Explore "The Flint and the Steel" by Tomás de Iriarte on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
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.