"I took thee for a Saint, but find, alas! / Thy Heart is Iron, and thy Face is Brass;"
— Ward, Edward (1667-1731)
Author
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Date
1710
Metaphor
"I took thee for a Saint, but find, alas! / Thy Heart is Iron, and thy Face is Brass;"
Metaphor in Context
Husband.
Did Husband ever hear so vile a Wretch?
Sure thou'rt some Spirit, Succubus, or Witch;
I took thee for a Saint, but find, alas!
Thy Heart is Iron, and thy Face is Brass;
Your Words fierce Thunder-bolts, that when you gape,
Confound my Ears at every dreadful Clap;
Your Temper too unruly, and your Pride
Too dev'lish to be humour'd or deny'd;
For should I strive to pleasure your Desires,
By granting what so proud a Shrew requires,
I must too lavishly supply your Wants,
And beggar'd be by your Extravagance;
If I refuse what you command or pray,
I then must be undone some other Way:
Thus, if I'm careful to Caribdis shun,
I must upon the Rocks of Scilla run.
Direct me, Heaven, how to steer my Course,
'Twixt female Pride, and Anger, which is worse.
Did Husband ever hear so vile a Wretch?
Sure thou'rt some Spirit, Succubus, or Witch;
I took thee for a Saint, but find, alas!
Thy Heart is Iron, and thy Face is Brass;
Your Words fierce Thunder-bolts, that when you gape,
Confound my Ears at every dreadful Clap;
Your Temper too unruly, and your Pride
Too dev'lish to be humour'd or deny'd;
For should I strive to pleasure your Desires,
By granting what so proud a Shrew requires,
I must too lavishly supply your Wants,
And beggar'd be by your Extravagance;
If I refuse what you command or pray,
I then must be undone some other Way:
Thus, if I'm careful to Caribdis shun,
I must upon the Rocks of Scilla run.
Direct me, Heaven, how to steer my Course,
'Twixt female Pride, and Anger, which is worse.
Categories
Provenance
Searching "heart" and "iron" in HDIS (Poetry)
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>
Date of Entry
06/07/2005
