Smollett, Tobias (1721-1777)

The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle

London

Printed for the author

1751

One may act as if he had "gained an absolute conquest over all the passions of the heart"

Peregrine having perused the billet, and listened to this ejaculation, replied with great composure, that he was ashamed to see a man of his years and pretensions to philosophy, so ruffled by a trifle. "What signify all the boasted hardships you have overcome (said he) and the shrewd observations you pretend to have made on human nature? Where is that stoical indifference you affirm you have attained, if such a paultry disappointment can disturb you in this manner? What is the loss of three hundred pounds, compared with the misfortunes which I myself have undergone within these two years? Yet you will take upon you to act the censor, and inveigh against the impatience and impetuosity of youth, as if you yourself had gained an absolute conquest over all the passions of the heart. You was so kind as to insult me t'other day in my affliction, by reproaching me with indiscretion and misconduct; suppose I were now to retort the imputation, and ask how a man of your profound sagacity could leave your fortune at the discretion of ignorant peasants? How could you be so blind as not to foresee the necessity of repairs, together with the danger of a bankruptcy, murrain, or thin crop? Why did not you convert your land into ready money, and (as you have no connexions in life) purchase an annuity, on which you might have lived at your ease, without any fear of the consequence? Can't you, from the whole budget of your philosophy, cull one apophthegm to console you in this trivial mischance?"

War::Conquest::Conquer Passion

Searching "conque" and "heart" in HDIS (Prose Fiction); Found again "conque" and "passion"

33 entries in ESTC (1751, 1758, 1763, 1765, 1769, 1773, 1775, 1776, 1778, 1779, 1781, 1784, 1785, 1786, 1787, 1788, 1791, 1793, 1794, 1798, 1799, 1800).

Smollett, Tobias. The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle. In which are included, Memoirs of a Lady of Quality., 4 vols. (London: Printed for the author, 1751). <Link to ESTC>

01/25/2005