"The Fear of which so affected the Serjeant, (for besides the Honour which he himself had for the Lady, he knew how tenderly his Friend loved her) that he was unable to speak; and had not his Nerves been so strongly braced that nothing could shake them, he had enough in his Mind to have set him a trembling equally with the Lady."

— Fielding, Henry (1707-1754)


Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for A. Millar
Date
1752
Metaphor
"The Fear of which so affected the Serjeant, (for besides the Honour which he himself had for the Lady, he knew how tenderly his Friend loved her) that he was unable to speak; and had not his Nerves been so strongly braced that nothing could shake them, he had enough in his Mind to have set him a trembling equally with the Lady."
Metaphor in Context
Amelia, who was far from being recovered from the Terrors into which the seeing her Husband engaged with the Soldier had thrown her, desired to go home; nor was she well able to walk without some Assistance. While she supported herself therefore on her Husband's Arm, she told Atkinson, she should be obliged to him, if he would take care of the Children. He readily accepted the Office; but upon offering his Hand to Miss, she refused, and burst into Tears. Upon which the tender Mother resigned Booth to her Children, and put herself under the Serjeant's Protection; who conducted her safe home, tho' she often declared she feared she should drop down by the way. The Fear of which so affected the Serjeant, (for besides the Honour which he himself had for the Lady, he knew how tenderly his Friend loved her) that he was unable to speak; and had not his Nerves been so strongly braced that nothing could shake them, he had enough in his Mind to have set him a trembling equally with the Lady. (II.iv.7)
Provenance
HDIS (Prose)
Citation
13 entries in ESTC (1752, 1762, 1771, 1775, 1777, 1780, 1790, 1793).

See Amelia. By Henry Fielding, 4 vols. (London: A. Millar, 1752). <Link to ECCO>

Reading Henry Fielding, Amelia, ed. David Blewett (London: Penguin Books, 1987).
Date of Entry
09/14/2009
Date of Review
10/23/2003

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