"When Men see their Neighbour's House on Fire, every one contributes his utmost to quench it: But when they see the Mind inflamed with furious Passion, they bring Fewel to nourish and increase it."
— Hill, Aaron (1685-1750)
Author
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Date
Friday, March 5, 1725
Metaphor
"When Men see their Neighbour's House on Fire, every one contributes his utmost to quench it: But when they see the Mind inflamed with furious Passion, they bring Fewel to nourish and increase it."
Metaphor in Context
But that which is most to be dreaded in this Case, does not at all affrighten me; to wit, The Visits of foolish Women, and their accompanying You in Your Tears and Lamentations; by which they sharpen Grief, not suffering it either of itself, or by the Help of others, to fade and vanish away. For, I am not ignorant how great a Combat you lately entered, when you assisted the Sister of Theon, and opposed the Women who came running in with horrid Cries, bringing Fewel, as it were, to her Passion. When Men see their Neighbour's House on Fire, every one contributes his utmost to quench it: But when they see the Mind inflamed with furious Passion, they bring Fewel to nourish and increase it. When a Man's Eye is in Pain, he is not suffered to touch it, tho' the Inflammation provoke him to it, nor will they that are near him meddle with it. But he who is gall'd with Grief, sits and exposes his Distemper to every one, like Waters that all may poach in; and so that which at first seem'd a light or trivial Smart, by much Fretting and Provoking, becomes great, and incurable.
(II, pp. 360-1)
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
