"Blows only pass 'twixt Porters and their Trulls, / Where brutish Rage, instead of Reason, rules, / Those of our Rank, altho' the Cause be great, / Should scorn to jar at such a scoundrel Rate."
— Ward, Edward (1667-1731)
Author
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Date
1710
Metaphor
"Blows only pass 'twixt Porters and their Trulls, / Where brutish Rage, instead of Reason, rules, / Those of our Rank, altho' the Cause be great, / Should scorn to jar at such a scoundrel Rate."
Metaphor in Context
Hardships, like these, I own might prove too great
For feeble Woman to sustain their Weight.
Had any Mistress in your Heart a share,
I must confess I no Revenge should spare.
The patient'st Wife alive, could never, sure,
A Rival in her nuptial Bed endure:
Such humble Acquiescence would proclaim
A Woman's Folly, to her publick Shame,
And shew the Wretch ridiculously tame:
Or should you strike me in an angry Mood,
You may be sure I'd poys'n you, if I cou'd:
But Men, like you, of Breeding and of Birth,
Can ne'er so far degen'rate from your Worth.
Blows only pass 'twixt Porters and their Trulls,
Where brutish Rage, instead of Reason, rules,
Those of our Rank, altho' the Cause be great,
Should scorn to jar at such a scoundrel Rate.
All but these grand Abuses, as I live,
I could forget, nay, heartily forgive;
But Blows and Rivals are Affronts so evil,
They'd make an Angel of a Wife turn Devil
For feeble Woman to sustain their Weight.
Had any Mistress in your Heart a share,
I must confess I no Revenge should spare.
The patient'st Wife alive, could never, sure,
A Rival in her nuptial Bed endure:
Such humble Acquiescence would proclaim
A Woman's Folly, to her publick Shame,
And shew the Wretch ridiculously tame:
Or should you strike me in an angry Mood,
You may be sure I'd poys'n you, if I cou'd:
But Men, like you, of Breeding and of Birth,
Can ne'er so far degen'rate from your Worth.
Blows only pass 'twixt Porters and their Trulls,
Where brutish Rage, instead of Reason, rules,
Those of our Rank, altho' the Cause be great,
Should scorn to jar at such a scoundrel Rate.
All but these grand Abuses, as I live,
I could forget, nay, heartily forgive;
But Blows and Rivals are Affronts so evil,
They'd make an Angel of a Wife turn Devil
Categories
Citation
At least 4 entries in ESTC (1710, 1723, 1737, 1759).
Text from Edward Ward, Nuptial Dialogues and Debates: Or, An Useful Prospect of the Felicities and Discomforts of a Marry'd Life, Incident to all Degrees, from the Throne to the Cottage (London: Printed for T. Norris, A. Bettesworth, and F. Fayrham, 1723). <Link to ECCO>
See also Nuptial Dialogues and Debates: Or, an Useful Prospect of the Felicities and Discomforts of a Marry'd Life, Incident to all Degrees, from the Throne to the Cottage, 2 vols. (London: H. Meere, T. Norris, A Bettesworth, 1710). <Link to ECCO>
Text from Edward Ward, Nuptial Dialogues and Debates: Or, An Useful Prospect of the Felicities and Discomforts of a Marry'd Life, Incident to all Degrees, from the Throne to the Cottage (London: Printed for T. Norris, A. Bettesworth, and F. Fayrham, 1723). <Link to ECCO>
See also Nuptial Dialogues and Debates: Or, an Useful Prospect of the Felicities and Discomforts of a Marry'd Life, Incident to all Degrees, from the Throne to the Cottage, 2 vols. (London: H. Meere, T. Norris, A Bettesworth, 1710). <Link to ECCO>
Theme
Ruling Passion
Date of Entry
06/22/2004
Date of Review
08/30/2011
