Fielding, Henry (1707-1754)

Amelia

London

Printed for A. Millar

1752

The passions of hatred and revenge boil in the mind

'Mind that, Ladies,' said the Orator, 'you are all the Property of your Husbands ; and of that Property, which, if he is a good Man, he values above all others. It is poisoning that Fountain whence he hath a Right to derive the sweetest and most innocent Pleasure, the most cordial Comfort, the most solid Friendship, and most faithful Assistance in all his Affairs, Wants and Distresses. It is the Destruction of his Peace of Mind , and even of his Reputation. The Ruin of both Wife and Husband, and sometimes of the whole Family, are the probable Consequence of this fatal Injury. Domestic Happiness is the End of almost all our Pursuits, and the common Reward of all our Pains. When Men find themselves for ever barred from this delightful Fruition, they are lost to all Industry, and grow careless of all their wordly Affairs. Thus they become bad Subjects, bad Relations, bad Friends and bad Men. Hatred and Revenge are the wretched Passions which boil in their Minds. Despair and Madness very commonly ensue, and Murder and Suicide often close the dreadful Scene.'

'Thus, Gentlemen and Ladies, you see the Scene is closed. So here ends the first Act-- and thus begins the second.' (IV.x.2)

Liquid::Boiling

HDIS

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).

09/14/2009

01/25/2004