"What are, to me, the ties of kindred?--I'll burst those trammels of affection, bonds of the soul:--I never knew their force: Nature denied me the sweet play of the heart, and all its persuasive eloquence."
— Craven, Keppel (1779-1851); Schiller (1759-1805)
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for W. Wigstead and M. Hooper
Date
1799
Metaphor
"What are, to me, the ties of kindred?--I'll burst those trammels of affection, bonds of the soul:--I never knew their force: Nature denied me the sweet play of the heart, and all its persuasive eloquence."
Metaphor in Context
FRAN.
Ay, Ay, be comforted:--Never shall you press your darling to your bosom. No, there is a gulph between--distant as heaven from hell--He was torn for ever from your arms, before you knew it was possible you ever could have desired it. These papers must not be seen; that might be dangerous, if the hand writing was known.
[Picks up all the scraps of paper]
I should be a pitiful bungler indeed, if I knew not yet, how to tear a son from the arms of his father, were they linked together with chains of iron.--Courage my boy! the favourite's removed:--That's a giant's step. But there is another heart from which I must tear that image; ay, were that heart to break for it. What are, to me, the ties of kindred?--I'll burst those trammels of affection, bonds of the soul:--I never knew their force: Nature denied me the sweet play of the heart, and all its persuasive eloquence. What must its place supply? Imperious force!--Henceforth, be that the only servant of my wishes, and all shall yield before me.
[Amelia comes slowly from the back part of the stage.]
She comes! Ah, the medicine works:--I know it by her step.
[Amelia, without observing him, tears a nose-gay in pieces, and treads it under foot.]
What have those poor flowers done to offend you?
(I.i)
Ay, Ay, be comforted:--Never shall you press your darling to your bosom. No, there is a gulph between--distant as heaven from hell--He was torn for ever from your arms, before you knew it was possible you ever could have desired it. These papers must not be seen; that might be dangerous, if the hand writing was known.
[Picks up all the scraps of paper]
I should be a pitiful bungler indeed, if I knew not yet, how to tear a son from the arms of his father, were they linked together with chains of iron.--Courage my boy! the favourite's removed:--That's a giant's step. But there is another heart from which I must tear that image; ay, were that heart to break for it. What are, to me, the ties of kindred?--I'll burst those trammels of affection, bonds of the soul:--I never knew their force: Nature denied me the sweet play of the heart, and all its persuasive eloquence. What must its place supply? Imperious force!--Henceforth, be that the only servant of my wishes, and all shall yield before me.
[Amelia comes slowly from the back part of the stage.]
She comes! Ah, the medicine works:--I know it by her step.
[Amelia, without observing him, tears a nose-gay in pieces, and treads it under foot.]
What have those poor flowers done to offend you?
(I.i)
Categories
Provenance
Searching "bond" and "soul" in HDIS (Drama)
Citation
A translation and abridgment. First performed in 1797? Only 1 entry in ESTC (1799).
See The Robbers; A Tragedy: In Five Acts. Translated and Altered from the German. As it was Performed at Brandenburgh-House Theatre. With a Preface, Prologue and Epilogue, written by Her Serene Highness The Margravine of Anspach (London: Printed for W. Wigstead and M. Hooper, 1799). <Link to ESTC>
See The Robbers; A Tragedy: In Five Acts. Translated and Altered from the German. As it was Performed at Brandenburgh-House Theatre. With a Preface, Prologue and Epilogue, written by Her Serene Highness The Margravine of Anspach (London: Printed for W. Wigstead and M. Hooper, 1799). <Link to ESTC>
Date of Entry
01/06/2012
