Fielding, Henry (1707-1754)

Amelia

London

Printed for A. Millar

1752

"Vanity is plainly her predominant Passion, and, if you will administer to that, it will infallibly throw her into your Arms."

Booth exprest much Astonishment at this Declaration; he said, he could not conceive how it was possible to have such an Affection for a Woman, who did not shew the least Inclination to return it. --James gave her a hearty Curse; and said, 'Pox of her Inclination; I want only the Possession of her Person; and that you will allow is a very fine one. But, besides my Passion for her, she hath now piqued my Pride; for how can a Man of my Fortune brook being refused by a Whore?' 'Since you are so set on the Business,' cries Booth; 'you will excuse my saying so; I fancy you had better change your Method of applying to her: for, as she is perhaps the vainest Woman upon Earth, your Bounty may probably do you little Service, nay, may rather actually disoblige her. Vanity is plainly her predominant Passion, and, if you will administer to that, it will infallibly throw her into your Arms. To this I attribute my own unfortunate Success. While she relieved my Wants and Distresses, she was daily feeding her own Vanity; whereas as every Gift of yours asserted your Superiority, it rather offended than pleaded her. Indeed Women generally love to be of the obliging Side; and if we examine their Favourites, we shall find them to be much oftner such as they have conferred Obligations on, than such as they have received them from.'
(II.iv.6, pp. 55-7)

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Searching HDIS for "predominant passion"

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).

Ruling Passion

06/05/2004