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"Oh, Melliora! didst thou but know the thousandth Part of what this Moment I endure, the strong Convulsions of my warring Thoughts, thy Heart, steel'd as it is, and frosted round with Virtue, wou'd burst its icy Shield, and melt in Tears of Blood, to pity me."

— Haywood [née Fowler], Eliza (1693?-1756)

Author

Haywood [née Fowler], Eliza (1693?-1756)

Work Title

Love in Excess: or the Fatal Enquiry, a Novel

Place of Publication

London

Date

1719-1720, 1725

Metaphor

"Oh, Melliora! didst thou but know the thousandth Part of what this Moment I endure, the strong Convulsions of my warring Thoughts, thy Heart, steel'd as it is, and frosted round with Virtue, wou'd burst its icy Shield, and melt in Tears of Blood, to pity me."

Metaphor in Context

After the Count had gone some few Paces, he planted himself behind a Thicket, which, while it hid him, gave the Opportunity of observing them; and when he found the Coast clear, rush'd out, and with unhurting Gripe, seiz'd once more on the unguarded Prey. Blest turn of Fortune, (said he in a Rapture) Happy, happy Moment! -- Lost, lost Melliora, (said she) unhappy Maid! --Oh why, my Lord, this quick Return! This is no Place to answer thee, (resum'd he, taking her in his Arms, and bearing her behind that Thicket, where he himself had stood.) 'Twas in vain for her to resist, if she had had the Power over her Inclinations; 'till he, setting her softly down, and beginning to Caress her in the manner he had done when she was in Bed, she assum'd Strength enough to raise herself a little, and catching hold of his transgressing Hands, laid her Face on them, and bath'd them in a Shower of Tears: O! D'elmont(said she) cruel D'elmont! Will you then take Advantage of my Weakness? I confess I feel for you a Passion, far beyond all, that yet ever bore the Name of Love; and that I can no longer withstand the too powerful Magick of your Eyes, nor deny any Thing that charming Tongue can ask; but now's the Time to prove your self a Heroe! subdue your self, as you have conquer'd me! be satisfied with vanquishing my Soul, fix there your Throne, but leave my Honour free! Life of my Life (cry'd he) wound me no more by such untimely Sorrows: I cannot bear thy Tears, by Heaven they sink into my Soul, and quite unman me; but tell me (continued he, tenderly kissing her) couldst thou, with all this Love, this charming-- something more than Softness--cou'dst thou, I say, consent to see me pale and dead, stretch'd at thy Feet, consum'd with inward Burnings, rather than blest, than rais'd by Love and thee, to all a Deity in thy Embraces? For Oh! believe me when I swear, that 'tis impossible to live without thee. No more, no more, (said she, letting her Hand fall gently on his Breast) too easily I guess thy Sufferings by my own; but yet D'elmont 'tis better to die in Innocence, than to live in Guilt. Oh! why (resum'd he, sighing as if his Heart would burst) shou'd what we can't avoid be call'd a Crime? Be Witness for me Heaven! how much I have struggled with this rising passion, even to Madness struggled!--but in vain; the mounting Flame blazes the more, the more I would suppress it--my very Soul's on fire--I cannot bear it-- Oh, Melliora! didst thou but know the thousandth Part of what this Moment I endure, the strong Convulsions of my warring Thoughts, thy Heart, steel'd as it is, and frosted round with Virtue, wou'd burst its icy Shield, and melt in Tears of Blood, to pity me. Unkind and Cruel! (answer'd she) do I not partake them then? --Do I not bear, at least, an equal Share in all your Agonies? Have you no Charms--or have not I a Heart? --A most susceptible and tender Heart? -- Yes, you may feel it throb, it beats against my Breast, like an imprison'd Bird, and fain would burst it's Cage! to fly to you, the Aim of all its Wishes! --Oh, D'elmont! --With these Words she sunk wholly into his Arms, unable to speak more: Nor was he less dissolv'd in Rapture, both their Souls seem'd to take Wing together, and left their Bodies motionless, as unworthy to bear a Part in their more elevated Bliss.
(pp. 102-4)