"The Mind of Will. Weathercock is like the Sail of a great Ship, that has Room, to contain much Wind; but, having none, of its own producing, is swell'd out, by Turns, from all the Quarters of the Compass."
— Hill, Aaron (1685-1750)
Author
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Date
Monday, May 25, 1724
Metaphor
"The Mind of Will. Weathercock is like the Sail of a great Ship, that has Room, to contain much Wind; but, having none, of its own producing, is swell'd out, by Turns, from all the Quarters of the Compass."
Metaphor in Context
Honest Sir Portly wou'd be often at a Loss, to shape such stubborn Obliquities, into any direct Line of Society, if he had not, always, at his Elbow, the good-natur'd Mr. William Weathercock, a Gentleman Farmer, in his Neighbourhood; who has a large, but empty, Understanding.--The Mind of Will. Weathercock is like the Sail of a great Ship, that has Room, to contain much Wind; but, having none, of its own producing, is swell'd out, by Turns, from all the Quarters of the Compass. Will. hits every Man's Taste; and is of all People's Opinion. He is so desirous to Oblige, that there is not a Point in the Circumference, but wou'd serve him for a Center. He is this Moment, in your Sentiment: and, the next, will, before your Face, be of his Opinion who contradicts you. But, if a Third affirms you Both to have been in the Wrong, and appeals to Will. Weathercock:--Will, with the best-bred Agility in the World, shifts, immediately, to his Side, too; and thinks it as clear as the Sun that You were, All Three, in the Right of it.
(pp. 144-5)
(pp. 144-5)
Categories
Provenance
ECCO-TCP
Citation
Text from The Plain Dealer: Being Select Essays on Several Curious Subjects: Relating to Friendship, ... Poetry, and Other Branches of Polite Literature. Publish'd originally in the year 1724. And Now First Collected into Two Volumes (London: Printed for S. Richardson, and A. Wilde, 1730.) <Link to Vol. I in ECCO-TCP><Link to Vol. II in ECCO-TCP>
Date of Entry
08/17/2013
