"You are juvenile, and like unto a white sheet of paper, on which vice or righteousness may be impressed."
— Anonymous
Author
Work Title
Place of Publication
Edinburgh
Publisher
Printed by John Moir
Date
1797
Metaphor
"You are juvenile, and like unto a white sheet of paper, on which vice or righteousness may be impressed."
Metaphor in Context
Hum! (here an awkward, indecorous gesticulation of his upset three legged table, o'erburthened with books, and covered the ground with his little learning:--He collected the scattered fragments of his knowledge, and continued his monologue. "You are juvenile, and like unto a white sheet of paper, on which vice or righteousness may be impressed:" Here he committed a plagiary; these were old Dacres' own words: Parabole cast an interrogative look on the young man, to [end page 37] discover whether his ideas passed for genuine, and again recommenced: "In this great university, we have not been able to expel vice and frivolity. Gentlemen there are, who vie with each other in the nugatory amusements of rowing, sailing, fishing, shooting, banqueting, or what is more immund and incongruous"--"What's that, Mr. Parabole?" said Dacres, purposely to ridiculize him: "Why, why, why, ob, sub, per, con," (he could not find an eloquent, erudite term) "pshaw, why, following concubines." Something had ruffled him,--he was agitated,--his nerves were hurt,--he quoted scripture,--and cut his corn to the quick,--ouf!--was it an avenging spirit?
(pp. 37-8)
(pp. 37-8)
Categories
Provenance
Searching "like white paper" in ECCO
Citation
Charles Dacres: or, the voluntary exile. An historical novel, founded on facts. In two volumes, ... Vol. 1. Edinburgh, 1797. 2 vols. Based on information from English Short Title Catalogue. Eighteenth Century Collections Online. Gale Group. http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/ECCO
Theme
Blank Slate
Date of Entry
10/26/2005
