"I'm dead to pity as to fear, / My heart is cas'd with steel"
— Holman, Joseph George (1764-1817)
Date
1800
Metaphor
"I'm dead to pity as to fear, / My heart is cas'd with steel"
Metaphor in Context
TRIO AND CHORUS.--Jaquelina, Angelina, and Captain of Robbers.
Jaq. and Ang.
Compassion to our woes impart,
Nor vainly let us sue;
The breast that owns a valiant heart,
Is still to pity true.
Capt.
Try no more this useful wailing,
Think not that my ears assailing
You my rugged heart can move.
Jaq. and Ang.
Kindly grant us freedom's blessing.
Capt.
Vain is all this earnest pressing.
Jaq. and Ang.
Joys that flow from mercy prove.
Capt.
Ne'er such weakness will I prove.
Learn that I drew my infant breath
Within the robber's cave;
And when too young to deal out death,
I dug the dead man's grave.
Then think you that a woman's tear
Can make this bosom feel?
I'm dead to pity as to fear,
My heart is cas'd with steel.
CHORUS.
Then think you that a woman's tear
Can make our bosoms feel?
We're dead to pity as to fear,
Our hearts are cas'd with steel.
Jaq. and Ang.
Be soften'd by a woman's tear,
And for our sorrows feel;
To pity wake, though dead to fear,
Nor case your hearts with steel.
Jaq. and Ang.
Compassion to our woes impart,
Nor vainly let us sue;
The breast that owns a valiant heart,
Is still to pity true.
Capt.
Try no more this useful wailing,
Think not that my ears assailing
You my rugged heart can move.
Jaq. and Ang.
Kindly grant us freedom's blessing.
Capt.
Vain is all this earnest pressing.
Jaq. and Ang.
Joys that flow from mercy prove.
Capt.
Ne'er such weakness will I prove.
Learn that I drew my infant breath
Within the robber's cave;
And when too young to deal out death,
I dug the dead man's grave.
Then think you that a woman's tear
Can make this bosom feel?
I'm dead to pity as to fear,
My heart is cas'd with steel.
CHORUS.
Then think you that a woman's tear
Can make our bosoms feel?
We're dead to pity as to fear,
Our hearts are cas'd with steel.
Jaq. and Ang.
Be soften'd by a woman's tear,
And for our sorrows feel;
To pity wake, though dead to fear,
Nor case your hearts with steel.
Categories
Provenance
Searching "heart" and "steel" in HDIS (Drama)
Date of Entry
06/13/2005
