"When my way is too rough for my feet, or too steep for my strength, I get off it, to some smooth velvet path which fancy has scattered over with rose-buds of delights; and having taken a few turns in it, come back strengthen'd and refresh'd."
— Sterne, Laurence (1713-1768)
Author
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for T. Becket and P. A. De Hondt
Date
1768
Metaphor
"When my way is too rough for my feet, or too steep for my strength, I get off it, to some smooth velvet path which fancy has scattered over with rose-buds of delights; and having taken a few turns in it, come back strengthen'd and refresh'd."
Metaphor in Context
Sweet pliability of man's spirit, than can at once surrender itself to illusions, which cheat expectation and sorrow of their weary moments!----long--long since had ye number'd out my days, had I not trod so great a part of them upon this enchanted ground. When my way is too rough for my feet, or too steep for my strength, I get off it, to some smooth velvet path which fancy has scattered over with rose-buds of delights; and having taken a few turns in it, come back strengthen'd and refresh'd-- When evils press sore upon me, and there is no retreat from them in this world, then I take a new course--I leave it--and as I have a clearer idea of the elysian fields than I have of heaven, I force myself, like Eneas, into them--I see him meet the pensive shade of his forsaken Dido--and wish to recognize it--I see the injured spirit wave her head, and turn off silent from the author of her miseries and dishonours--I lose the feelings for myself in hers--and in those affections which were wont to make me mourn for her when I was at school.
(II, pp. 74-5)
(II, pp. 74-5)
Categories
Provenance
Searching in LION
Citation
Over 86 entries in ESTC (1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772, 1773, 1774, 1775, 1776, 1778, 1779, 1780, 1782, 1783, 1784, 1785, 1787, 1790, 1791, 1792, 1793, 1794, 1795, 1796, 1798, 1800).
First edition published February 27, 1768, in two issues (standard paper and large "imperial" paper issue).
See A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy. By Mr. Yorick., 2 vols. 2nd ed. (London: Printed for T. Becket and P. A. De Hondt, 1768). <Link to ESTC>
Reading Laurence Sterne, A Sentimental Journey, ed. Paul Goring (New York and London: Penguin, 2001)
First edition published February 27, 1768, in two issues (standard paper and large "imperial" paper issue).
See A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy. By Mr. Yorick., 2 vols. 2nd ed. (London: Printed for T. Becket and P. A. De Hondt, 1768). <Link to ESTC>
Reading Laurence Sterne, A Sentimental Journey, ed. Paul Goring (New York and London: Penguin, 2001)
Date of Entry
10/26/2013
