“Run mad as often as you choose, but do not faint!”

“My beloved Laura” (said she to me a few Hours before she died) “take warning from my unhappy End …Beware of fainting-fits…Beware of swoons, Run mad as often as you chuse; but do not faint—”.”

“Sophia shrieked and fainted on the ground – I screamed and instantly ran mad. We remained thus mutually deprived of our senses, some minutes, and on regaining them were deprived of them again. For an Hour and a Quarter did we continue in this unfortunate situation – Sophia fainting every moment and I running mad as often. At length a groan from the hapless Edward (who alone retained any share of life) restored us to ourselves.”

“Are you still faint from the run? Or was it my kissing expertise?”

“I am mad - but I choose this madness.”

“Who was Florinda, and why did she faint so often that she needed a special couch on which to do it?”