Sheridan [née Chamberlaine], Frances (1724-1766)

The History of Nourjahad.

London

Printed for J. Dodsley

1767

"The vacancy he found in his heart was insupportable."

Nourjahad having now once more established his household, and perceiving that these damsels upon a longer acquaintance were really amiable, expected to find himself restored to his former contentment and alacrity of spirits. But in this he was deceived. He was seized with a lassitude that rendered his days tiresome. The vacancy he found in his heart was insupportable. Surrounded by new faces, he saw nobody for whom he could entertain either love or friendship. This is a comfortless life, would he exclaim to himself, yet how often, during the date of my existence, must this situation, melancholy as it is, recur to me. A friend shall no sooner be endeared to me by long experience of kindness and fidelity, without which it is impossible I should regard him; than death will deprive me of him, as it has already done of Hasem and Zamgrad; and how many bright eyes am I doomed to see for ever closed, or what is as mortifying to behold, their faded lustre. There is but one way, said he, to guard against those evils: I will no more contract friendships amongst men, nor ever again suffer my mind to be subdued by female charms. I will confound all distinction by variety, nor permit one woman to engross my heart; for I find by sad experience, even after such an amazing length of time, that the bare idea of my dear Mandana, inspires me with more tenderness, than ever I experienced from the fondest blandishments of all the beauties I have since possessed.
(pp. 129-31)

Container::Vacancy

C-H Lion

Six entries in ESTC (1767, 1767, 1771, 1788, 1792, and 1798?).

See Frances Sheridan, The History of Nourjahad. By the Editor of Sidney Bidulph (London: Printed for J. Dodsley, 1767). <Link to ECCO>

07/13/2013