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"Cousin, said she, you have very much surpriz'd me with what you have said, I thought I shou'd have been very secure from the Importunities of Love, while I was with you, since you have always express'd the greatest dislike to it; but I flatter myself, that all you have said, has been only to try how easily you could gain a Heart, which has made so many victorious Defences against all Assaults of that kind."

— Davys, Mary (1674-1732)

Author

The Cousins [from The Works]

Place of Publication

London

Publisher

Printed by H. Woodfall

Date

1725

Metaphor

"Cousin, said she, you have very much surpriz'd me with what you have said, I thought I shou'd have been very secure from the Importunities of Love, while I was with you, since you have always express'd the greatest dislike to it; but I flatter myself, that all you have said, has been only to try how easily you could gain a Heart, which has made so many victorious Defences against all Assaults of that kind."

Metaphor in Context

Cousin, said she, you have very much surpriz'd me with what you have said, I thought I shou'd have been very secure from the Importunities of Love, while I was with you, since you have always express'd the greatest dislike to it; but I flatter myself, that all you have said, has been only to try how easily you could gain a Heart, which has made so many victorious Defences against all Assaults of that kind. This, I hope, for your own sake, is all you design, since, should you really love me, your Case would be very desperate; for I have it not in my power to make you the least Return. I shall always love you, as the Son of her that has been a Mother to me; and shall upon all occasions catch at every opportunity of shewing you the Affections of a Sister, and that, I hope, is all you desire from me.
(p. 216)