"For what heart, / Not made of steel, could look on such a scene, / Three armies deep and strong, with countless horse, / Chariots untold, innumerable foot"
— Hurdis, James (1763-1801)
Author
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for J. Johnson
Date
1790
Metaphor
"For what heart, / Not made of steel, could look on such a scene, / Three armies deep and strong, with countless horse, / Chariots untold, innumerable foot"
Metaphor in Context
He said, and to begin the dreadful storm,
Flew like an arrow to his chosen force.
'Twas time, for Croesus had his signal giv'n,
And all the armies of the martial foe
Slowly advanc'd. Then momentary dread
Shot thro' the ranks of Cyrus. For what heart,
Not made of steel, could look on such a scene,
Three armies deep and strong, with countless horse,
Chariots untold, innumerable foot,
Advancing with their weapons drawn to kill,
And not one passage open to escape--
Who could behold it and not feel afraid?
Deep silence reign'd, and not a sound was heard,
Save the low thunder of approaching files.
But fear was transient as the lightning glimpse,
Not long admitted to a Persian breast.
Courage returns, and ev'ry heart is rous'd,
Hearing the sound of onset.
Flew like an arrow to his chosen force.
'Twas time, for Croesus had his signal giv'n,
And all the armies of the martial foe
Slowly advanc'd. Then momentary dread
Shot thro' the ranks of Cyrus. For what heart,
Not made of steel, could look on such a scene,
Three armies deep and strong, with countless horse,
Chariots untold, innumerable foot,
Advancing with their weapons drawn to kill,
And not one passage open to escape--
Who could behold it and not feel afraid?
Deep silence reign'd, and not a sound was heard,
Save the low thunder of approaching files.
But fear was transient as the lightning glimpse,
Not long admitted to a Persian breast.
Courage returns, and ev'ry heart is rous'd,
Hearing the sound of onset.
Categories
Provenance
Searching "heart" and "steel" in HDIS (Poetry)
Citation
Only 1 entry in ECCO and ESTC (1790).
See James Hurdis, Poems by the Author of The Village Curate, and Adriano (London: J. Johnson, 1790). <Link to ECCO>
See James Hurdis, Poems by the Author of The Village Curate, and Adriano (London: J. Johnson, 1790). <Link to ECCO>
Theme
Negated Metaphor
Date of Entry
06/10/2005
