"With a soldier's care / He plan'd the conquest of Ophelia's heart/ and won it"
— Hurdis, James (1763-1801)
Author
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for J. Johnson
Date
1790
Metaphor
"With a soldier's care / He plan'd the conquest of Ophelia's heart/ and won it"
Metaphor in Context
Mean-time the ball
Returning monthly drew her to the town.
A stranger saw her, and she won his heart.
He gain'd access, and led her to the dance.
An officer he was, and she was pleas'd
To win a hero. Many a flatt'ring speech
He made, and sooth'd her too-attentive ear.
For he had heard of Elmer's wealth and age,
And knew Ophelia was an only niece.
He too was poor. The gamester's rattling box
And the dear pleasures of a tawdry miss
Had left him nothing. With a soldier's care
He plan'd the conquest of Ophelia's heart
And won it. With reluctance she withdrew
To Elmer's lonely house, disgusted more
At solitude and him.
Returning monthly drew her to the town.
A stranger saw her, and she won his heart.
He gain'd access, and led her to the dance.
An officer he was, and she was pleas'd
To win a hero. Many a flatt'ring speech
He made, and sooth'd her too-attentive ear.
For he had heard of Elmer's wealth and age,
And knew Ophelia was an only niece.
He too was poor. The gamester's rattling box
And the dear pleasures of a tawdry miss
Had left him nothing. With a soldier's care
He plan'd the conquest of Ophelia's heart
And won it. With reluctance she withdrew
To Elmer's lonely house, disgusted more
At solitude and him.
Categories
Provenance
Searching "conque" and "heart" in HDIS (Poetry)
Citation
At least 1 entry in ECCO and ESTC (1790).
See Poems by the Author of the Village Curate, and Adriano. (London: Printed for J. Johnson, No. 72, St. Paul’s Church Yard, 1790). <Link to ESTC>
See Poems by the Author of the Village Curate, and Adriano. (London: Printed for J. Johnson, No. 72, St. Paul’s Church Yard, 1790). <Link to ESTC>
Date of Entry
02/10/2005
