"the Persian Bands / In fearful Wonder ask; What God unseen / Such Pow'r bestow'd, and steel'd a Woman's Heart"
— Warton, Thomas, the elder (1688-1745)
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for R. Manby and H. S. Cox [etc.]
Date
1748
Metaphor
"the Persian Bands / In fearful Wonder ask; What God unseen / Such Pow'r bestow'd, and steel'd a Woman's Heart"
Metaphor in Context
'Twas then unmindful of her private Grief,
When Israel mourn'd, the Widow's sable Garb
She cast away, and with the choicest Oils
Her Limbs anointed, call'd forth every Smile,
And every latent Grace, in Order bound
The braided Ringlets of her golden Hair,
Deckt in the brightest Robe her Form, and shone
In all the Charms of Nature and of Art.
How did the captivated Hero gaze
At every matchless Feature, gaz'd and sigh'd
By Turns, and own'd that all his Soul was Love!
That Instant in her Hands the Faulchion grasp'd
The female Warriour, and vigorous Stroke
Sever'd the haughty Satrap's Head. The Mede
At this astonied stood, the Persian Bands
In fearful Wonder ask; What God unseen
Such Pow'r bestow'd, and steel'd a Woman's Heart.
Not so revenging Israel--ev'ry Child
Of Sorrow starts into unusual Shouts
Of Joy and Gratulation. Assur bears
The fearful Tidings thro' his weeping Camp,
And trembles: But victorious Israel cries,
"Pursue, Pursue!"--The Lord in Battle strong
Nerv'd every Arm, and urg'd the vigorous Host,
Till sudden Death o'ertook the Painim Bands
Discomfited and fal'n, and all the Plains
Float with Effusions of Assyrian Blood.
When Israel mourn'd, the Widow's sable Garb
She cast away, and with the choicest Oils
Her Limbs anointed, call'd forth every Smile,
And every latent Grace, in Order bound
The braided Ringlets of her golden Hair,
Deckt in the brightest Robe her Form, and shone
In all the Charms of Nature and of Art.
How did the captivated Hero gaze
At every matchless Feature, gaz'd and sigh'd
By Turns, and own'd that all his Soul was Love!
That Instant in her Hands the Faulchion grasp'd
The female Warriour, and vigorous Stroke
Sever'd the haughty Satrap's Head. The Mede
At this astonied stood, the Persian Bands
In fearful Wonder ask; What God unseen
Such Pow'r bestow'd, and steel'd a Woman's Heart.
Not so revenging Israel--ev'ry Child
Of Sorrow starts into unusual Shouts
Of Joy and Gratulation. Assur bears
The fearful Tidings thro' his weeping Camp,
And trembles: But victorious Israel cries,
"Pursue, Pursue!"--The Lord in Battle strong
Nerv'd every Arm, and urg'd the vigorous Host,
Till sudden Death o'ertook the Painim Bands
Discomfited and fal'n, and all the Plains
Float with Effusions of Assyrian Blood.
Categories
Provenance
Searching "heart" and "steel" in HDIS (Poetry)
Date of Entry
05/16/2005
