"Steel your Hearts with Honour first; then with Generous Resolution; and let Aurelia nobly guide your Steps into the Temple of Perpetual Glory"
— D'Urfey, Thomas (1653?-1723)
Author
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for John Nutt
Date
1699, 1700
Metaphor
"Steel your Hearts with Honour first; then with Generous Resolution; and let Aurelia nobly guide your Steps into the Temple of Perpetual Glory"
Metaphor in Context
AUR.
Learn of me ye withering Blossoms of distress'd Nobility, how to defie the Ills of Destiny, and worst of Fortune's, Malice. Steel your Hearts with Honour first; then with Generous Resolution; and let Aurelia nobly guide your Steps into the Temple of Perpetual Glory, by a brave Deed irksome to our soft Natures: Yet Portia and Great Sophonisba were our fam'd Examples, and when Lawless Power, and Savage fury threatens with Captivity, when that hour comes, mark me ye Twinns of Vertue when you behold my Conquer'd Spirits faint, with a bright Dagger drench'd in my warm Gore, or my Eyes languish with some Poysonous Draught, which my own hand has nobly ministred.--
Then chuse your fate equal in each degree,
Scorn poor Rebellious Rage, and die like me.
Learn of me ye withering Blossoms of distress'd Nobility, how to defie the Ills of Destiny, and worst of Fortune's, Malice. Steel your Hearts with Honour first; then with Generous Resolution; and let Aurelia nobly guide your Steps into the Temple of Perpetual Glory, by a brave Deed irksome to our soft Natures: Yet Portia and Great Sophonisba were our fam'd Examples, and when Lawless Power, and Savage fury threatens with Captivity, when that hour comes, mark me ye Twinns of Vertue when you behold my Conquer'd Spirits faint, with a bright Dagger drench'd in my warm Gore, or my Eyes languish with some Poysonous Draught, which my own hand has nobly ministred.--
Then chuse your fate equal in each degree,
Scorn poor Rebellious Rage, and die like me.
Categories
Provenance
Searching "steel" and "heart" in HDIS (Drama)
Citation
First performed: May, 1699? Only 1 entry in ESTC (1700).
See The Famous History of the Rise and Fall of Massaniello. In Two Parts. Written by Mr. Tho. D'urfey. (London: Printed for John Nutt, near Stationers-Hall, 1700). <Link to ESTC> [ESTC: Part 2 The Famous History and Fall of Massainello: or, a Fisherman a Prince (Wing D2621B) has separate title page, dated 1699, and separate pagination and register.]
See The Famous History of the Rise and Fall of Massaniello. In Two Parts. Written by Mr. Tho. D'urfey. (London: Printed for John Nutt, near Stationers-Hall, 1700). <Link to ESTC> [ESTC: Part 2 The Famous History and Fall of Massainello: or, a Fisherman a Prince (Wing D2621B) has separate title page, dated 1699, and separate pagination and register.]
Date of Entry
06/13/2005
