"But their Hearts were steel'd by Custom."
— Moore, Edward (1712-1757)
Author
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for R. Francklin
Date
1753
Metaphor
"But their Hearts were steel'd by Custom."
Metaphor in Context
DRAW
'Till the Scene chang'd, and then I melted. I order'd the Officers to take away their Prisoner. The Women shriek'd, and wou'd have follow'd him; but we forbad 'em. 'Twas then they fell upon their Knees, the Wife fainting, the Sister raving, and both with all the Eloquence of Misery endeavouring to soften us. I never felt Compassion 'till that Moment; and had the Officers been mov'd like Me, we had left the Business undone, and fled with Curses on ourselves. But their Hearts were steel'd by Custom. The Tears of Beauty and the Pangs of Affection were beneath their Pity. They tore him from their Arms, and lodg'd him in Prison, with only Jarvis to comfort him.
'Till the Scene chang'd, and then I melted. I order'd the Officers to take away their Prisoner. The Women shriek'd, and wou'd have follow'd him; but we forbad 'em. 'Twas then they fell upon their Knees, the Wife fainting, the Sister raving, and both with all the Eloquence of Misery endeavouring to soften us. I never felt Compassion 'till that Moment; and had the Officers been mov'd like Me, we had left the Business undone, and fled with Curses on ourselves. But their Hearts were steel'd by Custom. The Tears of Beauty and the Pangs of Affection were beneath their Pity. They tore him from their Arms, and lodg'd him in Prison, with only Jarvis to comfort him.
Categories
Provenance
Searching "heart" and "steel" in HDIS (Drama)
Citation
36 entries in the ESTC (1753, 1755, 1756, 1763, 1765, 1767, 1771, 1776, 1777, 1779, 1780, 1783, 1784, 1787, 1788, 1789, 1790, 1791, 1792, 1790, 1794, 1800).
Edward Moore, The Gamester. A Tragedy. As it is Acted at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane (London: Printed for R. Francklin and Sold by R. Dodsley, 1753).
Edward Moore, The Gamester. A Tragedy. As it is Acted at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane (London: Printed for R. Francklin and Sold by R. Dodsley, 1753).
Date of Entry
06/13/2005
