The passions feed on the mind's delicacies
— Fielding, Henry (1707-1754)
Author
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for A. Millar
Date
1752
Metaphor
The passions feed on the mind's delicacies
Metaphor in Context
What you said of him, very greatly recommended him to my Opinion; but he endeared himself to me most, by what he said of you. In short, I have discovered, that he hath always loved you, with such a faithful, honest, noble, generous Passion, that I was consequently convinced his Mind must possess all the Ingredients of such a Passion; and what are these, but true Honour, Goodness, Modesty, Bravery, Tenderness, and, in a Word, every human Virtue. ---Forgive me, my Dear; but I was uneasy till I became myself the Object of such a Passion.'
'And do you really think,' said Amelia smiling, 'that I shall forgive you robbing me of such a Lover? Or, supposing what you banter me with, was true, do you really imagine you could change such a Passion?'
'No, my Dear,' answered the other, 'I only hope I have changed the Object: For be assured, there is no greater vulgar Error, than that it is impossible for a Man who loves one Woman, ever to love another. On the contrary, it is certain, that a Man who can love one Woman so well at a Distance, will love another better that is nearer to him. Indeed, I have heard one of the best Husbands in the World, declare, in the Presence of his Wife, that he had always loved a Princess with Adoration. These Passions which reside only in very amorous and very delicate Minds, feed only on the Delicacies there growing; and leave all the substantial Food, and enough of the Delicacy too for the Wife.'
The Tea being now ready, Mrs. Bennet, or if you please, for the future, Mrs. Atkinson, proposed to call in her Husband; but Amelia objected. She said, she should be glad to see him any other Time; but was then in the utmost Hurry, as she had been three Hours absent from all she most loved. However, she had scarce drank a Dish of Tea before she changed her Mind; and saying, she would not part Man and Wife, desired Mr. Atkinson might appear. (III.vii.10)
'And do you really think,' said Amelia smiling, 'that I shall forgive you robbing me of such a Lover? Or, supposing what you banter me with, was true, do you really imagine you could change such a Passion?'
'No, my Dear,' answered the other, 'I only hope I have changed the Object: For be assured, there is no greater vulgar Error, than that it is impossible for a Man who loves one Woman, ever to love another. On the contrary, it is certain, that a Man who can love one Woman so well at a Distance, will love another better that is nearer to him. Indeed, I have heard one of the best Husbands in the World, declare, in the Presence of his Wife, that he had always loved a Princess with Adoration. These Passions which reside only in very amorous and very delicate Minds, feed only on the Delicacies there growing; and leave all the substantial Food, and enough of the Delicacy too for the Wife.'
The Tea being now ready, Mrs. Bennet, or if you please, for the future, Mrs. Atkinson, proposed to call in her Husband; but Amelia objected. She said, she should be glad to see him any other Time; but was then in the utmost Hurry, as she had been three Hours absent from all she most loved. However, she had scarce drank a Dish of Tea before she changed her Mind; and saying, she would not part Man and Wife, desired Mr. Atkinson might appear. (III.vii.10)
Categories
Provenance
HDIS
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).
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
