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One's conqueror may be "one of those over whom Passion hath a limited Jurisdiction"

— Fielding, Henry (1707-1754)

Author

Fielding, Henry (1707-1754)

Work Title

The Life of Mr. Jonathan Wild the Great

Place of Publication

London

Publisher

Printed for the Author

Date

1743

Metaphor

One's conqueror may be "one of those over whom Passion hath a limited Jurisdiction"

Metaphor in Context

Mrs. Heartfree proceeded thus. "The Vengeance which the French Captain exacted on that Villain, (our Hero) persuaded me, that I was fallen into the Hands of a Man of Honour and Justice; nor, indeed, was it possible for any Person to be treated with more Respect and Civility than I now was; but, if this could not mitigate my Sorrows, when I reflected on the Condition in which I had been betrayed to leave all that was dear to me, much less could it produce such an Effect, when I discovered, as I soon did, that I owed it chiefly to a Passion, which threatned me with great Uneasiness, as it quickly appeared to be very violent, and as I was absolutely in the Power of the Person who possessed it, or was rather possessed by it. I must however do him the Justice to say, my Fears carried my Suspicions farther than I afterwards found I had any Reason for: He did indeed, very soon acquaint me with his Passion, and used all the gentle Methods, which frequently succeed with our Sex, to prevail with me to gratify it; but never once threatned, nor had the least Recourse to Force. He did not even once insinuate to me, that I was totally in his Power, which I myself saw, and whence I drew the most dreadful Apprehensions, well knowing, that as there are some Dispositions so brutal, that Cruelty adds a Zest and Savour to their Pleasures; so there are others whose gentler Inclinations are better gratified, when they win us by softer Methods to comply with their Desires; yet even these may be often compelled by an unruly Passion to have recourse at last to the Means of Violence, when they despair of Success from Persuasion; but I was happily the Captive of a better Man. My Conqueror was one of those over whom Passion hath a limited Jurisdiction, and tho' he was easy enough to Sin, he was proof against any Temptation to Villany.
(pp. 328-9)