"Alas! there are invisible fetters which no mortal can wrench! both soft and firm are the bonds of virtue, no force can loosen its strong ties, no sword divide it from my soul! it has guided me from childhood to the age of woman, it presided over my marriage, it has attended me in all my wretchedness, nor will it forsake me at the hour of death."

— Anonymous; Kotzebue (1761-1819)


Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for T. Cadell, Junior, and W. Davies
Date
1796
Metaphor
"Alas! there are invisible fetters which no mortal can wrench! both soft and firm are the bonds of virtue, no force can loosen its strong ties, no sword divide it from my soul! it has guided me from childhood to the age of woman, it presided over my marriage, it has attended me in all my wretchedness, nor will it forsake me at the hour of death."
Metaphor in Context
ADA
Are only those in bonds who have cords around them? Alas! there are invisible fetters which no mortal can wrench! both soft and firm are the bonds of virtue, no force can loosen its strong ties, no sword divide it from my soul! it has guided me from childhood to the age of woman, it presided over my marriage, it has attended me in all my wretchedness, nor will it forsake me at the hour of death.--Away! amulet formed of serpents heads, which a priest once gave me! (She tears it from her neck, and casts it from her) virtue is the only amulet! it cools in feverish heats, and warms in feverish chills! with virtue, as with love, one may live happily under a roof of palm-leaves! virtue and love give a life of serenity, and a gentle death.--Ah! what numbering vigor is awakened in me! I am no more what I was, my heart expands, my bosom swells, some being which I do not know inspires me, an inward glow destroys fear and dries up my eyes! I have no tears--I tremble not--I can meet death!--Go, old man, say to my Zameo, thou hast found me thus; go, say to my tyrant, I await him.
(III.ii, pp. 107-8)
Categories
Provenance
Reading
Citation
A.F. Ferdinand von Kotzebue, The Negro Slaves, a Dramatic-Historical Piece, in Three Acts Trans. (London: Printed for T. Cadell, Junior, and W. Davies, 1796). <Link to ECCO><Link to incomplete copy in Google Books>
Date of Entry
07/27/2011

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