Richardson, Samuel (bap. 1689, d. 1761)

The History of Sir Charles Grandison. In a Series of Letters.

London

Printed for S. Richardson; And Sold by C. Hitch and L. Hawes

[1753] 1754

"Let [my love] be evermore circumscribed by the laws of reason, of duty"

But who, my dear, large as his heart is, can be contented with half an heart? Compassion, Lucy! -- The compassion of such an heart--It must be Love-- And ought it not to be so to such a woman? --Tell me--Don't you, Lucy, with all yours, pity the unhappy Clementina? who loves, against the principles of her religion; and, in that respect, against her inclination, a man who cannot be hers, but by a violation of his honour and conscience? What a fatality in a Love so circumstanced! --To love against inclination! What a sound has that! But what an absurdity is this passion called Love? Or, rather, of what absurd things does it make its votaries guilty? Let mine be evermore circumscribed by the laws of reason, of duty; and then my recollections, my reflexions, will never give me lasting disturbance!

Government::Laws of reason

Searching "reason" and "law" HDIS (Prose)

At least 31 entries in ESTC (1753, 1754, 1756, 1762, 1765, 1766, 1770, 1776, 1780, 1781, 1783, 1785, 1786, 1793, 1795, 1796).

See The History of Sir Charles Grandison. In a Series of Letters Published from the Originals, by the Editor of Pamela and Clarissa. In Seven Volumes. (London: Printed for S. Richardson; and sold by C. Hitch and L. Hawes, in Pater-noster Row; by J. and J. Rivington, in St. Paul’s Church-Yard; by Andrew Millar, in the Strand; by R. and J. Dodsley, in Pall-Mall; and by J. Leake, at Bath, 1754). <Link to ESTC><Link to Vol. 1 ECCO-TCP><Vol. 2><Vol. 3><Vol. 4><Vol. 5><Vol. 6><Vol. 7>

04/25/2005