"Vanity is a lurking subtile Thief, that works itself insensibly into our Bosoms, and while we declare our dislike to it, know not 'tis so near us; every body being (as a witty Gentleman has somewhere said) provided with a Racket to strike it from themselves."
— Davys, Mary (1674-1732)
Author
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed by H. Woodfall
Date
1724
Metaphor
"Vanity is a lurking subtile Thief, that works itself insensibly into our Bosoms, and while we declare our dislike to it, know not 'tis so near us; every body being (as a witty Gentleman has somewhere said) provided with a Racket to strike it from themselves."
Metaphor in Context
If I have here touch'd a young Lady's Vanity and Levity, it was to show her how beautiful she is without those Blots, which certainly stain the Mind, and stamp Deformity where the greatest Beauties would shine, were they banish'd. I believe every body will join with my Opinion, that the English Ladies are the most accomplish'd Women in the World; that, generally speaking, their Behaviour is so exact, that even Envy itself cannot strike at their Conduct: but even you yourselves must own, that there are some few among you of a different stamp, who change their Gold for Dross, and barter the highest Perfections for the lowest Weaknesses. Would but this latter sort endeavour as much to act like Angels, as they do to look like them, the Men instead of Reproaches, would heap them with Praises, and their cold Indifference would be turn'd to Idolatry. But who can forsake a Fault, till they are convinc'd they are guilty? Vanity is a lurking subtile Thief, that works itself insensibly into our Bosoms, and while we declare our dislike to it, know not 'tis so near us; every body being (as a witty Gentleman has somewhere said) provided with a Racket to strike it from themselves.
Categories
Provenance
Searching in HDIS (Prose)
Citation
At least 9 entries in ESTC (1724, 1725, 1735, 1736, 1744, 1752, 1760, 1763).
Mary Davys, The Reform'd Coquet; a Novel. by Mrs. Davys, Author of the Humours of York. (London: London: Printed by H. Woodfall, for the Author; and sold by J.Stephens, 1724). <Link to ECCO><Link to Google Books>
Text from The Works of Mrs. Davys: Consisting of, Plays, Novels, Poems, and Familiar Letters. Several of which never before Publish'd. 2 vols. (London: printed by H. Woodfall, for the author and sold by J. Stevens, 1725). <Link to Google Books>
Reading in Popular Fiction by Women, 1660-1730, eds. Paula Backscheider and John Richetti (Oxford UP, 1996).
Mary Davys, The Reform'd Coquet; a Novel. by Mrs. Davys, Author of the Humours of York. (London: London: Printed by H. Woodfall, for the Author; and sold by J.Stephens, 1724). <Link to ECCO><Link to Google Books>
Text from The Works of Mrs. Davys: Consisting of, Plays, Novels, Poems, and Familiar Letters. Several of which never before Publish'd. 2 vols. (London: printed by H. Woodfall, for the author and sold by J. Stevens, 1725). <Link to Google Books>
Reading in Popular Fiction by Women, 1660-1730, eds. Paula Backscheider and John Richetti (Oxford UP, 1996).
Date of Entry
03/10/2005
Date of Review
07/27/2011
