A/N: Had to write a little tribute to an amazingly, tragically complex character from one of my favorite books. I envision the characters as portrayed in the 1983 BBC mini-series. The title quote is taken from Henry VIII, from which Henry reads.

The affliction of idleness to an active mind, of vanity to a lively spirit, of half-hopes to an ill-formed passion—these combined in mutual destruction to every good intention that Henry Crawford had attempted to cultivate.

He had permitted himself too many assurances—so many days so certainly in love with Fanny Price, only with Fanny Price, had allowed him to fancy a great fortitude of character which he had not formerly envied.

But pride, in never being viewed as a weakness, attacked even the most promising strengths. Maria's beauties and charms had never tempted him so much as they now did when withheld from him, and he lay away the memory of Fanny's clear, soft voice and pure, grave eyes—

The triumph of attaining Maria's smile swept away all promise of prudence.

The headiness of reckless passion forestalled any opportunity for retrenchment.

And Fanny's goodness, her gentle smiles and the lay of her pretty features had never tortured him so much as they now did, when he had forever lost them.