Nature "corresponding with her sweet assailant," may invade "in the heart of [a woman's] capital," and carry it by storm, while she lays "at the mercy of the proud conqueror, who had made his entry triumphantly, and completely"
— Cleland, John (bap. 1710, d. 1789)
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for G. Fenton [etc.]
Date
1749
Metaphor
Nature "corresponding with her sweet assailant," may invade "in the heart of [a woman's] capital," and carry it by storm, while she lays "at the mercy of the proud conqueror, who had made his entry triumphantly, and completely"
Metaphor in Context
Mean while, their emersion out of the cold water, had caused a general glow, a tender suffusion of heighten'd carnation over their bodies; both equally white, and smooth-skinn'd; so that as their limbs were thus amorously interwoven, in sweet confusion, it was scarce possible to distinguish who they respectively belonged to, but for the brawnier, bolder muscles of the stronger sex.
In a little time however, the champion was fairly in with her, and had tied at all points the true lover's knot, when now, adieu all the little refinements of a finessed reluctance! adieu the tender friendly feint! she was presently driven forcibly out of the power of using any art: and indeed, what art but must give way, when nature corresponding with her sweet assailant, invaded in the heart of her capital, and carried by storm, lay at the mercy of the proud conqueror, who had made his entry triumphantly, and completely? soon however to become a tributary! for the engagement growing hotter and hotter, at close quarters, she presently brought him to the pass of paying down the dear debt to nature, which she had no sooner collected in, but, like a duellist who has laid his antagonist at his feet, when he has himself received a mortal wound, Emily had scarce time to plume herself upon her victory, but shot with the same discharge, she, in a loud expiring sigh, in the closure of her eyes, the stretch-out of her limbs, and a remission of her whole frame, gave manifest signs that all was as it should be, and happily well over with her.
(pp. 208-9 in Modern Library edition)
In a little time however, the champion was fairly in with her, and had tied at all points the true lover's knot, when now, adieu all the little refinements of a finessed reluctance! adieu the tender friendly feint! she was presently driven forcibly out of the power of using any art: and indeed, what art but must give way, when nature corresponding with her sweet assailant, invaded in the heart of her capital, and carried by storm, lay at the mercy of the proud conqueror, who had made his entry triumphantly, and completely? soon however to become a tributary! for the engagement growing hotter and hotter, at close quarters, she presently brought him to the pass of paying down the dear debt to nature, which she had no sooner collected in, but, like a duellist who has laid his antagonist at his feet, when he has himself received a mortal wound, Emily had scarce time to plume herself upon her victory, but shot with the same discharge, she, in a loud expiring sigh, in the closure of her eyes, the stretch-out of her limbs, and a remission of her whole frame, gave manifest signs that all was as it should be, and happily well over with her.
(pp. 208-9 in Modern Library edition)
Categories
Provenance
Searching "conque" and "heart" in HDIS (Prose)
Citation
At least 13 entries in ESTC (1749, 1750, 1755, 1760, 1766, 1770, 1776, 1781, 1784).
See John Cleland, Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure, 2 vols. (Printed [by Thomas Parker] for G. Fenton [i.e Ralph Griffiths] in the Strand). <Link to ESTC>
Reading Fanny Hill: Or, Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure (New York: Modern Library, 2001).
See John Cleland, Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure, 2 vols. (Printed [by Thomas Parker] for G. Fenton [i.e Ralph Griffiths] in the Strand). <Link to ESTC>
Reading Fanny Hill: Or, Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure (New York: Modern Library, 2001).
Date of Entry
09/29/2004
