"To sacrifice himself for his wife--is the splendid idea, on which he, at present, delights to gaze till his mind's eye become blind to every ray of other hope"
— Neuman, Henry (f. 1799); August Friedrich Ferndinand von Kotzebue (1761-1819)
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for R. Phillips
Date
June 15, 1799
Metaphor
"To sacrifice himself for his wife--is the splendid idea, on which he, at present, delights to gaze till his mind's eye become blind to every ray of other hope"
Metaphor in Context
WALWYN
I have not interrupted you: for, where I love, I delight to admire. The word escaped; but, it came from the heart of a man who knows no wish of which he can need to be ashamed. Arabella misunderstood me. I listened to your husband, merely to gain time, to soothe the fever of his soul, to save him from the wild phrenzy of despair. His sufferings have awakened within him, powers hitherto unknown to himself, of which the new-born consciousness is pleasing. To sacrifice himself for his wife--is the splendid idea, on which he, at present, delights to gaze till his mind's eye become blind to every ray of other hope.-- It is for this, that his pride devises so many refined pretences for refusing the assistance of a friend. These would he scarce resign for the sake of the salvation of his family and himself; for resigning these,--he would lose the idol of his fancy, created by love, nurtured by want and despair, raised by disordered nerves to be the tyrant of his soul.-- He must be gently and softly led back from the precipice to which he is hurried. As to the night-walker,--we must not call him by his name, but, in silence stretch out our arms, that if he fall, he may sink on the bosom of a friend!
I have not interrupted you: for, where I love, I delight to admire. The word escaped; but, it came from the heart of a man who knows no wish of which he can need to be ashamed. Arabella misunderstood me. I listened to your husband, merely to gain time, to soothe the fever of his soul, to save him from the wild phrenzy of despair. His sufferings have awakened within him, powers hitherto unknown to himself, of which the new-born consciousness is pleasing. To sacrifice himself for his wife--is the splendid idea, on which he, at present, delights to gaze till his mind's eye become blind to every ray of other hope.-- It is for this, that his pride devises so many refined pretences for refusing the assistance of a friend. These would he scarce resign for the sake of the salvation of his family and himself; for resigning these,--he would lose the idol of his fancy, created by love, nurtured by want and despair, raised by disordered nerves to be the tyrant of his soul.-- He must be gently and softly led back from the precipice to which he is hurried. As to the night-walker,--we must not call him by his name, but, in silence stretch out our arms, that if he fall, he may sink on the bosom of a friend!
Categories
Provenance
Searching "eye" and "mind" in HDIS (Drama)
Theme
Mind's Eye
Date of Entry
04/24/2006
