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Come away, come away, death,_x000D_ _x000D_ And in sad cypres let me be laid;_x000D_ _x000D_ Fly away, fly away, breath;_x000D_ _x000D_ I am slain by a fair cruel maid.
William Shakespeare
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote expresses deep sorrow and the longing for death due to unrequited love.

In this poignant excerpt from Shakespeare's work, the speaker laments the emotional pain caused by a beautiful yet unkind lover. The imagery of death and the somber cypress tree symbolizes the despair and heartache that love can bring, particularly when it is unreturned or results in suffering.

Themes

LoveHeartbreakDeathLongingSadness

In practice

Example use cases

This quote can be used in a drama to depict a character's emotional turmoil after a breakup.

More from William Shakespeare

As honour, love, obedience, troops of friends, / I must not look to have; but, in their stead, / Curses, not loud but deep, mouth-honour, breath, / Which the poor heart would fain deny, and dare not" (5.3.25-28).
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Love bears it out even to the edge of doom.
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Good company, good wine, good welcome, can make good people.
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Absence doth sharpen love, presence strengthens it; the one brings fuel, the other blows it till it burns clear.
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Lord, Lord, how this world is given to lying!
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Give it an understanding, but no tongue.
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