Haywood [née Fowler], Eliza (1693?-1756)

The Force of Nature; or, The Lucky Disappointment

London

Printed [partly by Samuel Aris] for Dan. Browne, jun. and S. Chapman

1725

"Forgive the harsh Expression, for believe, of all Mankind, I cou'd esteem you as a Friend--but, alas! my Heart wants room to entertain you as a tender Guest; long e're I knew your Merits it was taken up, all the Affections of my Soul are riveted to another--to him I am bound by all the ties of Honour, Gratitude, and everlasting Love, and him or Death I only can consent to wed."

A deathlike Paleness seem'd to spread itself all o'er the Face of Carlos while she was speaking, and perceiving she had done; Is it then, Madam! cry'd he, in a faultring Accent, to your Kindness for some happier Man the wretched Carlos owes your Disdain? Not my Disdain, resum'd she, but my enforc'd Neglect: pity me then and think what I endure, torn from all I love by a remorseless Parent, and given to one who, in spite of his Accomplishments, I hate--Forgive the harsh Expression, for believe, of all Mankind, I cou'd esteem you as a Friend--but, alas! my Heart wants room to entertain you as a tender Guest; long e're I knew your Merits it was taken up, all the Affections of my Soul are riveted to another--to him I am bound by all the ties of Honour, Gratitude, and everlasting Love, and him or Death I only can consent to wed. Am I then, said he, with a melancholy Air, the only Bar to Felicinda's Happiness? The only immoveable one, reply'd she; did not your wondrous Merits, make Alvario impatient to call himself your Father--my Tears, and my Despair, wou'd easily overcome all other Obstacles; he wou'd not make me Wretched, but with design to make me Blest, which, ignorant of the force of Fancy, he thinks consists in being your's. Well, Madam! resum'd Carlos (after a little Pause, and two or three Sighs, which he vainly struggled to suppress) I were unworthy of declaring myself your Lover, if I refus'd to fall a Martyr to my Passion; before Evening you shall confess that I deserve your Friendship: He left the Room as he spoke these Words, but with a Countenance so sad, and so dejected, that it mov'd her Pity, as much as what he said had done her Wonder-- She was extreamly at a loss for a Construction of his last Expression; but being far from guessing at the Resolution he had taken, imagined he had spoke in that manner only to amuse her, and that the next Day she shou'd be dragg'd to the Altar, and forc'd to assist in that Ceremony which must for ever deprive her of the hope of being her dear Fernando's. The Agonies of her Dispair return'd with the former Violence at this Suggestion, and she was meditating by what desperate Course she should avoid what she so much dreaded, when one of her Women gave her a little Billet, which being brought by a Servant of Don Carlos's, and accompany'd by another to their Master, they thought it no breach of Trust to deliver her. The Contents of it were these.
(pp. 13-14)

Architecture::Room Population::Guest Uncategorized::Rivets

Searching in C-H Lion

At least 3 entries in the ESTC (1725, 1732, 1742).

Text from Secret Histories, Novels and Poems. In Four Volumes. Written by Mrs. Eliza Haywood. (London: Printed [partly by Samuel Aris] for Dan. Browne, jun. at the Black Swan without Temple-Bar ; and S. Chapman, at the Angel in Pall-Mall, 1725). <Link to ESTC>

06/28/2013