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"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)

Author

Gildon, Charles (1665-1724)

Work Title

A New Rehearsal, or Bays the Younger. Containing an Examen of The Ambitious Stepmother. Tamerlane, The Biter, Fair Penitent, Royal Convert, Ulysses, And Jane Shore. All Written by N. Rowe. Also A Word or Two upon Mr. Pope's Rape of the Lock. To which is prefix'd, a preface in Vindication of criticism in General, by the late Earl of Shaftsbury

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?