The Flint And The Steel
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Tomas de Iriarte
Literary Fables of Yriarte
Ticknor And Fields, London
1855
Spain
The Flint And The Steel: collaboration, spark of genius, friction, mutual dependence, creativity, partnership, utility, latent power, action, invention
Public Domain (copyright expired)
n/a
The Flint And The Steel
The Steel the Flint abused
Most bitterly one day,
For the unfeeling way,
In which his sides he bruised,
To chip out the brilliant sparks.
After some sharp remarks
They parted company;
And the Steel cries out, "Good-by!
Unless with me you 're used,
Of little worth you'll be!"
"Not much," said Flint,--"and yet, beyond a doubt,
Just what yourself are worth, the Flint without."
* * * * *
This little tale of ours,
Let each writer bear in mind,
Who deep study has not joined
To native powers.
In the flint, no fire we find
Without the help of steel;
Nor does Genius aught avail
Without the aid of Art.
Long as they work apart,
They both are sure to fail.
Folktales, Fairytales, myths, legends, stories, fantasy