceed no farther on their intended Journey; but leaving the Road that led to the Capital of the Alani, take the Route of Sarmatia, where throwing themselves at the Regent's Feet, as he was High-Priest and Prince, he would make it matter of Conscience to compose the Enmity between their Families, of such Offence, both to Heaven and Earth, and afford them a safe and honourable Retreat and Protection. Happy had it been for the lovely Pair, if Ismena had been influenced by this Advice, but our Destinies are perhaps inevitable, sometimes I think that were we to know the Evil that is to befal us, and acquainted with even the Methods by which we might avoid it, yet it would not be in our Power to disappoint the Designments of Fate, which upon any Terms must be accomplish'd.
(pp. 351-4)