text,updated_at,metaphor,created_at,context,theme,reviewed_on,dictionary,comments,provenance,id,work_id
"He paused a while, stood silent in his mood;
For yet his rage was boiling in his blood:
But soon his tender mind the impression felt,
As softest metals are not slow to melt,
And pity soonest runs in gentle minds:
Then reasons with himself; and first he finds
His passion cast a mist before his sense,
And either made, or magnified, the offence.
Offence! of what? to whom? who judged the cause?
The prisoner freed himself by Nature's laws:
Born free, he sought his right; the man he freed
Was perjured, but his love excused the deed:
Thus pondering, he looked under with his eyes,
And saw the women's tears, and heard their cries;
Which moved compassion more: he shook his head,
And softly sighing, to himself he said:--
(p. 598, ll. 328-43)",2009-09-14 19:34:53 UTC,"""As softest metals are not slow to melt, / And pity soonest runs in gentle minds:""",2005-04-06 00:00:00 UTC,Book II,"",,Metal,"John Dryden. Ed. Keith Walker Oxford and New York: Oxford UP, 1987.",Searching in HDIS (Poetry),10310,3957
"O Soul Seraphick, teach us how we may
Thy Praise adapted to thy worth display:
For who can Merit more? or who enough can pay?
Earth was unworthy thy aspiring view,
Sublimer Objects were reserv'd for you.
Thence nothing mean obtrudes on thy design,
Thy Style is equal to thy Theme Divine,
All Heavenly great, and more than Masculine.
Tho' neither Vernal Bloom, nor Summer's Rose
Their opening Beauties could to Thee disclose:
Tho' Nature's curious Characters which we
Exactly view, were all eras'd to Thee.
Yet Heav'n stood Witness to thy piercing Sight;
Below was Darkness, but Above was Light.
Thy Soul was Brightness all; nor could he stay
In lower Night, and such a want of Day:
But wing'd aloft, from sordid Earth retires
To higher Glory, and his kindred Fires;
Like an unhooded Hawk, who loose to prey,
With open Eyes pursues the Ætherial way.
There, happy Soul, assume thy destin'd place,
And in yon Sphere begin thy glorious race:
That Sphere, which Lucifer did once Disgrace.
Or, if amongst the Laurell'd Heads there be,
A Mansion in the Sky reserv'd for Thee;
There, Ruler of thy Orb, aloft appear,
And rowl with Homer in the brightest Sphere.
To whom Calliope has joyn'd thy Name,
And recompenc'd thy Fortunes with his Fame:
Tho' she (forgive our freedom!) some times flows;
In Lines too rugged, and a-kin to Prose.
When Scope is granted to your Speech and Thought,
Verse with a lively smoothness should be Wrote.
Like some fair Planet thy Majestick Song,
Should move with ease and Sparkle as it rowl'd along.
Like Waller's Muse, who, though inchain'd by Rhyme,
Taught Wondring Poets to keep even Chime.
Harmonious Waller's praise inflames my Breast,
Waller, more sweet and Courtly than the rest
Of Poets, no unmanly Turns pursues,
Rash Errors of an injudicious Muse.
Such Wit, like Lightning, for a while looks gay;
Just gilds the place, and vanishes away.
In one continued blaze he upwards sprung,
Like those Seraphick Flames of which he Sung.
If, Cromwell, he laments thy mighty Fall,
Nature attending Weeps at the great Funeral.
Or if his Muse with joyful Triumph brings,
The Monarch to his ancient Throne; or Sings
Batavians worsted on the Conquer'd Main,
Fleets flying, and Advent'rous Opdam Slain;
Then Rome and Athens to his Song repair,
With Brittish Graces Smiling on his care,
Divinely Charming in a Dress so fair.
As Squadrons in well Marshal'd Order fill,
The Flandrian Plains, and speak no vulgar Skill:
So rank'd is every line, each Sentence such,
No Word is wanting, and no Word's too much.
As Pearls in Gold with their own lustre shine,
The Substance precious, and the Work Divine.
So did his Words his beauteous Thoughts enchase,
Both shone and sparkled with unborrow'd Grace,
A mighty value in a little space.
So the Venusian Clio sung of Old,
When lofty acts in well-chose Phrase she told.
But Rome's aspiring Lyrick mov'd us less,
Sung not so moving, tho' with more success.
O Sacharissa, what could steel thy breast,
To rob the charming Waller of his rest?
To send him murm'ring through the Cypress Grove,
In strains lamenting his Neglected Love.
The attentive Forest did his Grief partake,
And Sympathizing Okes their knotted Branches shake.
Each Nymph, tho' coy, to pity would incline,
And every stubborn Heart was mov'd but Thine.
