Fielding, Sarah (1710-1768) and Jane Collier (bap. 1715, d. 1755)

The Cry: A New Dramatic Fable

London

Printed for R. and J. Dodsley in Pall Mall

1754

"I resolved to make the experiment whether you could conquer your passion when your esteem was lost"

"I could obtain (says Ferdinand) no answer to any of my letters, except some formal thanks from Oliver in the name of my father; nor did I by any other method hear from England till Adolphus came abroad, and brought to Alcander your letter filled with anxious enquiries concerning my behaviour. I was astonished to find that I lay under such heavy and undeserved censures. I traced the hand of malice exerting all its shuffling artifices, and I am sorry to say that I suspected my own brother of being the mischievous plotting engine. Now a new scene opened to my view, and tempted me to give an uncontrouled liberty to one part of my natural disposition, which I had hitherto had little opportunity to exert, and which to my confusion I confess, is no other than a curious love of refinement on my pleasures. I was overjoyed to read in my Portia's anxious concern for me the sincerest love. I always wished to have my wife's warmest affection, but I could not bear to have that affection built on a capricious fancy. I was well assured that the woman who would consent to be my wife in contradiction to her better judgment, and only to gratify her present humour, would from the same indulged capriciousness yield to the first change of her inclinations, and follow any new object of her varying fancy. My mind at ease from the assurance of my Portia's constant affection for me, grew wanton; and I resolved to make the experiment whether you could conquer your passion when your esteem was lost--"
(pp. 256-8)

War::Conquest::Conquer Passion

Searching "conque" and "passion" in HDIS (Prose)

2 entries in ESTC (1754).

See Fielding, Sarah and Jane Collier, The Cry: A New Dramatic Fable, 3 vols. (London: Printed for R. and J. Dodsley in Pall Mall, 1754). <Link to ESTC>

01/27/2005