But Love, who had hitherto but played with her heart, and given it naught but pleasing, wanton wounds, such as afforded only soft joys, and not pains, resolved, either out of revenge to those numbers she had abandoned and who had sighed so long in vain, or to try what power he had upon so fickle a heart, sent an arrow dipped in the most tormenting flames that rage in hearts most sensible! He struck it home and deep, with all the malice of an angry god.
~ Aphra Behn, Oroonoko, The Rover, and Other Works (one of six texts on which Chapman University MA candidates will be tested this weekend on the comprehensive English literature exam)
“But as these women are of the best quality, and live with the reputation of being retired from the world a little more than ordinary, and because there is a sort of difficulty to approach ’em, they are the people the most courted and liable to the greatest temptations … So that to manage these gallantries, there is no sort of female arts they are not practised in, no intrigues they are ignorant of, and no management of which they are not capable.”
Best wishes for Saturday, Michelle … I’m almost jealous … : )
“… and he looked on her with a sudden envy; for in torment she burned unconsumed, rather in her passion’s flames did bloom such wonders as had never been bourne to this world, nor foreseen …”
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