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

The History of Miss Betsy Thoughtless

London

Printed by T. Gardner

1751

Beauty may "take the senses as it were by surprise; but the impression soon wears off, and the captivated heart regains its former liberty"

Mr. Trueworth was perfectly ravished at hearing her speak thus, but durst not express himself with too much warmth on the occasion:--'It must be confessed, madam,' replied he, 'that the beauties of the person, when not accompanied by those of the mind, afford but a short liv'd triumph to the fair possessor;-- they dazzle at first sight, and take the senses as it were by surprise; but the impression soon wears off, and the captivated heart regains its former liberty, --nay, perhaps, wonders at itself for having been enslaved:--whereas those darts, which fly from the perfections of the mind, penetrate into the soul, and fix a lasting empire there;--but when both these charms shall happen to be united, as in the lovely Harriot,' continued he, taking one of her hands and kissing it;--'When in the most enchanting form that nature ever made, is found a soul enriched with every virtue, --every grace,--how indissoluble is the chain!--how glorious the bondage!'

War::Captive War::Liberty

HDIS

9 entries in the ESTC (1751, 1752, 1762, 1765, 1768, 1772, 1783).

See Eliza Haywood, The History of Miss Betsy Thoughtless, In Four Volumes (London: Printed by T. Gardner, 1751). <Link to ESTC><Link to ECCO>

Reading The History of Miss Betsy Thoughtless, ed. Christine Blouch (Peterborough: Broadview, 1998).

08/11/2004