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

The History of Miss Betsy Thoughtless

London

Printed by T. Gardner

1751

"Oh had I known it sooner, engaged as I then was to one, who well deserved my love, could I have guessed miss Betsy Thoughtless was the contriver of that tender fraud, I know not what revolution might have happened in my heart! the empire you had there, was never totally extirpated, and kindness might have regained what cruelty had lost."

'Charming declaration--transporting --ravishing to thought,' cried he, kissing her hand,--'Oh had I known it sooner, engaged as I then was to one, who well deserved my love, could I have guessed miss Betsy Thoughtless was the contriver of that tender fraud, I know not what revolution might have happened in my heart! the empire you had there, was never totally extirpated, and kindness might have regained what cruelty had lost:'--'Do not deceive yourself, sir, said she, interrupting him with all the courage she could assume, 'nor mistake that for love, which was only the effects of mere gratitude:' These words were accompanied with a look, which once would have struck him with the most submissive awe, but he was now too well acquainted with the sentiments she had for him to be deterred by any other outward shew of coldness;--'Call it by what name you please,' cried he, 'so you permit me the continuance of it, and vouchsafe me the same favours you bestow on my insensible resemblance.' --In speaking this, he threw his arms about her waist, not regarding the efforts she made to hinder him, and clasp'd her to his breast with a vehemence, which in all his days of courtship to her he never durst attempt: --'Forbear, sir,' said she, 'you know I am not at liberty to be entertained with discourses, nor with actions of this nature;--loose me this moment, or be assured all the kind thoughts I had of you, and on which you have too much presumed, will be converted into the extremest hate and detestation.' --The voice, in which she uttered this menace; convincing him how much she was in earnest; he let go his hold, removed some paces from her, and beheld her for some moments with a silent admiration:--'I have obeyed you, madam,' cried he, with a deep sigh,-- 'you are all angel--be all angel still, far be it from me to tempt you from the glorious height you stand in; yet how unhappy has this interview made made me! --I love you without daring even to wish for a return; nay so fully has your virtue conquered, that I must love you more for the repulse you have given my too audacious hopes;-- you may at least pity the fate to which I am condemned.'
(pp. 266-7)

Government::Revolution Government::Empire Plant::Extirpation

Searching "empire" and "heart" in HDIS (prose)

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).

08/16/2004