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"It is true, that the Want of Education, which her Mother's Poverty prevented her from bestowing, in a great Measure depressed those Seeds of Genius which were sown in her; yet, as the Spirit of a SHAKESPEAR would, under the most mountainous Oppression, have breathed forth some of its inextinguishable Fires, so did the native Genius of PEGGY WOFFINGTON display itself in her minutest Actions, and manifest a Brilliancy which all the studiest Efforts of laborious Industry might in vain attempt."

— Anonymous

Author

Anonymous

Work Title

Memoirs of the Celebrated Mrs. Woffington

Place of Publication

London

Publisher

J. Swan

Date

1760

Metaphor

"It is true, that the Want of Education, which her Mother's Poverty prevented her from bestowing, in a great Measure depressed those Seeds of Genius which were sown in her; yet, as the Spirit of a SHAKESPEAR would, under the most mountainous Oppression, have breathed forth some of its inextinguishable Fires, so did the native Genius of PEGGY WOFFINGTON display itself in her minutest Actions, and manifest a Brilliancy which all the studiest Efforts of laborious Industry might in vain attempt."

Metaphor in Context

SUCH was her external Form, and though her Mind might, with the utmost Propriety, be said to resemble a mere Tabula rasa, yet was it, at the same time, of so naturally delicate a Texture, that it would retain the smallest Impression made on it by the Hands of Wisdom. It is true, that the Want of Education, which her Mother's Poverty prevented her from bestowing, in a great Measure depressed those Seeds of Genius which were sown in her; yet, as the Spirit of a SHAKESPEAR would, under the most mountainous Oppression, have breathed forth some of its inextinguishable Fires, so did the native Genius of PEGGY WOFFINGTON display itself in her minutest Actions, and manifest a Brilliancy which all the studiest Efforts of laborious Industry might in vain attempt.
(p. 8)