"In those to whom Your Majesty is known but by exaltation of Rank, it may raise, perhaps, some surprise, that scenes, characters, and incidents, which have reference only to common life, should be brought into so august a presence; but the inhabitant of a retired cottage, who there receives the benign permission which at Your Majesty's feet casts this humble offering,---bears in mind recollections which must live there while 'memory holds its seat,' of a benevolence withheld from no condition, and delighting in all ways to speed the progress of Morality, through whatever channel it could flow, to whatever port it might steer."

— Burney [married name D'Arblay], Frances (1752-1840)


Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for T. Payne and T. Cadell, Jun., and W. Davies
Date
1796
Metaphor
"In those to whom Your Majesty is known but by exaltation of Rank, it may raise, perhaps, some surprise, that scenes, characters, and incidents, which have reference only to common life, should be brought into so august a presence; but the inhabitant of a retired cottage, who there receives the benign permission which at Your Majesty's feet casts this humble offering,---bears in mind recollections which must live there while 'memory holds its seat,' of a benevolence withheld from no condition, and delighting in all ways to speed the progress of Morality, through whatever channel it could flow, to whatever port it might steer."
Metaphor in Context
In those to whom Your Majesty is known but by exaltation of Rank, it may raise, perhaps, some surprise, that scenes, characters, and incidents, which have reference only to common life, should be brought into so august a presence; but the inhabitant of a retired cottage, who there receives the benign permission which at Your Majesty's feet casts this humble offering,--bears in mind recollections which must live there while "memory holds its seat," of a benevolence withheld from no condition, and delighting in all ways to speed the progress of Morality, through whatever channel it could flow, to whatever port it might steer. I blush at the inference I seem here to leave open of annexing undue importance to a production of apparently so light a kind--yet if my hope, my view--however fallacious they may eventually prove, extended not beyond whiling away an idle hour, should I dare seek such patronage?
(pp. iv-v)
Categories
Provenance
Reading
Citation
At least 2 entries in ESTC (1796).

Frances Burney, Camilla: or, A Picture of Youth. By The Author of Evelina and Cecilia., 5 vols. (London: Printed for T. Payne and T. Cadell, Jun., and W. Davies, 1796). <Link to ProQuest Lion><Link to Volume I in Google Books>

Reading in Camilla (Oxford and New York: OUP, 1983).
Date of Entry
03/22/2013

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