The inexpressible feeling may be engraved on a tear or on the heart
— Geisweiler, Maria (fl. 1799); Kotezebue (1761-1819)
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for C. Geisweiler ... G. G. and J. Robinson ... J. Richardson [etc.]
Date
1799
Metaphor
The inexpressible feeling may be engraved on a tear or on the heart
Metaphor in Context
MEINAU.
Yes, Horst, I tremble now at death! it is just eight months since I had a violent fever, the consequence of a violent cold, caught in hunting. I was sensible I was very ill.--Two years before, death to me would have proved a welcome friend, and then--O, Brother! all I have yet related to you, are trifles, when I describe Eulalia to you as a nurse. Let a man in his happy, healthy days deny the virtues of a wife ever so muc. --let his heart be ever so hardened and morose--in illness the softness and mildness of a wife will wring from him the confession, that it is not good for man to be alone! When Eulalia sat by my bedside --when she never left me; but gave me my medicines, warmed my napkins, or smoothed my pillows; when she watched anxiously in my pale emaciated looks, either for death or recovery-- when a concealed tear betrayed her fears, and a forced smile her hopes--when she, with my children, put up a fervent prayer to the Almighty for my recovery--O Brother! thank her then, I could not: for even a slight pressure of the hand was almost too much for my weak state, but I was inwardly relieved by it. How it strengthened my mind, and through that, how healingly it worked on my frame! No, I have not words to express it:
(as he wipes off a tear from his eye with his hand, and looks on it)
here it is engraven,
(then points to his heart)
and here!
Yes, Horst, I tremble now at death! it is just eight months since I had a violent fever, the consequence of a violent cold, caught in hunting. I was sensible I was very ill.--Two years before, death to me would have proved a welcome friend, and then--O, Brother! all I have yet related to you, are trifles, when I describe Eulalia to you as a nurse. Let a man in his happy, healthy days deny the virtues of a wife ever so muc. --let his heart be ever so hardened and morose--in illness the softness and mildness of a wife will wring from him the confession, that it is not good for man to be alone! When Eulalia sat by my bedside --when she never left me; but gave me my medicines, warmed my napkins, or smoothed my pillows; when she watched anxiously in my pale emaciated looks, either for death or recovery-- when a concealed tear betrayed her fears, and a forced smile her hopes--when she, with my children, put up a fervent prayer to the Almighty for my recovery--O Brother! thank her then, I could not: for even a slight pressure of the hand was almost too much for my weak state, but I was inwardly relieved by it. How it strengthened my mind, and through that, how healingly it worked on my frame! No, I have not words to express it:
(as he wipes off a tear from his eye with his hand, and looks on it)
here it is engraven,
(then points to his heart)
and here!
Categories
Provenance
Searching "engrav" and "heart" in HDIS (Drama)
Date of Entry
03/09/2005