Hence forth be thou to future Ages known,
Like Niobe, a Monument of Stone.",2009-09-14 19:34:53 UTC,"""O Sacharissa, what could steel thy breast, / To rob the charming Waller of his rest?""",2005-06-13 00:00:00 UTC,"","",,Metal,•Later version of poem in Poems (1710),"Searching ""breast"" and ""steel"" in HDIS (Poetry)",10316,3975
"MASSAN.
She goars and wounds me still; and now methinks the whole, composure of my Frame, is alter'd--I tremble and am asham'd to know my self.-- Hah, what did I say I Trembl'd, 'tis impossible, can my Heart tremble, that is steel'd with Power? Trembling implies a Fear; what can I fear, that have unquestion'd Power to command all, and can enjoy what e'er that Power possesses:--Agen--there's no looking on her, I'm all o'er Flame o'th' sudden:-- Well, 'tis but ask and have, I'll send her word I like her, and if she prove peevish, fright her a little with her Lord's Proscription and she yields presently.-- Rock, come hither, Thou saw'st that weeping Woman there.",2009-09-14 19:34:53 UTC,"""Hah, what did I say I Trembl'd, 'tis impossible, can my Heart tremble, that is steel'd with Power?""",2005-06-13 00:00:00 UTC,"Act III, scene i","",,Metal,"","Searching ""steel"" and ""heart"" in HDIS (Drama)",10318,3956
"AUR.
Learn of me ye withering Blossoms of distress'd Nobility, how to defie the Ills of Destiny, and worst of Fortune's, Malice. Steel your Hearts with Honour first; then with Generous Resolution; and let Aurelia nobly guide your Steps into the Temple of Perpetual Glory, by a brave Deed irksome to our soft Natures: Yet Portia and Great Sophonisba were our fam'd Examples, and when Lawless Power, and Savage fury threatens with Captivity, when that hour comes, mark me ye Twinns of Vertue when you behold my Conquer'd Spirits faint, with a bright Dagger drench'd in my warm Gore, or my Eyes languish with some Poysonous Draught, which my own hand has nobly ministred.--
Then chuse your fate equal in each degree,
Scorn poor Rebellious Rage, and die like me.",2009-09-14 19:34:53 UTC,"""Steel your Hearts with Honour first; then with Generous Resolution; and let Aurelia nobly guide your Steps into the Temple of Perpetual Glory""",2005-06-13 00:00:00 UTC,"Act I, scene i","",,Metal,"","Searching ""steel"" and ""heart"" in HDIS (Drama)",10319,3977
"PLACENTIA.
Oh! Bassino! Bassino!
Oh! wretched Woman! Oh! that I had dy'd
E'er I had known him false: Then I were happy:
And tho' contented with his second Choice,
He with a pitying Sigh, perhaps, had grac'd
My Memory--
Oh! all ye Powers that virtuous Love inspire,
Assist me now: inform my Vocal Organs
With Angel Eloquence, such as can melt
His Heart of Flint, and move his former Kindness.
(Aside.)
But if that fail, I will remove the Cause
Of both our Woes--Yes, that happy Charmer,
That Rival of my Love shall surely die.
ARMANDO.
Doubt not of the Success: What Heart of Steel
Could ere resist such Beauty drest in Tears?
(pp. 46-7)",2014-03-12 18:05:34 UTC,"""Oh! all ye Powers that virtuous Love inspire, / Assist me now: inform my Vocal Organs / With Angel Eloquence, such as can melt / His Heart of Flint, and move his former Kindness.""",2014-03-12 18:05:34 UTC,"","",,"","",ECCO-TCP,23662,7842
"PLACENTIA.
Oh! Bassino! Bassino!
Oh! wretched Woman! Oh! that I had dy'd
E'er I had known him false: Then I were happy:
And tho' contented with his second Choice,
He with a pitying Sigh, perhaps, had grac'd
My Memory--
Oh! all ye Powers that virtuous Love inspire,
Assist me now: inform my Vocal Organs
With Angel Eloquence, such as can melt
His Heart of Flint, and move his former Kindness.
(Aside.)
But if that fail, I will remove the Cause
Of both our Woes--Yes, that happy Charmer,
That Rival of my Love shall surely die.
ARMANDO.
Doubt not of the Success: What Heart of Steel
Could ere resist such Beauty drest in Tears?
(pp. 46-7)",2014-03-12 18:07:00 UTC,"""What Heart of Steel / Could ere resist such Beauty drest in Tears?""",2014-03-12 18:06:30 UTC,"","",,Metal,"","Searching ""heart"" and ""steel"" in ECCO-TCP",23663,7842