"I will not (continued the God of tender Wishes) prolong the little Narrative I have to make you, by a repetition of her Lamentations when alone, and at liberty to indulge them; you may believe they were extremely violent, and suitable to the Occasion: but as soon as Reason had the power of resuming her Throne amidst this Empire of Confusion and Despair, she began to consider that she was in a state which would admit of no delay."

— Haywood [née Fowler], Eliza (1693?-1756)


Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed, and Sold by the Booksellers of London and Westminster
Date
[1726]
Metaphor
"I will not (continued the God of tender Wishes) prolong the little Narrative I have to make you, by a repetition of her Lamentations when alone, and at liberty to indulge them; you may believe they were extremely violent, and suitable to the Occasion: but as soon as Reason had the power of resuming her Throne amidst this Empire of Confusion and Despair, she began to consider that she was in a state which would admit of no delay."
Metaphor in Context
I will not (continued the God of tender Wishes) prolong the little Narrative I have to make you, by a repetition of her Lamentations when alone, and at liberty to indulge them; you may believe they were extremely violent, and suitable to the Occasion: but as soon as Reason had the power of resuming her Throne amidst this Empire of Confusion and Despair, she began to consider that she was in a state which would admit of no delay. -- Some care must be taken for that dreadful Hour, which there was no avoiding. -- She therefore turn'd some part of the Jewels she had brought with her into ready Money, and with all speed provided herself of a Lodging in a Midwife's House, where she continued till the time of her delivery. -- In spite of those Agonies of Mind which had reduced her Body to a perfect Anatomy, she safely brought into the World that lovely Babe who now lies sucking at her Breast. -- The tender Affection of a Mother, which none but those who really are so, can conceive, immediately rising in her Soul at sight of this dear Part of herself, dissipated great part of those Anxieties which had so long and so terribly prey'd on her Spirits; and had it not been for the Reflection how little she was able to do for one she lov'd so much, her present Satisfaction had been equal to her former Disquiets. [...]
(pp. 120-1)
Provenance
Contributed by Kelly Fleming
Citation
Eliza Haywood, Memoirs of a Certain Island Adjacent to the Kingdom of Utopia. Written by a Celebrated Author of that Country. Now translated into English. Vol.II (London: Printed, and Sold by the Booksellers of London and Westminster, 1726). <Link to ESTC>
Date of Entry
09/19/2015

The Mind is a Metaphor is authored by Brad Pasanek, Assistant Professor of English, University of Virginia.