"Wilt thou not plead for Life?--Intreat the Tyrant, / And waken Nature in his Iron Heart."

— Rowe, Nicholas (1674-1718)


Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for Jacob Tonson
Date
November 25, 1707; 1708
Metaphor
"Wilt thou not plead for Life?--Intreat the Tyrant, / And waken Nature in his Iron Heart."
Metaphor in Context
RODOGUNE.
At once ten thousand racking Passions tear me,
And my Heart heaves, as it would burst my Bosom.
Oh can I, can I hear him doom'd to Death,
Nor stir, nor breathe one single Sound to save him?
It w'onot be--and my fierce haughty Soul,
Whate'er she suffers, still disdains to bend,
To sue to the curst, hated, Tyrant KING.
Oh Love! Oh Glory!--Wouldst thou die thus tamely?
[To Aribert.]
Is Life so small a thing, so mean a Boon,
As is not worth the asking?--Thou art silent;
Wilt thou not plead for Life?--Intreat the Tyrant,
And waken Nature in his Iron Heart.

(III.i, p. 31)
Provenance
C-H Lion
Citation
First performed November 25, 1707. Thirty-three entries in ESTC (1708, 1714, 1719, 1720, 1725, 1726, 1728, 1733, 1736, 1757, 1764, 1765, 1768, 1774, 1776, 1779, 1780, 1782, 1791, 1794, 1795).

The Royal Convert. A Tragedy. As it is Acted at the Queen's Theatre in the Hay-Market. By Her Majesty's Sworn Servants. Written by N. Rowe (London: Printed for Jacob Tonson, 1708). <Link to ECCO>
Date of Entry
07/25/2013

The Mind is a Metaphor is authored by Brad Pasanek, Assistant Professor of English, University of Virginia.