"They little know mankind / Who doubt its [flattery's] operation: 'tis my key, / And opes the wicket of the human heart."
— Home, John (1722-1808)
Author
Work Title
Place of Publication
Edinburgh
Publisher
Printed for G. Hamilton
Date
Performed Dec 1756, published 1757
Metaphor
"They little know mankind / Who doubt its [flattery's] operation: 'tis my key, / And opes the wicket of the human heart."
Metaphor in Context
GLENALVON solus.
Amen! and virtue is its own reward!---
I think that I have hit the very tone
In which she loves to speak. Honey'd assent,
How pleasing art thou to the taste of man,
And woman also! flattery direct
Rarely disgusts. They little know mankind
Who doubt its operation: 'tis my key,
And opes the wicket of the human heart.
How far I have succeeded now I know not.
Yet I incline to think her stormy virtue
Is lull'd a while: 'tis her alone I fear:
Whilst she and Randolph live, and live in faith
And amity, uncertain is my tenure.
Fate o'er my head suspends disgrace and death,
By that weak hair, a peevish female's will.
I am not idle: but the ebbs and flows
Of fortune's tide cannot be calculated.
That slave of Norval 's I have found most apt:
I shew'd him gold, and he has pawn'd his soul
To say and swear whatever I suggest.
Norval , I'm told, has that alluring look,
'Twixt man and woman, which I have observ'd
To charm the nicer and fantastic dames,
Who are, like Lady Randolph , full of virtue.
In raising Randolph 's jealousy I may
But point him to the truth. He seldom errs
Who thinks the worst he can of womankind.
(Act III, pp. 41-2)
Amen! and virtue is its own reward!---
I think that I have hit the very tone
In which she loves to speak. Honey'd assent,
How pleasing art thou to the taste of man,
And woman also! flattery direct
Rarely disgusts. They little know mankind
Who doubt its operation: 'tis my key,
And opes the wicket of the human heart.
How far I have succeeded now I know not.
Yet I incline to think her stormy virtue
Is lull'd a while: 'tis her alone I fear:
Whilst she and Randolph live, and live in faith
And amity, uncertain is my tenure.
Fate o'er my head suspends disgrace and death,
By that weak hair, a peevish female's will.
I am not idle: but the ebbs and flows
Of fortune's tide cannot be calculated.
That slave of Norval 's I have found most apt:
I shew'd him gold, and he has pawn'd his soul
To say and swear whatever I suggest.
Norval , I'm told, has that alluring look,
'Twixt man and woman, which I have observ'd
To charm the nicer and fantastic dames,
Who are, like Lady Randolph , full of virtue.
In raising Randolph 's jealousy I may
But point him to the truth. He seldom errs
Who thinks the worst he can of womankind.
(Act III, pp. 41-2)
Categories
Provenance
C-H Lion
Citation
At least 10 entries in ESTC (1757, 1764, 1768, 769, 1770, 1773, 1775).
Douglas: A Tragedy. As it is Acted at the Theatre-Royal in Covent-Garden (Edinburgh: Printed for G. Hamilton, 1757). <Link to ESTC>
Douglas: A Tragedy. As it is Acted at the Theatre-Royal in Covent-Garden (Edinburgh: Printed for G. Hamilton, 1757). <Link to ESTC>
Date of Entry
06/28/2013
