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
O, speak again, bright angel! for thou art As glorious to this night, being o'er my head As is a winged messenger of heaven
Interpretation
What this quote means
The speaker longs for the presence and beauty of a loved one, comparing them to a heavenly messenger.
In this quote from Shakespeare, the speaker expresses a deep yearning for the beloved's presence, equating their beauty and grace to that of a celestial being. The imagery of a 'bright angel' and a 'winged messenger of heaven' evokes feelings of admiration and reverence, highlighting the transformative power of love and the profound impact that such a connection can have on one's world.
Themes
LoveBeautyLongingAdmirationHeavenly
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used during a romantic wedding speech to express the beauty of love.
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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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