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).
William ShakespeareRead
By innocence I swear, and by my youth, I have one heart, one bosom, and one truth, And that no woman has, nor never none Shall mistress be of it save I alone.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The speaker expresses a deep commitment to one person, claiming that their heart is solely devoted to them.
In this quote, Shakespeare conveys the idea of undivided love and loyalty, emphasizing that true affection is singular and exclusive. The speaker asserts that their heart belongs to only one woman, highlighting the purity of their feelings and the depth of their devotion, which reflects a profound emotional connection that cannot be shared with others.
Themes
LoveDevotionCommitmentLoyaltyExclusivity
In practice
Example use cases
In a wedding ceremony when reciting vows.
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