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

Love in Excess: or the Fatal Enquiry, a Novel

London

1719-1720, 1725

"[H]e now concludes his Mistress false, repents the Tenderness he has had for her, and tho' she still appears as lovely to his Fancy as ever, she grows odious to his Judgment, and resolves to use his utmost Efforts to banish her Idea from his Heart."

He went out of that House with Thoughts much more discompos'd than those with which he had enter'd it; and when he came Home whereFrankville impatiently waited his Return, he was at the greatest loss in the World, how to discover his Misfortune to him. The other observing the trouble of his Mind, which was very visible in his Countenance; my Lord, said he, in a melancholy Tone, I need not ask you what Success, the Gloom which appears on your Brow, tells me, my ill Fortune has deny'd you the means of speaking to Camilla? Accuse not Fortune, answer'dD'elmont, but the influence of malicious Stars, which seldom, if ever, suits our Dispositions to our Circumstances; I have seen Camilla, have talk'd to her, and 'tis from that Discourse that I cannot forbear Reflection on the Miseries of Humanity, which, while it mocks us with a show ofReason, gives us no Power to curb our Will, and guide the erring Appetites to Peace. MonsieurFrankville at these Words first felt a jealous Pang; and as 'tis natural to believe every Body admires what we do, he presently imagin'd CountD'elmont had forgot Melliora in the presence of Camilla, and that it was from the Consciousness of his own Weakness and Inconstancy, that he spoke so feelingly: I wonder not, my Lord, said he coldly, that the Beauties of Camilla shou'd inspire you with Sentiments, which, perhaps, for many Reasons, you wou'd desire to be free from; and I ought, in Prudence, to have consider'd, that tho' you are the most excellent of your Kind, you are still a Man, and have the Passions incident to Man, and not have expos'd you to those Dangers the sight of Camilla must necessarily involve you in. I wish to Heaven, answer'd the Count, easily guessing what his Thoughts were, no greater threatned you, and that you cou'd think on Camilla with the same Indifference as I can, or she of me with more; then, in as brief a manner as he cou'd, he gave him the Substance of what had happen'd. Frankville, whose only Fault was Rashness, grew almost wild at the Recital of so unexpected a Misfortune; he knew not for a good while what to believe, loath he was to suspect the Count, but loather to suspectCamilla, yet flew into extremities of Rage against both, by turns: The Count pitied, and forgave all the Violence of his Passion made him utter, but offer'd not to argue with him, 'till he found him capable of admitting his Reasons, and then, that open Sincerity, that honest noble Assurance which always accompany'd his Sweetness, and made it difficult to doubt the Truth of any thing he said, won the disorder'd Lover to an entire Conviction; he now concludes his Mistress false, repents the Tenderness he has had for her, and tho' she still appears as lovely to his Fancy as ever, she grows odious to his Judgment, and resolves to use his utmost Efforts to banish her Idea from his Heart.
(pp. 210-11)

Government::Banishment

Searching "empire" and "soul" in HDIS (Prose)

At least 12 entries in ESTC (1719, 1720, 1721, 1722, 1724, 1725, 1732, 1742).

Published in 3 parts in 1719-1720. <Part 1, ESTC><Part 2, ESTC><Part 3, ESTC>

See Eliza Haywood, Love in Excess: or the Fatal Enquiry, a Novel (London: Printed for W. Chetwood; and R. Francklin; and sold by J. Roberts, 1719). <Link to ECCO>

Text from Vol. 1 of Secret Histories, Novels and Poems. In Four Volumes. Written by Mrs. Eliza Haywood. (London: Printed [partly by Samuel Aris] for Dan. Browne, jun. at the Black Swan without Temple-Bar; and S. Chapman, at the Angel in Pall-Mall, 1725). <Link to ESTC><Link to LION>

08/11/2004