The thunder of words may sour the "milk of human kindness" in the breast
— Sheridan, Richard Brinsley (1751-1816)
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
John Wilkie
Date
1775
Metaphor
The thunder of words may sour the "milk of human kindness" in the breast
Metaphor in Context
ACRES
O Sir Lucius! I have had ancestors too! every man of 'em colonel or captain in the militia? --Odds balls and barrels! say no more--I'm brac'd for it--my nerves are become catgut! my sinews wire! and my heart Pinchbeck! The thunder of your words has soured the milk of human kindness in my breast!--Z---ds! as the man in the play says, "I could do such deeds!"
SIR LUCIUS
Come, come, there must be no passion at all in the case--these things should always be done civilly.
ACRES
I must be in a passion, Sir Lucius--I must be in a rage--Dear Sir Lucius let me be in a rage, if you love me.--Come, here's pen and paper.
(Sits down to write)
I would the ink were red!--Indite, I say, indite! --How shall I begin? Odds bullets and blades! I'll write a good bold hand , however.
(Act III, Scene iv)
O Sir Lucius! I have had ancestors too! every man of 'em colonel or captain in the militia? --Odds balls and barrels! say no more--I'm brac'd for it--my nerves are become catgut! my sinews wire! and my heart Pinchbeck! The thunder of your words has soured the milk of human kindness in my breast!--Z---ds! as the man in the play says, "I could do such deeds!"
SIR LUCIUS
Come, come, there must be no passion at all in the case--these things should always be done civilly.
ACRES
I must be in a passion, Sir Lucius--I must be in a rage--Dear Sir Lucius let me be in a rage, if you love me.--Come, here's pen and paper.
(Sits down to write)
I would the ink were red!--Indite, I say, indite! --How shall I begin? Odds bullets and blades! I'll write a good bold hand , however.
(Act III, Scene iv)
Categories
Provenance
Reading, but passage copied from HDIS
Citation
First performed January 17th, 1775. 14 entries in ESTC (1775, 1776, 1785, 1788, 1791, 1793, 1797, 1798).
Sheridan, R. B. The Rivals, a Comedy. As it is Acted at the Theatre-Royal in Covent-Garden (London: John Wilkie, 1775). <Link to ECCO-TCP>
Sheridan, R. B. The Rivals, a Comedy. As it is Acted at the Theatre-Royal in Covent-Garden (London: John Wilkie, 1775). <Link to ECCO-TCP>
Date of Entry
11/02/2003
