"From brassy bosoms and rough hearts of flint, / From stubborn Turks and Tartars never trained / To offices of tender courtesy. / We all expect a gentle answer, Jew."
— Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)
Date
1600
Metaphor
"From brassy bosoms and rough hearts of flint, / From stubborn Turks and Tartars never trained / To offices of tender courtesy. / We all expect a gentle answer, Jew."
Metaphor in Context
DUKE
Make room, and let him stand before our face.
Shylock, the world thinks -- and I think so too --
That thou but lead'st this fashion of thy malice
To the last hour of act, and then 'tis thought
Thou'lt show thy mercy and remorse more strange
Than is thy strange apparent cruelty,
And where thou now exacts the penalty --
Which is a pound of this poor merchant's flesh --
Thou wilt not only loose the forfeiture,
But, touched with human gentleness and love,
Forgive a moiety of the principal,
Glancing an eye of pity on his losses,
That have of late so huddled on his back
Enough to press a royal merchant down
And pluck commiseration of his state
From brassy bosoms and rough hearts of flint,
From stubborn Turks and Tartars never trained
To offices of tender courtesy.
We all expect a gentle answer, Jew.
(IV.i.15-33)
Make room, and let him stand before our face.
Shylock, the world thinks -- and I think so too --
That thou but lead'st this fashion of thy malice
To the last hour of act, and then 'tis thought
Thou'lt show thy mercy and remorse more strange
Than is thy strange apparent cruelty,
And where thou now exacts the penalty --
Which is a pound of this poor merchant's flesh --
Thou wilt not only loose the forfeiture,
But, touched with human gentleness and love,
Forgive a moiety of the principal,
Glancing an eye of pity on his losses,
That have of late so huddled on his back
Enough to press a royal merchant down
And pluck commiseration of his state
From brassy bosoms and rough hearts of flint,
From stubborn Turks and Tartars never trained
To offices of tender courtesy.
We all expect a gentle answer, Jew.
(IV.i.15-33)
Categories
Provenance
HDIS
Citation
Shakespeare, William. The Complete Works. Oxford Shakespeare. Electronic Edition for the IBM PC. Stanley Wells and Gary Taylor, Editor.
Date of Entry
08/11/2003
