Woodhouse, James (bap. 1735, d. 1820)

The Life and Lucubrations of Crispinus Scriblerus. A Novel, in Verse, Written in the Last Century

1814, 1816, 1896

"It cannot be but Fortitude will feel / And arm her face with flint, her heart with steel!"

It cannot be but Fortitude will feel
And arm her face with flint, her heart with steel!
Nor can it be but sage Discernment, soon,
Will note when tones are in, or out, of tune.
No artful sounds of Simulation, long,
Like Truth's mild melody can trill the tongue!
Art's mimic modulation shows Deceit--
The tutor'd ear soon tires with dull repeat.
Soon the smooth Syren vends her smiles in vain,
Not long her chaunting cheats, with studied strain,
Not bland Hypocrisy's deceitful brood
Can Heav'n-instructed Christian long delude.
Not long her base designs Religion brooks
But loaths the lulling lays, and luring looks.

Mineral::Steel::Heart of Steel

Searching "heart" and "steel" in HDIS (Poetry)

Poem first published in its entirety in 1896. The 1814 first edition receives notice in The New Monthly Magazine (March 1815); the poem was written "in the last century" (w. 1795-1820?).

Text from The Life and Poetical Works of James Woodhouse, ed. R. I. Woodhouse, 2 vols. (London: The Leadenhall Press, 1896). <Link to Hathi Trust> <Link to LION>

06/12/2005