"I fancy that blanks would do still better, as some authors have lately used them, merely to make up bulk, and stuff life's volume."
— Griffith, Elizabeth (1720-1793)
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for W. Johnston
Date
1765
Metaphor
"I fancy that blanks would do still better, as some authors have lately used them, merely to make up bulk, and stuff life's volume."
Metaphor in Context
Lady FRANKLAND.
Is she in a bad state of health, Sir Harry?
Sir HARRY.
O, by no means, she is as fat and florid as any woman in England of her age, which I believe is near forty.
Lady FRANKLAND.
Pray where is the danger then, of her becoming a ghost?
Sir HARRY.
Helas, ma chere innocente! don't you meet a thousand ghosts in every public place? Bodies without souls, who have haunted the world so long, that they are worn out of every one's remembrance, and might glide in and out, without ever being taken notice of, if it were not for the space they occupy. Have you never been jostled by a fat red ghost, in the box lobby of the playhouse, or at the puppet-show cascade at Vauxhall? ha! ha! ha!
Lady FRANKLAND.
As they differ in every respect from spirits, I should never have thought of stiling them ghosts, tho', as you have explained it, I own the term is apt enough; yet I fancy that blanks would do still better, as some authors have lately used them, merely to make up bulk, and stuff life's volume.
Sir HARRY.
I vow, madam, your ladyship has an infinity of wit, as well as beauty. But now, prithee, dear lady Frankland, what do you seriously mean to do with them both?
Is she in a bad state of health, Sir Harry?
Sir HARRY.
O, by no means, she is as fat and florid as any woman in England of her age, which I believe is near forty.
Lady FRANKLAND.
Pray where is the danger then, of her becoming a ghost?
Sir HARRY.
Helas, ma chere innocente! don't you meet a thousand ghosts in every public place? Bodies without souls, who have haunted the world so long, that they are worn out of every one's remembrance, and might glide in and out, without ever being taken notice of, if it were not for the space they occupy. Have you never been jostled by a fat red ghost, in the box lobby of the playhouse, or at the puppet-show cascade at Vauxhall? ha! ha! ha!
Lady FRANKLAND.
As they differ in every respect from spirits, I should never have thought of stiling them ghosts, tho', as you have explained it, I own the term is apt enough; yet I fancy that blanks would do still better, as some authors have lately used them, merely to make up bulk, and stuff life's volume.
Sir HARRY.
I vow, madam, your ladyship has an infinity of wit, as well as beauty. But now, prithee, dear lady Frankland, what do you seriously mean to do with them both?
Categories
Provenance
Searching "blank" and "fancy" in HDIS (Drama)
Citation
2 entries in ESTC (1765).
The Platonic Wife, a Comedy. As it is Performed at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane. By a Lady. (London: Printed for W. Johnston; J. Dodsley; and T. Davies, 1765). <Link to ECCO-TCP>
The Platonic Wife, a Comedy. As it is Performed at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane. By a Lady. (London: Printed for W. Johnston; J. Dodsley; and T. Davies, 1765). <Link to ECCO-TCP>
Date of Entry
10/14/2004
