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
Wooing, wedding, and repenting is as a Scotch jig, a measure, and a cinque-pace: the first suit is hot and hasty like a Scotch jig--and full as fantastical; the wedding, mannerly modest, as a measure, full of state and ancientry; and then comes repentance and with his bad legs falls into the cinque-pace faster and faster, till he sink into his grave.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The journey of love involves passionate beginnings, solemn commitment, and eventual regret.
In this quote, Shakespeare uses the metaphor of dance styles to illustrate the stages of romantic relationships: the initial excitement and passion of wooing, the formal and serious nature of marriage, and the regret that often follows as life progresses. Each stage reflects a different emotional state and contributes to the overall cycle of love and loss, suggesting that while love can begin with fervor, it may ultimately lead to sorrow and reflection.
Themes
LoveRomanceRegretCommitmentRelationships
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a wedding speech to reflect on the journey of love.
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