"Whereas those darts, which fly from the perfections of the mind, penetrate into the soul, and fix a lasting empire there."

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


Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed by T. Gardner
Date
1751
Metaphor
"Whereas those darts, which fly from the perfections of the mind, penetrate into the soul, and fix a lasting empire there."
Metaphor in Context
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!'
Provenance
Searching "empire" and "mind" in HDIS (prose)
Citation
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).
Date of Entry
08/11/2004

The Mind is a Metaphor is authored by Brad Pasanek, Assistant Professor of English, University of Virginia.