"But there is another kind of ALLEGORICAL fable, in which there is very little regard shewn to probability. Its object also is instruction; though it does not endeavour to instruct by real or probable actions; but wrapt in a veil of exaggerated, yet delicate and apposite fiction, is studious at once to delight the imagination, and to impress some important maxim upon the mind."

— Duff, William (1732-1815)


Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for Edward and Charles Dilly
Date
1767
Metaphor
"But there is another kind of ALLEGORICAL fable, in which there is very little regard shewn to probability. Its object also is instruction; though it does not endeavour to instruct by real or probable actions; but wrapt in a veil of exaggerated, yet delicate and apposite fiction, is studious at once to delight the imagination, and to impress some important maxim upon the mind."
Metaphor in Context
We may venture then to lay it down as a position highly probable, that the first essays of original Genius will be in ALLEGORIES, VISIONS, or the creation of ideal beings, of one kind or another. There is no kind of Invention, in which there is fuller scope afforded to the exercise of Imagination, than in that of ALLEGORY; which has this advantage over most other fables, that in it the Author is by no means restricted to such an exact probability, as is required in those fables that instruct us by a representation of actions, which, though not real, must always however be such as might have happened. Let it be observed, that we are here speaking of ALLEGORY in its utmost latitude. We are not ignorant that there is a species of it, which, like the Epic fable, attempts to instruct by the invention of a series of incidents strictly probable. Such are the beautiful and striking ALLEGORIES contained in different parts of the Sacred Writings. But there is another kind of ALLEGORICAL fable, in which there is very little regard shewn to probability. Its object also is instruction; though it does not endeavour to instruct by real or probable actions; but wrapt in a veil of exaggerated, yet delicate and apposite fiction, is studious at once to delight the imagination, and to impress some important maxim upon the mind. Of this kind is the Fairy Queen of Spenser . As in this species of ALLEGORY, we neither expect what is true, nor what is like the truth; so we read such fabulous compositions, partly for the sake of the morals they contain, but principally for the sake of gratifying that curiosity so deeply implanted in the human mind, of becoming acquainted with new and marvellous events. We are in this case in a great measure upon our guard against the delusions of fancy; are highly pleased with the narrative, though we do not allow it to impose upon us so far as to obtain our credit. Yet such is the power of ingenious fiction over our minds, that we are not only captivated and interested by a relation of surprising incidents, though very improbable, but, during the time of the relation at least, we forget that they are fictitious, and almost fancy them to be real. This deceit, however, lasts no longer than the perusal, in which we are too much agitated to reflect on the probability or improbability of the events related; but when that is over, the inchantment vanishes in the cool moment of deliberation; and, being left at leisure to think and reason, we never admit as true what is not strictly probable.
(pp. 172-5)
Categories
Provenance
C-H Lion
Citation
2 entries in ESTC (1767).

Text from William Duff, An Essay on Original Genius; and its Various Modes of Exertion in Philosophy and the Fine Arts, Particularly in Poetry (London: Printed for Edward and Charles Dilly, 1767). <Link to ESTC>
Date of Entry
07/01/2013

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