"The King of England steels his heart against us"

— Colman, George, the younger (1762-1836)


Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme [etc.]
Date
1792
Metaphor
"The King of England steels his heart against us"
Metaphor in Context
DE VIENNE.
I thank you, friends.--It grieves me to repay
Your honest love, with tidings, sure, as heavy
As ever messenger was charged withal.
The King of England steels his heart against us.
He does let loose his vengeance; and he wills,--
If we would save our city from the sword,
From wild destruction,--that I straight do send him
Six of my first and best reputed citizens,
Bare headed, tendering the city keys;
And,--'sdeath, I choke!--with vile and loathsome ropes,
Circling their necks, in guise of malefactors,
To suffer instant execution.

[The
Citizens appear confounded. A Pause.

Friends,
I do perceive you're troubled:--'tis enough
To pose the stoutest of you. Who among you
Can smother nature's workings, which do prompt
Each, to the last, to struggle for himself?
Yet, were I not objected to, as governor,
There might be found--no matter.--Who so bold,
That, for the welfare of a wretched multitude,
Involved with him, in one great common cause,
Would volunteer it on the scaffold?
Categories
Provenance
Searching "heart" and "steel" in HDIS (Drama)
Theme
French Revolution
Date of Entry
06/13/2005

The Mind is a Metaphor is authored by Brad Pasanek, Assistant Professor of English, University of Virginia.