"To think of a Whirlwind, tho' 'twere in a Whirlwind, were a Case of more steady Contemplation; a very tranquility of Mind and Mansion."
— Congreve, William (1670-1729)
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for Jacob Tonson
Date
1700
Metaphor
"To think of a Whirlwind, tho' 'twere in a Whirlwind, were a Case of more steady Contemplation; a very tranquility of Mind and Mansion."
Metaphor in Context
MIRABELL
I have something more--Gone--Think of you! To think of a Whirlwind, tho' 'twere in a Whirlwind, were a Case of more steady Contemplation; a very tranquility of Mind and Mansion. A Fellow that lives in a Windmill, has not a more whimsical Dwelling than the Heart of a Man that is lodg'd in a Woman. There is no Point of the Compass to which they cannot turn, and by which they are not turn'd; and by one as well as another; for Motion not Method is their Occupation. To know this, and yet continue to be in Love, is to be made wise from the Dictates of Reason, and yet persevere to play the Fool by the force of Instinct--O here come my pair of Turtles--What, billing so sweetly! Is not Valentine 's Day over with you yet?
(II.i)
I have something more--Gone--Think of you! To think of a Whirlwind, tho' 'twere in a Whirlwind, were a Case of more steady Contemplation; a very tranquility of Mind and Mansion. A Fellow that lives in a Windmill, has not a more whimsical Dwelling than the Heart of a Man that is lodg'd in a Woman. There is no Point of the Compass to which they cannot turn, and by which they are not turn'd; and by one as well as another; for Motion not Method is their Occupation. To know this, and yet continue to be in Love, is to be made wise from the Dictates of Reason, and yet persevere to play the Fool by the force of Instinct--O here come my pair of Turtles--What, billing so sweetly! Is not Valentine 's Day over with you yet?
(II.i)
Categories
Provenance
Reading
Citation
First performed in March of 1700. 33 entries in the ESTC (1700, 1706, 1710, 1711, 1724, 1725, 1730, 1733, 1735, 1738, 1751, 1752, 1755, 1756, 1757, 1759 1767, 1773, 1774, 1776, 1777, 1787, 1796, 1800).
See The Way of the World, a Comedy. As it is Acted at the Theatre in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, by His Majesty's Servants. Written by Mr. Congreve (London: Printed for Jacob Tonson, 1700). <Link to ESTC><Link to EEBO-TCP>
Reading D. F. Mckenzie's The Works of Wililam Congreve 3 vols. (Oxford: Oxford UP, 2011).
See The Way of the World, a Comedy. As it is Acted at the Theatre in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, by His Majesty's Servants. Written by Mr. Congreve (London: Printed for Jacob Tonson, 1700). <Link to ESTC><Link to EEBO-TCP>
Reading D. F. Mckenzie's The Works of Wililam Congreve 3 vols. (Oxford: Oxford UP, 2011).
Date of Entry
12/19/2011
