"My voyage ought undoubtedly to be considered as an abdication: I am to all intents and purposes dead in law as a lover; and the lady has a right to consider her heart as vacant, and to proceed to a new election."

— Brooke [née Moore], Frances (bap. 1724, d. 1789)


Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for J. Dodsley
Date
1769
Metaphor
"My voyage ought undoubtedly to be considered as an abdication: I am to all intents and purposes dead in law as a lover; and the lady has a right to consider her heart as vacant, and to proceed to a new election."
Metaphor in Context
You make me happy in telling me my dear Lady H--- has given my place in her heart to so honest a fellow as Jack Willmott; and I sincerely wish the ladies always chose their favorites as well.

I should be very unreasonable indeed to expect constancy at almost four thousand miles distance, especially when the prospect of my return is so very uncertain.

My voyage ought undoubtedly to be considered as an abdication: I am to all intents and purposes dead in law as a lover; and the lady has a right to consider her heart as vacant, and to proceed to a new election.

I claim no more than a share in her esteem and remembrance, which I dare say I shall never want.
(I, pp. 174-5)
Provenance
Searching in HDIS (Prose)
Citation
At least 8 entries in the ESTC (1769, 1775, 1777, 1784, 1786, 1800).

See The History of Emily Montague. In Four Volumes. By the Author of Lady Julia Mandeville. (London: Printed for J. Dodsley, 1769). <Link to ESTC><Link to Penn's Digital Library><Link to LION>
Date of Entry
04/25/2005

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