"The most, such Iron Hearts we are, and such / The base Barbarity of Humane Kind, / Hooting and Railing, and with Villainous Hands / Gathering the Filth from out the Common Ways, / To hurl upon her Head."

— Gildon, Charles (1665-1724)


Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for J. Roberts [etc.]
Date
1714
Metaphor
"The most, such Iron Hearts we are, and such / The base Barbarity of Humane Kind, / Hooting and Railing, and with Villainous Hands / Gathering the Filth from out the Common Ways, / To hurl upon her Head."
Metaphor in Context
BAYS.
Sir, my Service to you. Confusion to Critics.

[Drinks.

I met her as returning
In solemn Pennance from the Public Cross;
Before her certain Rascal Officers,
Slaves in Authority, the Knaves of Justice
Proclaim'd the Tyrant Gloster's Cruel Orders.
On ether side her march'd an ill-look'd Priest,
A Bob for the Clergy and Court too, 'egad.
Who with severe and horrid haggard Eyes,
Did ever and anon by turn upbraid her,
And thunder in her trembling Ear Damnation.
Around her numberless the Rabble-flow'd,
Should'ring each other, crowding for a View,
Gaping and Gazing, Taunting and Reviling;
Some Pitying, but those alas! how few!
The most, such Iron Hearts we are, and such
The base Barbarity of Humane Kind,
Hooting and Railing, and with Villainous Hands
Gathering the Filth from out the Common Ways,
To hurl upon her Head
.

I vow this moves me so that I can't go on-- Gentlemen, have you never observ'd our Barbarous Mob, how they use a poor Carted Bawd, or a Man in the Pillory, and the like?
Provenance
Searching "heart" and "iron" in HDIS (Drama)
Date of Entry
06/08/2005
Date of Review
06/17/2011

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