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

Love in Excess: or the Fatal Enquiry, a Novel

London

1719-1720, 1725

"There is nothing more certain, than that Love, tho' it fills the Mind with a thousand charming Ideas, which those untouch'd by that Passion are not capable of conceiving; yet it entirely takes away the Power of Utterance, and the deeper Impression it had made on the Soul, the less we are able to express it, when willing to indulge and give a loose to Thought; what Language can furnish us with Words sufficient?"

Melantha was overjoy'd at the Sight of him, and Melliora, tho' equally pleas'd, was cover'd with such a Confusion, at the Remembrance of what had pass'd, that it was happy for her that her Companion's Volubility gave her no room for Speech. There is nothing more certain, than that Love, tho' it fills the Mind with a thousand charming Ideas, which those untouch'd by that Passion are not capable of conceiving; yet it entirely takes away the Power of Utterance, and the deeper Impression it had made on the Soul, the less we are able to express it, when willing to indulge and give a loose to Thought; what Language can furnish us with Words sufficient? All are too poor, all wanting both in Sublimity and Softness; and only Fancy! a Lover's Fancy! can reach the exalted Soaring of a Lover's Meaning! But if so impossible to be describ'd, if of so vast, so wonderful a Nature, as nothing but itself can comprehend; how much more impossible must it be, entirely to conceal it! What Strength of boasted Reasons? What Force of Resolution? What modest Fears, or cunning Artifice, can correct the Fierceness of its fiery Flashes in the Eyes, keep down the struggling Sighs, command the Pulse, and bid Trembling cease? Honour and Virtue may distance Bodies, but there is no Power in either of those Names, to stop the Spring, that with a rapid Whirl transports us from our selves, and darts our Souls into the Bosom of the darling Object. This may seem strange to many, even of those who call, and perhaps believe that they are Lovers; but the few who have Delicacy enough to feel what I but imperfectly attempt to speak, will acknowledge it for Truth, and pity the Distress of Melliora.
(pp. 100-1)

Impressions

C-H Lion

At least 12 entries in ESTC (1719, 1720, 1721, 1722, 1724, 1725, 1732, 1742).

Published in 3 parts in 1719-1720. <Part 1, ESTC><Part 2, ESTC><Part 3, ESTC>

See Eliza Haywood, Love in Excess: or the Fatal Enquiry, a Novel (London: Printed for W. Chetwood; and R. Francklin; and sold by J. Roberts, 1719). <Link to ECCO>

Text from Vol. 1 of 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><Link to LION>

06/30/2013