"Let this be said, as if I had not spoken it, seeing I pour frankly the Secrets of my Heart into thy Bosom: no ways doubting, but thou knowest to be silent in what may cause my Death."
— Marana, Giovanni Paolo (1642-1693); Anonymous [William Bradshaw (fl. 1700) or Robert Midgley (1655?-1723)?]
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed by J. Leake
Date
1687, 1691
Metaphor
"Let this be said, as if I had not spoken it, seeing I pour frankly the Secrets of my Heart into thy Bosom: no ways doubting, but thou knowest to be silent in what may cause my Death."
Metaphor in Context
Having one day met with one of this Society, who understood the Oriental Languages; and who conversing with me, did not believe he discoursed with a Mussulman, I heard him vomit injurious, and fearful Imprecations against Mahomet, against his Law, and against all true Believers. I have so much Horror to write to thee all he said, that I will tell thee but some few of them; and the rather to divert thee, by the knowledge of the Errors of our Enemies; and also, that thou maist not be afflicted at some things not very reasonable, which are observed in many of the Precepts of the Law, which we follow. Let this be said, as if I had not spoken it, seeing I pour frankly the Secrets of my Heart into thy Bosom: no ways doubting, but thou knowest to be silent in what may cause my Death. This Jesuit maintains, That the Mussulmans are not Wise in following the Precepts of a Drunkard, who forbad drinking of Wine, and committed Excesses himself, when he thought he was un-observed. He maintains further, That it is foolish to give Credit to such a Fellow, who makes a Paradise to consist of Beautiful Women, where one may abandon himself to all sorts of Pleasure and Debauchery, and that he hath not foreseen a Hell, where he, and all his Followers, ought to suffer the Pains due to their Crimes. He adds further, That one must be very foolish to adore a Blasphemer, who hath commanded his Law should be maintained by the Sword, when it could not be supported by Reason.
(p. 29)
(p. 29)
Categories
Provenance
Searching in EEBO-TCP
Citation
Based on a 30-letter Italian original, L'esploratore turco (1684), by Giovannia Paolo Marana (1642-1693), L'espion turc was published in French in 1684; The Turkish Spy, in English in 1687. Multiple entries in the ESTC. Sixth edition in 1694, 19th edition in 1718, 25th in 1753. After the success of the first volume, the work was expanded to 632 letters and published in eight volumes, attributed to various authors in 1696-97.
Text from second edition: The First Volume of Letters Writ by a Turkish Spy, Who lived Five and Forty Years, Undiscovered, at Paris: Giving an Impartial Account to the Divan at Constantinople, of the most Remarkable Transactions of Europe; And discovering several Intrigues and Secrets of the Christian Courts, (especially of that of France) from the Year 1637, to the Year 1682. Written Originally in Arabick, first Translated into Italian, afterwards into French, and now into English. 2nd edition (London: Printed for Henry Rhodes, 1691). <Link to EEBO-TCP>
Text from second edition: The First Volume of Letters Writ by a Turkish Spy, Who lived Five and Forty Years, Undiscovered, at Paris: Giving an Impartial Account to the Divan at Constantinople, of the most Remarkable Transactions of Europe; And discovering several Intrigues and Secrets of the Christian Courts, (especially of that of France) from the Year 1637, to the Year 1682. Written Originally in Arabick, first Translated into Italian, afterwards into French, and now into English. 2nd edition (London: Printed for Henry Rhodes, 1691). <Link to EEBO-TCP>
Date of Entry
07/26/2013
