"We are indeed so much used to what they call poetical justice, that we are disappointed in the catastrophe of a fable, if every body concerned in it be not disposed of according to the sentence of that judge which we have set up in our own breasts"

— Sheridan [née Chamberlaine], Frances (1724-1766)


Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for R. and J. Dodsley
Date
1761
Metaphor
"We are indeed so much used to what they call poetical justice, that we are disappointed in the catastrophe of a fable, if every body concerned in it be not disposed of according to the sentence of that judge which we have set up in our own breasts"
Metaphor in Context
We are indeed so much used to what they call poetical justice, that we are disappointed in the catastrophe of a fable, if every body concerned in it be not disposed of according to the sentence of that judge which we have set up in our own breasts.

The contrary we know happens in real life; let us not then condemn what is drawn from real life. --We may wish to see nature copied from her more pleasing works; but a martyr expiring in tortures, is as just, though not as agreeable, a representation of her, as a hero rewarded with the brightest honours.
Categories
Provenance
Searching "judg" and "breast" in HDIS (Prose)
Citation
9 entries in ESTC (1761, 1767, 1772, 1782, 1786, 1796).

Text from Memoirs of Miss Sidney Bidulph, Extracted from Her Own Journal, And now First Published. In Three Volumes. (London: Printed for R. and J. Dodsley, 1761). <Link to ESTC>
Date of Entry
11/24/2004

The Mind is a Metaphor is authored by Brad Pasanek, Assistant Professor of English, University of Virginia.